apolaine
02-29-2008, 09:10 AM
I posted quite a lot of this in the thread on playing tendencies, but:
I was in the market for a Conn and had been researching them studiously. Played a couple here in Germany at Bruno Waltersbacher's and loved a Chu with modified ergos, but didn't have the cash at the time.
I went back in the last month and played a massive range of vintage and modern horns - Leo Bundy Conn stencil, Hamilton, New King, Selmer, Keilwerth SX90R, etc. Gradually whittling them down to a choice between about 3-4 horns.
In the end I bought a lovely '38 (I think - serial is 124xxx) Holton 'Elkhorn'. It won the tone contest hands-down (although there were no playable Conns to directly compare to at the time - I'm going on my memory of the Chu). It's been completely overhauled and is really easy to play and has a great tone.
The tone is warm, but also pretty versatile. I want to try a few different MPCs on it to see what happens. I can get a really warm dark jazz sound but belt out some power too. Free blowing and no stuffy D (like that Keilwerth!)
Build quality is great - it's heavy horn and the keywork is very solid.
Pretty sure the keys are nickel plated and they compare in arrangement to a Chu/transitional I'd say. The palm keys are longer (no spoon keys) and the left-hand pinky keys are quite Chu nailfile G# in arrangement. It has that top F/C trill key and the G# trill key too.
Keywork is not as complicated/comprehensive as a modern horn, but straightforward and I like it. Bruno's techs have done a great job of restoring it and setting up the action - it's very quiet, smooth and certainly quick enough for my level of playing.
I was totally surprised to be honest. I had my heart set on a Conn but this took it for me. Maybe I just got a lucky horn or maybe the restoration and set-up have done wonders.
If anyone can point me to some more info I'd be very keen to read more about it.
I'll try to post some pics soon.
I was in the market for a Conn and had been researching them studiously. Played a couple here in Germany at Bruno Waltersbacher's and loved a Chu with modified ergos, but didn't have the cash at the time.
I went back in the last month and played a massive range of vintage and modern horns - Leo Bundy Conn stencil, Hamilton, New King, Selmer, Keilwerth SX90R, etc. Gradually whittling them down to a choice between about 3-4 horns.
In the end I bought a lovely '38 (I think - serial is 124xxx) Holton 'Elkhorn'. It won the tone contest hands-down (although there were no playable Conns to directly compare to at the time - I'm going on my memory of the Chu). It's been completely overhauled and is really easy to play and has a great tone.
The tone is warm, but also pretty versatile. I want to try a few different MPCs on it to see what happens. I can get a really warm dark jazz sound but belt out some power too. Free blowing and no stuffy D (like that Keilwerth!)
Build quality is great - it's heavy horn and the keywork is very solid.
Pretty sure the keys are nickel plated and they compare in arrangement to a Chu/transitional I'd say. The palm keys are longer (no spoon keys) and the left-hand pinky keys are quite Chu nailfile G# in arrangement. It has that top F/C trill key and the G# trill key too.
Keywork is not as complicated/comprehensive as a modern horn, but straightforward and I like it. Bruno's techs have done a great job of restoring it and setting up the action - it's very quiet, smooth and certainly quick enough for my level of playing.
I was totally surprised to be honest. I had my heart set on a Conn but this took it for me. Maybe I just got a lucky horn or maybe the restoration and set-up have done wonders.
If anyone can point me to some more info I'd be very keen to read more about it.
I'll try to post some pics soon.