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Sax on the Web Forum / Conn Saxophones / Transitional Conn bari

Bear
User ID: 1453344 Nov 16th 11:57 AM
I've played bari sax in the past and am looking at buying one to play now. I've played a Conn and a Selmer Mk VI. I have the opportunity to get a Conn bari sax with a 24x,xxx serial number, which would seem to make it a 1931 transitional model. I'm getting pictures of it, but understand that it's in excellent condition except it needs a new pad job (which I'm assuming a good job could run $600-900). It was owned from the early 40s by one person who was a professional musician until the 1980's. Any thoughts or ideas on any questions I should be asking?

Xqusme
User ID: 0707654 Nov 16th 12:54 PM
If you decide that you don't want to buy it, I'm interested.

Bootman
User ID: 7601343 Nov 16th 2:47 PM
This is the one to chase, I have one here if you need any info etc... I have had a front F key added to mine in a non destructive manner, works perfectly and facilitates the alt playing dramatically.
Incidentally mine is 246K.

Let us know when you get it.
Conn-gratulations.

Bear
User ID: 1453344 Nov 17th 9:06 PM
Got photos of the sax ... not the best photos, but kind of shows the condition. Looks like it was a laquered version and a lot of the laquer has come off. Is this an issue?

Xqusme
User ID: 9670323 Nov 17th 10:04 PM
Aside from the loss of lacquer, what else can you discern about the condition of the horn?

If you can't examine the horn in person, you might consider asking the seller if better pictures can be taken.

Bear
User ID: 1453344 Nov 17th 10:16 PM
Needs cleaning. No visible dents, but the bottom of the bell isn't showing. Looks like it may have been sitting in a closet in a high humidity area and that resulted in the loss of laquer. It's not so much rubbed off as it looks like the effect of moisture. I'm assuming the condition of the laquer wouldn't affect the playability ... just the cosmetic appearance.

Getting more pictures is probably not logistically feasible.

Bear
User ID: 1453344 Nov 17th 10:16 PM
Needs cleaning. No visible dents, but the bottom of the bell isn't showing. Looks like it may have been sitting in a closet in a high humidity area and that resulted in the loss of laquer. It's not so much rubbed off as it looks like the effect of moisture. I'm assuming the condition of the laquer wouldn't affect the playability ... just the cosmetic appearance.

Getting more pictures is probably not logistically feasible.

Xqusme
User ID: 1752694 Nov 17th 10:41 PM
Assuming that it hasn't been somehow damaged by a high humidity environment and you don't mind so much the cosmetic appearance then it doesn't sound like the loss of lacquer is going to be an issue.

For me the bottom line would be the total of the cost to purchase plus cost of overhaul being less than or equal to my budget.

I don't think I would be going far wrong to say that when these are overhauled and in top playing condition, they fetch at least $2,200.00 when sold by a dealer. Often more.

What is it worth to you?

OnyxSax
User ID: 9683713 Nov 17th 10:44 PM
So long as the horn is all there and there does not appear to be any major or irrepairable damage, I would go for it. Keep in mind, you still may have to sink a bit of money into the horn. Even if you wind up having to do a full "Lazarus" treatment, you'll still be ahead of the game.

Xqusme
User ID: 9670323 Nov 19th 2:10 AM
Bear:

Did you take the plunge yet?

Bear
User ID: 0867924 Nov 19th 1:00 PM
Plunged this afternoon. Have to wait awhile until Christmas to get it though ... the owner and I will be in the same neck of the woods so we can avoid any potential shipping damage. Hard to wait though!

Xqusme
User ID: 9885643 Nov 19th 2:37 PM
As Bootman says, Conn-gratulations on joining the club.

Whatever you do, don't let anyone talk you into doing a re-lacquer on it.

Bootman also has a source for a neat front high F key that attaches to the lyre of the instrument. No soldering or butchering required.

toot suite
User ID: 1007814 Nov 19th 3:04 PM
I thought I remembered that the old Conns were bare brass (unless plated with silver or gold). Perhaps earlier (Chu) vintages. Good luck with your new horn. If it plays anything like my silver chu bari, you're in for some fun.

Bear
User ID: 0867924 Nov 19th 9:51 PM
Thanks! Re-lacquering is definitely not in the future plans. I've already spoken with a person to put new pads on and whatever else may need work. I've seen him referred to highly on this discussion board.

