Sax on the Web Forum

Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Conn Saxophones / S/N Conn 10M

Rufo
User ID: 8820133 Jul 8th 9:39 AM
I want to buy tenor Conn 10M.
Who knew what sax is better?
S/N 260***, 270***, 280*** ... etc?

Thanks,
Rufo

saxpics
User ID: 9154853 Jul 8th 10:40 AM
There's a lot of those style questions here. There really isn't enough information to make a coherent comment. The main questions for you would be are all the horns in the same condition? Same plating/lacquer?

==========

In any event, there are several different versions of 10M, seperated by several hundred thousand serial numbers, not by 10,000:

(Appx. 262xxx is the introduction of the "true" Naked Lady 10M, with left-hand bell keys)
1935 to 1947 -- Rolled Tone Holes (rth)
1948 to 1959 -- Straight Tone Holes (sth)
1960 to 1971 -- New design, engraving, etc.
1963 to 1971 -- A different new design, sheet metal keyguards, different bell-to-body brace, etc.

All dates approximate. After 1971 or so, Conn discontinued all pro models. About 1980, Daniel Henkin bought Conn and replaced the intermediate/pro line with H-Couf/Keilwerth horns.

Generally, that's a list of best to not-quite-as-good, but it's dependent on condition.

nJoy!
Pete
saxpics@hotmail.com

vonbraig
User ID: 0352454 Jul 8th 10:45 AM
My horn is a 280*** ish horn and I love it. You can feel the thing vibrate in your hands when you play. My preference when I picked it out was for the pre WWII horns.

G.M.
User ID: 1084044 Jul 8th 12:22 PM
If you were looking for a bari,I could suggest the 260***.I have not the same knowledge on tenor,I can only say my 270*** works nice.Anyway you are going for the best!

Zman
User ID: 8701433 Jul 8th 1:19 PM
My 10M is #276xxx. Monster horn for jazz and R&B, but can be very soft as a feather when needed. Outstanding.

Ribs
User ID: 9969773 Jul 8th 2:34 PM
A 10M as late as the #320s is well worth considering, especially if the rolled toneholes are present. My #318k 10M will stand up to the best of 'em! The only thing it lacks over the pre WW2 models is the fork Eb key (and who needs that, anyway).

Mike C
User ID: 9663323 Jul 8th 5:08 PM
I own a 310xxx silverplate thats killer and a 316xx laquered. Great horns,they both have the rolled tone holes.

Bob M
User ID: 7301983 Jul 9th 5:25 AM
I need to put in a plug for the later models here. I have a 340,xxx series which makes it about 1950 or just after Conn discontinued rolled tone holes. Les Arbuckle recently overhauled the horn for me and I had a chance to play it side-by-side with his 10M that has rolled tone holes. Quite honestly, the sound on mine is just as good.

MojoBari
User ID: 1320554 Jul 9th 9:17 AM
Gee, you call that late? I have a K20210 (1966) that I am quite fond of. If you want to save some buck, the 60's 10Ms can be had for half the price... and they aint half the horn.

OnyxSax
User ID: 2024664 Jul 9th 12:21 PM
I've tried Mojo's 10M, and it is a very good horn. The 1960s era 10Ms are becoming the sleepers in the vintage horn game as word is getting around now on the 1950s era horns.

The 1950s era 10Ms are very good horns as well, virtually identical to their pre-world war II brethren, but they've lost the rolled tone holes and the forked Eb mechanism. I own a 354,xxx 10M myself, and it is a very strong player. Even getting relacquered twive and 40 years of abuse in a Texas high school band program couldn't kill this horn off.

garyinla
User ID: 2017574 Sep 1st 7:59 PM
I have a 336xxx 10M from about 1949 and it is a good horn. I was told that the lack of rolled toneholes may be preferable because the pads seal better.

I can say that this post WWII era horn, from 1940's through 1950's is a desirable horn, no doubt.

