Conn 1926 Chu Berry Saxophone

[Alabama_jazz]

Is a Conn 1926 Chu Berry Saxophone

[Alabama_jazz]

Is a Conn 1926 Chu Berry Saxophone
Sorry is one worth getting for 1200$ ? I heard they have a great tone quality..

[LennyH]

It would have to be in phenomenal condition. If you are interested in a Chu and are willing to spend $1200, you may want to look for one a few years later (the later the better). Check out Steve Goodson's info on vintage sax's:
http://www.saxgourmet.com/home.html#VINTAGE%20SAXOPHONE%20REFERENCE%20LIBRAR Y

And Gayle usually has some Chu altos for sale that would give you a good idea of price:
http://www.vintagesax.com/
Gayle is good to deal with and will give you a trial period.

My chu alto is from 1929. It had 95% + silver plating, no dents or dings and new pads. I paid $1000.

Good Luck.

[Alabama_jazz]

It is in excellent condition. It has new pads new everything even a new coat of lacker. Im buying it from i professional saxophone player and he gonna let me try it out. So im thinking since it has new everything and NO dents or dings and 100% old Style silver lacker ( u know the jewel silver lacker).



So ? Is it worth it ? :)

[Tsax]

I'd say it is a bit steep, $ 1200. But if you really like the sax... Try to bargain a little. Is it coming with a good case and everything? You have to remember that when you are buying from a private person, he?she doesn't give you the same service and warranty that a (good) dealer gives, so the price has to be lower than a dealers price.

[Alabama_jazz]

well the guy i am buying it from is gonna give me a year warranty and a free vandoren v16 mouthpiece and a nice size horn carry case...


So is it worth it (i hear the Conn Chu Berry Sax was a magnificent horn)?

[Alabama_jazz]

well the guy i am buying it from is gonna give me a year warranty and a free vandoren v16 mouthpiece and a nice size horn carry case...


So is it worth it (i hear the Conn Chu Berry Sax was a magnificent horn)?

[colibri]

Do you like the horn?
If the answer is yes, then yes it's worth it.

[mr00420]

Have you played it? If so, then maybe YOU know if it's worth it or not.

The Chu Berry's are great horns, but the finger action's pretty stiff (especially in the pinky clusters it's a pretty old horn.) and can only be adjusted minimally w/o affecting the tone/tune of the horn.

The Conn 6M "naked lady" is also a great horn, but usually it's action is less stiff then a Chu. In my opinion, they have very similar sounds. I know 6M's are pretty desirable horns, but are one of the best values for vintage saxes. If you buy from a shop you could payed a few hundred more than what that guy's asking for the Chu or even a few hundred less. I know when I was shopping around for a horn, the place where I bought my King Zephyr had a 6M for about a hundred or so more than the King. All the Chu's he had where cheaper... while another store a few miles away had a great 6M (better than the latter sax) for under a thousand.

You can get either of these horns from private dealers, and maybe even some shops, cheaper than what this guy's offering. Also, if he's relacquered the horn, then this invariably reduces the resale value of the horn.... you'll only be able to sell it for the same price to buyer who really wants a relacquer vintage horn...otherwise you're going to get less than what you paid (if you ever sell it.)

I think it's really pricey, and that you should try some other horns in a simliar price range. Go to a couple of shops and try a Chu, 6M, or a King just to compare. The prices may be even higher, but then you have something to compare to, and you know what other quality horns are available if you look around on the net, or w/ private dealers. I'm sure the guy will tell you he's put X and Y amount of cash into this horn and , blah, blah, blah... but this is his problem, not yours. That V16 mpc probably isn't worth more than $60 right? Again, if it really blows your lights out, then buy it... but maybe you should try sommething else, and /or leverage him.

[Alabama_jazz]

I am planning to bargin with him because my director told me that him and the guy that is selling it to me that he is not in it for the money he is in it for just saling the horns to a person he thinks will cherish it..

My band director said that he will lower the price ..





Thanks for your replies .

[mr00420]

If I were you, I definitely wouldn't pay over $1000. Somewhere in the $900 range.

