Hi, Thanks for having me! My first Mark V story: About 10 years ago bought a Mark 1 from Wheaton College in Mass. for 300. Got it home, didn't love it--sluggish action, dull, lifeless tone, just like my suitcase 88 from years before that I got rid of for said reasons. Sold the Mark 1 in less than an hour for 400. Went back to Wheaton to try another one---a "damaged" Mark 5 for 350. The only damage was that the shell had popped of, which took all of one minute to re-secure it. I've been in love ever since!