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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Conn Saxophones / Conn "Shooting Star"

josec
User ID: 1557854 Apr 8th 7:13 AM
Does anybody know something about an alto Conn with a shooting star engraving in the bell (like fireworks)? The alto has a inscription "Conn USA", but I´m in doubt if it´s a US horn or cucaracha (mexican). Tks

Bo Meyer
User ID: 0791694 Apr 8th 11:55 PM
Look at the serial number, if it has letter in front like N908.xxx, it a Mexicon.....

mutha potamus
User ID: 9844073 Apr 9th 11:54 PM
If the keyguards are wire (instead of flat, stamped ones) then it's almost certainly a US model.

FWIW, I own two tenors & an alto of this breed & find them probably the biggest bang for the buck today. I mean a HUGE bang for the buck.

Durand
User ID: 0122954 May 23rd 11:53 AM
I have a tenor with this type of engraving and it has USA in the bell and 16M below the thumb rest. For me it is a great horn. Maybe a student model?? I'm not sure.

josec
User ID: 0240854 May 24th 9:04 AM
I receipt one model with S/N K67... but there´s no model engraving bellow the thumb rest or on the sax body. The sound isn´t like the mexicons. Do you know anything about?

Tks

MojoBari
User ID: 1320554 May 24th 9:26 AM
But, if it has stamped metal keyguards, it could be US or Mex made. Around '64 they went to stamped metal. Around '69 Mexican production started. I've seen one US design 10M with a R serial number (1972) on eBay. Could have been finished in Nogales.

I think the C-L serial number prefixes are all US horns (1963-68). After that, it looks like at least altos were coming from Nogales. There could have been a transistion period from 1969-72. I do not have documentation, just observations from looking at the saxes/ads and the serial number lists.

saxman4hm May 24th 10:18 AM
what about shooting stars with an h in front of the numbers

Andres
User ID: 0471064 May 24th 4:13 PM
Are tenor Mexi-conns worth a look? Been getting the itch for a beater tenor to fool around with.

super20dan
User ID: 7705853 May 24th 4:43 PM
junk

MojoBari
User ID: 1195644 May 25th 8:58 AM
H falls within the C-L range.

Cashsax
User ID: 9014973 May 27th 2:41 AM
Hey guys I got an "N" series selmer style copy, stamped guard alto N175xxx that is a great fat-toned modern sounding horn, made in Nogales AZ I'm guessing (NOT actually Mexico)The sucker really plays..it amazed me..I'm not a beginner either and have played many, many paid shows with it and it's a nice alternate back-up for my VII alto.At $500 bucks like new I'm very happy with it. I certainly wouldn't call it junk..!

MojoBari
User ID: 1320554 May 28th 9:24 AM
Obviously not. I've heard that Nogales lies on on the Arizona/Mexico border. I'll have to look at a map.

josec
User ID: 9231093 May 28th 11:34 AM
Thanks Mojo. I receipt the same information last weekend, and I think my model is a US horn (67-67 made).

rhino4
User ID: 9070813 Jun 17th 10:23 AM
I live near Nogales...They manufacture across the border to save big bucks on labor. Do you think that a Mexican laborer will take much pride in their work at 50 cents a hour wage??!! They mass produce for the world and are probably thinking about how to sneak across the border instead of how well did their job today. If you hang around the border near the factory you could proably get one handed thru the fence for a few bucks.

rhino4
User ID: 9426023 Jun 27th 5:55 PM
by the way...check the horn for drugs in the bell....U might be getting more than you paid for on the deal.

soreliprick
User ID: 0366544 Jun 29th 11:57 PM
N 62509 is what mine says {I'm repadding it for a friend} with MEXICO clearly stamped underneath. Nothing new about that. Stamped guards. I'm wondering if the serial number only having 5 digits denotes the beginning of Mexican production? The octave pip transfer mechanism is a rod that tilts back and forth. Is that a "Selmer" trait? No drugs in this bell...

Kirby
User ID: 9990163 Jul 1st 6:37 PM
Howdy...
Looking for black lacquer Conn or King Alto sax
to buy.