Your obviously a youngster, so I'll give you a piece of advice... I know when I was a kid, I'd often get all excited about buying something, etc. w/o taking all the time to check out other options, anf do enough research. A Chu is a nice horn, but this guy's not doing you any favors. If he really wants to sell it to someone who'll cherish it, he wouldn't try to get some kid to get his folks to shell out more than the things worth. Look around at other vintage horns in shops. This site also has plenty of reviews and info. about Conn Chu Berrys.

On the home page of this site, there's a link for pricing a vintage horn. It's done by serial number. The value posted is for horns in near mint condition w/o relacquering. Ask the dealer for the serial, and see if it's one the more desirable Chus. You'll also be able to see it's worth/ asking price. What ever's there, you should ask him for a lower price b/c it's relacquered.

Have you played the horn? If he's your band director's pal then he should be able to loan it to you or your band director for a few days. Try it out and see what you think. My advice is to go to a woodwind shop and ask to try out any Conn Chu Berrys or 6Ms they might have before you try the dealer's Chu so you can atleast have a point of comparison. I doesn't matter if you don't actually think you'll buy from the shop... they don't know that. Just try them.

[Alabama_jazz]

I think its a new age Chu berry. Yes, he told me i could tryout the horn.
He said he played the same horn for 20 years ( he has been playing for 50) and he said he had it relacquerd and had new keys new pads everything he said that hes sure that i will like horn ( my band director said that the horn sounds great!) . But i site first chair in jazz band so i asked my band director if he knew a good guy that could sell me a good quality horn... He said that this is guy was his pal and slit the price for me :) . So im guessing he will lower price to maybe below 1200$.



:?: What are some of your opinions on the new age Chu :?:

[Lee]

You can buy a Chu or 6M Alto much cheaper than $1200. I paid less than $800 for a 6M VIII model about 5 months ago. I see Wonders and New Wonders going for under $800 all the time. I'm with mr00420, I don't think these folks are doing you any big favours. By the way those old Conns are wonderful horns but most are very mouthpiece fussy. What horn are you currently playing? Be careful and good luck.

[Alabama_jazz]

Lee: Right now i am currently playing a student edition Yamaha.
My director told me that i have talent and he said that i should consider getting a pro horn were i can lead Jazz band next year.

So he said that i would need a good sounding horn and he said that a Chu berry horn would be a nice horn to play some good jazz solos with.



He reccomended that i buy a Selmer mark VI but he said that a Chu Berry in good shape would have a similar tone quaility. ( i disagree!!!)

I cannot really afford a 4000 $ horn so i chose Chu Berry i love the way it sounds i have sound recordings of one sounds great ( but i dont know if it will sound correct in a High School band. Like tone wise because its a low pitch insturment. Like the D note has a lower pitch then on my Yamaha.

So i asked my Band director he said that i may need to think of another horn. Is this true ??? :?: :?:

[mr00420]

The TUNE on the Chu is not any different than on another horn, unless there's a problem w/ a horn. You haven't even played it yet, right? You think it's lower from a sound recording? The player may have lipped it down for effect, etc.

Anyway, a Chu will sound great w/ any band (being a school band, you're probably playing all big band tunes which was what people were playing when Chu's were popular.) The thing you're going to have to worry about is the key action... it's going to be a lot stiffer and harder to finger than a Yamaha! You'll probably get used to it eventually, but it'll be more difficult to play for a while.

So you went from a Selmer MVI to a Conn Chu... what about other horns? It sounds to me like you're taking the path of least resistance. Do some homework before you buy your horn! Otherwise you're going to shell out a bunch of cash and realize later that you've gotten less than what you've paid for.

Maybe you think you should buy the horn, b/c he's your director's friend. Your director's not going to care if you buy that horn or not. He said to buy a MVI, right? He just thinks you should get a pro horn. So far you've thought about two horns: The MVI, which you know you can't buy, and the Chu which has basically just fallen in your lap.

I will say it again: that Chu is not going to be worth anything if you decide to sell it at some point. That guy has relacquered and changed the original keys?!? The only person he could sell this horn to for over $800 is YOU! When you buy a VINTAGE horn, you want to buy a great playing horn, and you want to think of it as an investment. This Chu, at or even near the price he's asking (anything over $800,) is a bad investment that will be worth less than you paid for it as soon as you purchase it. Do you know that vintage horns increase in value over time as long as they are kept in their original (no relacquer or keys/ guards replaced) condition and undamaged??? Remember, this isn't a car or a bicycle etc., where the value increases if you give it a paint job and a new engine... Changes of the degree that man made to his horn, besides destroying the value, could have (negatively) affected both the play and tuning of the horn.

