York Bass on PMwoodwind!

[acti0n_jacks0n]

http://www.pmwoodwind.com/instruments.cfm?c=1&instrumentid=1374

*drool*

I've never actually have seen a York in person.. quite rare, they are.

According to the serial, this particular horn was made in between 1921-1924.

[cmelodysax]

Isn't it really a Conn stencil, with that 'mercedes' low C guard ? The reflection of light off the edges of some of the toneholes looks a bit like they could be rolled, to these tired old eyes...

[SearjeantSax]

Isn't it really a Conn stencil, with that 'mercedes' low C guard ? The reflection of light off the edges of some of the toneholes looks a bit like they could be rolled, to these tired old eyes...

no, actually Yorks aren't stencils! they were in Grand Rapids, Michigan I think and they made their own horns with a merc style low C guard, -- also, see the really hefty soldered on tonehole chimenys. and these are probably the first basses to have a bis key...

[cymru97]

I'd be surprised if York produced their own basses. It looks an awful lot like a Conn stencil to me, but there are a few minor differences so who knows... To me the Bis key appears to have been added later, I like it, I might have my tech add one like that.

[bandmommy]

Why wouldn't York make their own basses?
And York instruments are NOT stencils. They had their own instrument manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
They produced saxophones, trumpets, cornets, trombones, all the way up to concert tubas.

[cmelodysax]

no, actually Yorks aren't stencils! they were in Grand Rapids, Michigan I think and they made their own horns with a merc style low C guard, -- also, see the really hefty soldered on tonehole chimenys. and these are probably the first basses to have a bis key...

Searjeant / bandmommy - I didn't say that all Yorks are stencils, they did make their own horns, my first ever sax was a vintage York alto - just maybe this bass was made for them (as a stencil) by Conn. I'm aware that Conn even made bass saxes for Martin, Bert Brandsma (http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=X4SGlw8dd84)has one manufactured by Conn but engraved Martin.

And the only other company to use Conn-style 'mercedes' C guards on their own saxophones in the 20's, that I know of, apart from Conn, was Lyon & Healy (http://www.cmelodysax.co.uk/saxophones/gallery/lyonhealy-own-couturier-cmel.htm). I did notice the toneholes on the bass, at first I thought Martin, but I can't see any real bevelling, just the hint of a rolled edge - but that may be a trick of the light as Conn tended not to produce stencils with rolled toneholes.

I'm sure that a real bass sax expert will appear shortly, and enlighten us... ;)

[Merlin]

I'm pretty sure that bass was made by Conn for York.

[SAXISMYAXE]

I too believe it to be a Conn manufactured horn. It displays far too many design characteristics in common with the Conn Bass designs.

York was curious as manufacturers go, as they appear to have utilized stencils, horns assembled from parts culled from various other manufacturers, as well as proprietary designed and manufactured models throughout their history, sometimes concurrently.

[cymru97]

Why wouldn't York make their own basses?


Well, I don't have anything definitive there except to point to the great amount of resources required to produce your own line of basses just to sell a handful. It is much more economical to stencil a Conn or Buescher bass like so many manufacturers did.

That said, I have no proof, but as many have pointed out the design characteristics are nearly spot-on for a Conn. I even pulled mine out to compare and except for a few very minor variations (my spit valve is on the bottom, Mine has two bell-body braces) they are the same.

Regardless, it's a pretty horn and will make someone very happy.

[SAXISMYAXE]

Nice B-17G Bombardier nose shot in your avatar Cymru!;)
I was lucky to have the privilege of flying in a surviving example when my late father was a pilot member of the Commemorative Air force (ex Confederate Air force).

[DavyRay]

Something to keep in mind is "badge engineering". Companies like Gretsch, Lyon & Healy, and York liked to keep some continuity from one year to the next, even though they were selling instruments 'private labeled' from different manufacturers. Gretsch, for example, had similar bell-to-body braces, whether the sax was actually manufactured by Buescher or Martin. Lyon & Healy had a low C key guard which was almost like the Conn 'Mercedes' guard, but which was not just like it.

[cmelodysax]

Nice one - 'private labeled' sounds much better than 'stencilled' ! :D

[Helen]

I'm surprised no one has commented on what appears to be a bis Bb key on the horn. I don't know Conn basses, since I own & play a Buescher, and have only ever seen 1 Conn, and that was years ago, but to my knowledge, they didn't come with a bis Bb key. I know Paul Lyndemeyer had a Conn with one added afterwards, but it didn't look like this. This bis Bb almost looks like it was there from the beginning. Do we know when Conn added a bis Bb to their basses? If we did, then we'd likely know what year this horn was manufactured after.

:? If we were really curious, we could contact PM Woodwinds and ask them. They might know more about the horn. Just a thought.

[Little Sax]

[...] To me the Bis key appears to have been added later, I like it, I might have my tech add one like that.

I'm surprised no one has commented on what appears to be a bis Bb key on the horn. [...]

:?

I agree that someone should call PM for more details though.

[rs1sensen]

My understanding of York is that yes, they did produce many of their own horns, but, they also were sometimes stenciled, specifically through Conn, I believe. I haven't played a York, but my Lyon and Healy C-Melody came in a York case! (great horn, btw, although I'm planning on purchasing another C-Mel soon.)

[Helen]

:?

I agree that someone should call PM for more details though.

Wow, that first bis key comment went right over my head. Didn't even see it..Thanks...Guess I should have had my 2nd coffee of the AM before posting. ;)