Kirby

josec User ID: 1557854	Apr 8th 7:13 AM Does anybody know something about an alto Conn with a shooting star engraving in the bell (like fireworks)? The alto has a inscription "Conn USA", but I´m in doubt if it´s a US horn or cucaracha (mexican). Tks
Bo Meyer User ID: 0791694	Apr 8th 11:55 PM Look at the serial number, if it has letter in front like N908.xxx, it a Mexicon.....
mutha potamus User ID: 9844073	Apr 9th 11:54 PM If the keyguards are wire (instead of flat, stamped ones) then it's almost certainly a US model. FWIW, I own two tenors & an alto of this breed & find them probably the biggest bang for the buck today. I mean a HUGE bang for the buck.
Durand User ID: 0122954	May 23rd 11:53 AM I have a tenor with this type of engraving and it has USA in the bell and 16M below the thumb rest. For me it is a great horn. Maybe a student model?? I'm not sure.
josec User ID: 0240854	May 24th 9:04 AM I receipt one model with S/N K67... but there´s no model engraving bellow the thumb rest or on the sax body. The sound isn´t like the mexicons. Do you know anything about? Tks
MojoBari User ID: 1320554	May 24th 9:26 AM But, if it has stamped metal keyguards, it could be US or Mex made. Around '64 they went to stamped metal. Around '69 Mexican production started. I've seen one US design 10M with a R serial number (1972) on eBay. Could have been finished in Nogales. I think the C-L serial number prefixes are all US horns (1963-68). After that, it looks like at least altos were coming from Nogales. There could have been a transistion period from 1969-72. I do not have documentation, just observations from looking at the saxes/ads and the serial number lists.
saxman4hm	May 24th 10:18 AM what about shooting stars with an h in front of the numbers
Andres User ID: 0471064	May 24th 4:13 PM Are tenor Mexi-conns worth a look? Been getting the itch for a beater tenor to fool around with.
super20dan User ID: 7705853	May 24th 4:43 PM junk
MojoBari User ID: 1195644	May 25th 8:58 AM H falls within the C-L range.
Cashsax User ID: 9014973	May 27th 2:41 AM Hey guys I got an "N" series selmer style copy, stamped guard alto N175xxx that is a great fat-toned modern sounding horn, made in Nogales AZ I'm guessing (NOT actually Mexico)The sucker really plays..it amazed me..I'm not a beginner either and have played many, many paid shows with it and it's a nice alternate back-up for my VII alto.At $500 bucks like new I'm very happy with it. I certainly wouldn't call it junk..!
MojoBari User ID: 1320554	May 28th 9:24 AM Obviously not. I've heard that Nogales lies on on the Arizona/Mexico border. I'll have to look at a map.
josec User ID: 9231093	May 28th 11:34 AM Thanks Mojo. I receipt the same information last weekend, and I think my model is a US horn (67-67 made).
rhino4 User ID: 9070813	Jun 17th 10:23 AM I live near Nogales...They manufacture across the border to save big bucks on labor. Do you think that a Mexican laborer will take much pride in their work at 50 cents a hour wage??!! They mass produce for the world and are probably thinking about how to sneak across the border instead of how well did their job today. If you hang around the border near the factory you could proably get one handed thru the fence for a few bucks.
rhino4 User ID: 9426023	Jun 27th 5:55 PM by the way...check the horn for drugs in the bell....U might be getting more than you paid for on the deal.
soreliprick User ID: 0366544	Jun 29th 11:57 PM N 62509 is what mine says {I'm repadding it for a friend} with MEXICO clearly stamped underneath. Nothing new about that. Stamped guards. I'm wondering if the serial number only having 5 digits denotes the beginning of Mexican production? The octave pip transfer mechanism is a rod that tilts back and forth. Is that a "Selmer" trait? No drugs in this bell...
Kirby User ID: 9990163	Jul 1st 6:37 PM Howdy... Looking for black lacquer Conn or King Alto sax to buy. Kirby