Conn Soprano

[SuiZen]

As a beginner to sax, I'm in the market for a soprano. I was planning to get a Yani, but then I started admiring the Conn sopranos on vintagesax.com. The reason I'm attracted to the Conn is because I recently purhacsed a 1929 alto Conn which I'm very pleased with.

What are your impressions of Conn sopranos?

Bill

[Dave Dolson]

SuiZen: I have a 1923 gold-plated Conn straight Bb sop. I got it from Gayle at vintagesax.com.

Nice instrument. I find the in-line palm keys (similar to a MKVI) to be a negative, but once my repair tech bent them down a bit, at least they don't interfer. The tone is really nice, but I prefer my Buescher TT and my S992 Yana over the Conn. I'd sell it if you were interested. E-mail me at jazzdolson@attbi.com to discuss further. DAVE

[paulwl]

If you have a little bit later vintage Conn straight, the palm keys are the conventional pivot type - much easier to handle. I play both Bueschers and Conns and find the choice a very close one indeed...[/i]

[Morry]

The Conns and Beuschers are nice horns, however, if I was new to the sax as the poster states, I might lean towards a later model horn. Modern keywork, as well as improvements in intonation can the difference in a beginner having fun or becoming disenchanted.

[Andrew]

The conn sopranos are VERY good instruments...however, the intonation on most conn sopranos suffer a lot (unless you can get a real nice one), and the keywork is not modern at all. If you can get a nice one, it'll definitely be one of the best sopranos you'll ever play :)

[SuiZen]

Thanks all. I'll go with a new one for starters.

Bill

[Bootman]

I know where there is a completely rebuilt gold plate Conn Sop from 1923 that plays exceptionally. If interested let me know and I will put you in contact with the owner.

[rrex54]

I wouldn't be afraid of the vintage horns. I've got two Pan Americans (straight and curved) and a Martin stencil and all defy the intonation problems that are supposed to plague the early sops. My curved Pan Am is particularly surprising in that regard. This poor horn seems to have had more use -- and abuse -- than any horn should bear and it plays well in tune with vintage Conn Eagle, Rico Metalite, modern Meyer medium chamber, and Runyon pieces!

I will admit, recognizing that preferences for sound are strong with sops, that I was not particularly enamoured of the Conn sound until I played a large chamber Eagle piece on them. Personally I find that the large chamber gives the sound a depth that I could not get with the Runyon Custom -- although the latter did play very, very well. I also find that despite the vintage of the horn and the mouthpiece, the sound seems like the best of some of the recordings of modern sops I've heard -- a somewhat reedier quality in contrast to the Martins.

[OnyxSax]

I own a late 1925 Conn Soprano and I love the horn. The keywork is great for small hands. I played a Mark VI prior to this horn, so I am used to the oddball palm keys. The horn has a very warm, rich tone, not nasally like modern sopranos. Intonation can be a bit funky when you first start playing the horn, but it is easy to bring it all under control.

Like every other Conn I've played (altos, tenors, baris), the Conn requires a fair amount of breath support to get it to sound its best. Most of the intonation problems I've experienced with Conns in general are when I am not putting a lot of air through the horn. Selmers are more forgiving in this regard, however, when you get a Conn going, few horns can match their sound.

[Doc Frazier]

rrex54.....could you email me about your Pan Am sops, please.
Thank you for your time,
Yours in CHRIST, Doc

[rrex54]

Doc -- PM seems to be disabled. E-mail me at roywreese@earthlink.net.