Have you been any shops? It doesn't sound like it. I'm sure there are some great wodwind shops somewhere in Alabama. If you don't know where, you can post a topic asking for good shops in your area right on this site. Someone will help you. Don't just buy this guy's horn b/c it's the easiest way to get a pro horn. Go and try some other ones... you may find something you like better and at least you'll have a point of comparison. If this guy was a well known player, then that would probably increase the value of the horn, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I say at least TRY to find something else. Horns in your range would be another Chu, a Conn 6M, and possibly a King Zephyr or Super 20 (the latter two if you get lucky.)

[Saxaholic]

If your looking for an amazing vintage horn, e-mail me privately.

WalterNak8@yahoo.com

[Bill Gaulke]

Wow,, $1200 for a Chu alto horn???? Interesting,, I have one that i'm overhauling, orig case, tuner neck,, etc. etc. When it's one it'll probably go for $650.00 + shippping....I'm surprised at the prices that these horns go for... I've played them,, and I'd take a Selmer or Buescher 400 over them anytime..

[Bill Gaulke]

Oooops,,,, I guess I should'nt have put a price on that Chu horn,,, I should have said "considerably less"... Sorry for the mis-hap..

[paulwl]

Bill, you could take it to the FS area of the Selmer.com message board. There you can't post prices at all, whereas here you have to. Crazy web, ain't it?

[mr00420]

Alabama... you got it right from the horse's mouth. Several other members are telling you straight up, that horn's not worth the money that guy's asking for it. Take their advice atleast.

[Tsax]

Yeah, I have to state again, the price is too high. I would not pay $ 1200 for a 1926 Conn. It is to much. It is difficult to say what the price should be, but especially a relacquered horn shouldn't cost so much. I have owned a Conn (1923), and though the sound was pretty good, big and strong, I am not sorry to have parted with this horn.
There are many great horns out there!
I'd say, as others stated before, go to different stores and try as many different horns as you can, in and out your price range. Just play them and feel and hear the difference between the horns.
Do not buy this horn just because it is easy.

[mr00420]

Ditto.

[Alabama_jazz]

Well people i just found out somthing about this horn. Its special, the guy that saling me this horn is very old and he has been playing sax for a while and he cant play anymore makes him dizzy he said. So he told me that hes saling me his horn !!

It looks brand new and plays like a dream my band director told me the horn with worth over 2500 $ and he said that he cant believe the guy is gonna sale it to me.

[mr00420]

There is no re-lacquered, 1926 Conn New Age Chu Berry Alto worth $2500 that's had it's keys replaced! I've never even heard of a mint silver plated Chu going for that much, but it could be possible. I don't know your band director, but I think he seems to have very little idea of what he's talking about. Does he play saxes/ clarinets, etc. exclusively? If not, he's probably just going on what the horn looks like and the amount of cash the dealer has put into the horn. You can put $1500 into fixing an $800 horn, but it's STILL an $800 horn!

WHY is the horn special? Because it makes the dealer dizzy when he plays? There are plenty of horns that play "like a dream" and since you haven't play it yourself, it may not play like a dream for YOU. Have you played any other horns? It's completely up to you, but it seems like you came here asking what people think of Conn Chu Berrys yet you're disregarding several users' posts. Most people's opinion of Chus are: they are great vintage horns w/ a great sound but stiff key action, and the can be bought at reasonable prices.... This relacquered horn is not at a reasonable price! Your band director's estimate is way out in left field.

[LennyH]

If your heart is set on this horn than try to talk the guy down as far as you can. You just have to understand that, even at $1,000, you're paying over market value and if you try to sell the horn again there's no way you'll get $1,000 for it. Especially for a relacquer. If you're willing to live with that, go for it. The fact is, any horns that you could buy new in this price range will depreciate significantly by the time you try to sell them. And they're not pro horns like the chu.

If you're willing to overpay, why not test the horn for a couple of days first to make sure it's what you want.

[gary]

I don't believe this discussion.

So this fellow is only interested in finding a home for his sax with someone who will appreciate it and treat it right. How selfless. This isn't a two year old Registered Siamese cat that he's got to part with because he's moving! It's a sax.

