Help! value this horn-Conn Artist(?)

[FreshSax]

This is a gold plated(burnished) alto sax s#186,xxx. Plating is more than 98%. Engraving is all over the horn includes one bird on the bell. Mother-of-pearl is on every keys include thumb rest, right palm keys(thrill key), left pinky keys(G#, C#, B, Bb) and left Palm keys. Fully overhauled today. No damages except one palm key spring bed(not key post) has been resoldered and one very small ding on the bow. Is this horn Conn Artist? How much is this horn worth? Thanks in advance.

[Pete]

I moved this into the Conn forum, so it'll get a bit more exposure.

"Artist's Special" refers to a plating and engraving option available for Conn horns: it's gold plate with a non-standard Conn engraving on the bell (it seems that they gave you a choice of one of 30 different engraving styles). The "Virtuoso Deluxe" finish was also gold plate, but featured additional pearl keytouches and a custom engraving.

These horns can sell in the $2000 US range if they're really in 98% condition. If there's sloppy solder work and/or damage and/or you need new pads and/or your definition of 98% is everyone else's definition of 10%, you could have that number chopped down by quite a bit.

For further details and pictures, check out:

http://www.saxpics.com/conn/nw_artist.htm
http://www.saxpics.com/conn/nw_virtuoso.htm

[shmuelyosef]

right palm keys(thrill key)

Normally I'm not into silly posts, but I couldn't help myself with this obviously Freudian slip...I need a "thrill key" on all of my horns, although maybe all of them are!

[FreshSax]

confused with clarinet. sorry!