From the photos it looks lacquered. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's bare brass, but it has a lot of pitting and I thought that was a lacquer issue. Other areas look rubbed down to the bare brass from wear.

Bear User ID: 1453344	Nov 16th 11:57 AM I've played bari sax in the past and am looking at buying one to play now. I've played a Conn and a Selmer Mk VI. I have the opportunity to get a Conn bari sax with a 24x,xxx serial number, which would seem to make it a 1931 transitional model. I'm getting pictures of it, but understand that it's in excellent condition except it needs a new pad job (which I'm assuming a good job could run $600-900). It was owned from the early 40s by one person who was a professional musician until the 1980's. Any thoughts or ideas on any questions I should be asking?
Xqusme User ID: 0707654	Nov 16th 12:54 PM If you decide that you don't want to buy it, I'm interested.
Bootman User ID: 7601343	Nov 16th 2:47 PM This is the one to chase, I have one here if you need any info etc... I have had a front F key added to mine in a non destructive manner, works perfectly and facilitates the alt playing dramatically. Incidentally mine is 246K. Let us know when you get it. Conn-gratulations.
Bear User ID: 1453344	Nov 17th 9:06 PM Got photos of the sax ... not the best photos, but kind of shows the condition. Looks like it was a laquered version and a lot of the laquer has come off. Is this an issue?
Xqusme User ID: 9670323	Nov 17th 10:04 PM Aside from the loss of lacquer, what else can you discern about the condition of the horn? If you can't examine the horn in person, you might consider asking the seller if better pictures can be taken.
Bear User ID: 1453344	Nov 17th 10:16 PM Needs cleaning. No visible dents, but the bottom of the bell isn't showing. Looks like it may have been sitting in a closet in a high humidity area and that resulted in the loss of laquer. It's not so much rubbed off as it looks like the effect of moisture. I'm assuming the condition of the laquer wouldn't affect the playability ... just the cosmetic appearance. Getting more pictures is probably not logistically feasible.
Bear User ID: 1453344	Nov 17th 10:16 PM Needs cleaning. No visible dents, but the bottom of the bell isn't showing. Looks like it may have been sitting in a closet in a high humidity area and that resulted in the loss of laquer. It's not so much rubbed off as it looks like the effect of moisture. I'm assuming the condition of the laquer wouldn't affect the playability ... just the cosmetic appearance. Getting more pictures is probably not logistically feasible.
Xqusme User ID: 1752694	Nov 17th 10:41 PM Assuming that it hasn't been somehow damaged by a high humidity environment and you don't mind so much the cosmetic appearance then it doesn't sound like the loss of lacquer is going to be an issue. For me the bottom line would be the total of the cost to purchase plus cost of overhaul being less than or equal to my budget. I don't think I would be going far wrong to say that when these are overhauled and in top playing condition, they fetch at least $2,200.00 when sold by a dealer. Often more. What is it worth to you?
OnyxSax User ID: 9683713	Nov 17th 10:44 PM So long as the horn is all there and there does not appear to be any major or irrepairable damage, I would go for it. Keep in mind, you still may have to sink a bit of money into the horn. Even if you wind up having to do a full "Lazarus" treatment, you'll still be ahead of the game.
Xqusme User ID: 9670323	Nov 19th 2:10 AM Bear: Did you take the plunge yet?
Bear User ID: 0867924	Nov 19th 1:00 PM Plunged this afternoon. Have to wait awhile until Christmas to get it though ... the owner and I will be in the same neck of the woods so we can avoid any potential shipping damage. Hard to wait though!
Xqusme User ID: 9885643	Nov 19th 2:37 PM As Bootman says, Conn-gratulations on joining the club. Whatever you do, don't let anyone talk you into doing a re-lacquer on it. Bootman also has a source for a neat front high F key that attaches to the lyre of the instrument. No soldering or butchering required.
toot suite User ID: 1007814	Nov 19th 3:04 PM I thought I remembered that the old Conns were bare brass (unless plated with silver or gold). Perhaps earlier (Chu) vintages. Good luck with your new horn. If it plays anything like my silver chu bari, you're in for some fun.
Bear User ID: 0867924	Nov 19th 9:51 PM Thanks! Re-lacquering is definitely not in the future plans. I've already spoken with a person to put new pads on and whatever else may need work. I've seen him referred to highly on this discussion board. From the photos it looks lacquered. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's bare brass, but it has a lot of pitting and I thought that was a lacquer issue. Other areas look rubbed down to the bare brass from wear.