And the band director thinks it's worth $2500?!! I'm really hesitant about underming anyone's teacher out of hand, but this is pure kaka. The band director is either ignorant or in cahoots with him. He's an old friend, right?
The band director said "...and he said that he cant believe the guy is gonna sale (sic) it to me." Uh, huh. I smell a rat.

I'm also a bit uncomfortable with your teacher's encouragement to get a pro horn. There's nothing, in and of itself, with the recommendation, but in context with everything he and his friend have said. Well...

One thing that's coming through loud and clear is that you are not trying these instruments out. I'll bet that you could get a used Yamaha at under $1200.00 that would blow you away.

Anyway, good luck.

[Alabama_jazz]

Guess What !!!???
Ok heres the story my goof band director was talking about a different horn to me than the guy that im buying from was talking about ok .The one my band director was talking about has new everything put on it like everyone said it has no value ok .

But the one this use to play on, as he says "Museum Condition" Orginal lacqeur and orginal keywork 100% lacquer no dents or dings...! So now does 1200 $ sound like a good price ???


(my band director is a very good band director he just got the wrong horn is his mind the first time he told me about it) Then he told me about the horn that is all original he said that horn was worth at least 2500$


So Does this sound like a fair deal now

[Gandalfe]

Me thinks young master Alabama_jazz is taking us for a ride.

[frankbiff]

No, it does not sound like a fair price. The value of these horns is not universaly recognized. I bought a 1929 Silver Conn Alto for $75 , found it in the junk pile in the window of a local music store; very playable, new pads, corks and felts; but not a very professional job; no case. Maybe the owner didn't know what it was? But he repairs and sells brass and woodwinds for a living! You would think he would have had some idea of it's value? Or Maybe they are realy worth a lot less then $2500. I would think somewhere around $750, in good to excelent condition with new pads etc. Price depends on demand and avability. There are a lot of these horns out there, just look and you too can find a bargin. If not try a Beuscher TT, there must be thousands
of those around too. Iv'e had 2 already, got them both for nothing, gave one away in the 1970s, kept the 1929 model.

[gary]

Sigh (sI) vi.[/b] (<OE. sican to take in and let out a long, deep, audible breath, as in sorrow, relief, etc.

[mr00420]

Stick a fork in this topic... it's (over) done.

[Hurling Frootmig]

Better yet delete it and pretend it never happened. :roll:

[Alabama_jazz]

I played many horns while i was at the music store but none could compare to the mark 6 sound the next best in line was the great chu berry. It has a nice sound too not deep and tnot to mellow just perfect and it is all original Gary.
The horn really was a joy to play and i played some older model yamahas and they were good but there tone wasnt like of the chu.
I bought the horn for 850$ dollars with no bargining. I had talked with my band director about ur comments about the chu berry he said that your opinions on " the other horn that had new lacquer and new keys would have been a rip off" But i bought the all original one.

Thanks for your comments

Brian

[mr00420]

Your band director said WHAT about the comments that the re-lacquered horn was a rip off? I read that sentence several times, but I still have no idea what you were trying to say. Good job... you actually went and played some other horns. So I guess which ever horn you did buy was worth $850($.) I'm glad you were able to buy a decent horn at a decent price. Good luck w/ it.

Now, along w/ practicing your sax, I suggest that you schedule some time for focusing on your Lang. Arts class. All of your posts required some serious "translation" in order to guess-timate what your meaning was. On top of that, you could deal w/ a few lessons in humility, basic manners, and taking advice from people who've been playing (two, three, or more times) longer than you've been born. That's why you posted a question on this website, right? I guess you'll learn this in time.

[koyle23]

If this guy is a friend of your directors, get another opinion. I have bought and sold horns for years, and people will tell you whatever you want to hear when it is for a friend... sometimes band directors even get kickbacks from sellers.

Not that your Director is, but there is definitely a bias. You are overpaying for it. Save for another two or three months and get a keilwerth SX-90, or something. Chu's are OK, but just OK.

[Chu-Jerry]

... never mind

[zxcvbnm]

This thread is from 5 years ago, when Chus were selling for cheap.

[Chu-Jerry]

This thread is from 5 years ago, when Chus were selling for cheap.Good point, and I missed that. But the misinformation regarding the playability of the Chus went unchallenged, and that hasn't changed.