I played a later one once, maybe early 60's with silver color keys and underslung neck, and it was a really good horn too. If I had the cash I would go buy that horn i know where it is for sale.

Rufo User ID: 8820133	Jul 8th 9:39 AM I want to buy tenor Conn 10M. Who knew what sax is better? S/N 260*, 270, 280** ... etc? Thanks, Rufo
saxpics User ID: 9154853	Jul 8th 10:40 AM There's a lot of those style questions here. There really isn't enough information to make a coherent comment. The main questions for you would be are all the horns in the same condition? Same plating/lacquer? ========== In any event, there are several different versions of 10M, seperated by several hundred thousand serial numbers, not by 10,000: (Appx. 262xxx is the introduction of the "true" Naked Lady 10M, with left-hand bell keys) 1935 to 1947 -- Rolled Tone Holes (rth) 1948 to 1959 -- Straight Tone Holes (sth) 1960 to 1971 -- New design, engraving, etc. 1963 to 1971 -- A different new design, sheet metal keyguards, different bell-to-body brace, etc. All dates approximate. After 1971 or so, Conn discontinued all pro models. About 1980, Daniel Henkin bought Conn and replaced the intermediate/pro line with H-Couf/Keilwerth horns. Generally, that's a list of best to not-quite-as-good, but it's dependent on condition. nJoy! Pete saxpics@hotmail.com
vonbraig User ID: 0352454	Jul 8th 10:45 AM My horn is a 280* ish horn and I love it. You can feel the thing vibrate in your hands when you play. My preference when I picked it out was for the pre WWII horns.**
G.M. User ID: 1084044	Jul 8th 12:22 PM If you were looking for a bari,I could suggest the 260.I have not the same knowledge on tenor,I can only say my 270 works nice.Anyway you are going for the best!
Zman User ID: 8701433	Jul 8th 1:19 PM My 10M is #276xxx. Monster horn for jazz and R&B, but can be very soft as a feather when needed. Outstanding.
Ribs User ID: 9969773	Jul 8th 2:34 PM A 10M as late as the #320s is well worth considering, especially if the rolled toneholes are present. My #318k 10M will stand up to the best of 'em! The only thing it lacks over the pre WW2 models is the fork Eb key (and who needs that, anyway).
Mike C User ID: 9663323	Jul 8th 5:08 PM I own a 310xxx silverplate thats killer and a 316xx laquered. Great horns,they both have the rolled tone holes.
Bob M User ID: 7301983	Jul 9th 5:25 AM I need to put in a plug for the later models here. I have a 340,xxx series which makes it about 1950 or just after Conn discontinued rolled tone holes. Les Arbuckle recently overhauled the horn for me and I had a chance to play it side-by-side with his 10M that has rolled tone holes. Quite honestly, the sound on mine is just as good.
MojoBari User ID: 1320554	Jul 9th 9:17 AM Gee, you call that late? I have a K20210 (1966) that I am quite fond of. If you want to save some buck, the 60's 10Ms can be had for half the price... and they aint half the horn.
OnyxSax User ID: 2024664	Jul 9th 12:21 PM I've tried Mojo's 10M, and it is a very good horn. The 1960s era 10Ms are becoming the sleepers in the vintage horn game as word is getting around now on the 1950s era horns. The 1950s era 10Ms are very good horns as well, virtually identical to their pre-world war II brethren, but they've lost the rolled tone holes and the forked Eb mechanism. I own a 354,xxx 10M myself, and it is a very strong player. Even getting relacquered twive and 40 years of abuse in a Texas high school band program couldn't kill this horn off.
garyinla User ID: 2017574	Sep 1st 7:59 PM I have a 336xxx 10M from about 1949 and it is a good horn. I was told that the lack of rolled toneholes may be preferable because the pads seal better. I can say that this post WWII era horn, from 1940's through 1950's is a desirable horn, no doubt. I played a later one once, maybe early 60's with silver color keys and underslung neck, and it was a really good horn too. If I had the cash I would go buy that horn i know where it is for sale.