[ZephyrSax]

Oh, good. Maybe I should get started on mine...

I'd just like to say thanks for sharing this wealth of information with all of us. I find it fascinating, and it's a great help for my own personal projects.

 

[Scott C]

Conn Chu repad / overhaul

Chu-Jerry:

Your work is very impressive, although I wish you well in your Software Engineering career, I think your talents as a master saxophone restoration guru will be missed. I inherited a 1929 Conn New Wonder Series II in silver plate from a great uncle a while back. It is completely original and had not been touched in 50 years. It still plays well but will need a repad and cleaning / tune up. Can you recommend anyone that does work comparable to yours?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[queperknuckle]

Is it possible to fix a dented neck?

If a neck has a dent in it, is it possible to fix it without ruining said neck and keeping the sound of the horn? It looks like that is what you did. How is that done?

 

[ChuBerry47]

Yes but it costs $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$! Depending on how deep it is.

 

[Seasax]

that does depend on the size of dent, a shallowish dent can be removed with the conventional method you would use for any sax, so i suppose it would cost the same as any other dent removal, unless it is really long and deep and on the bend in the neck, then it gets harder and costs more

 

[Chu-Jerry]

If a neck has a dent in it, is it possible to fix it without ruining said neck and keeping the sound of the horn? It looks like that is what you did. How is that done?

Just about anything can be fixed, given the right technique, tools, and enough time. But whether it's worth it is another question. Yes I repaired some dents in this neck. It still shows some slight signs of the repair on close inspection though. I think any neck repaired from serious dents or pulldown will show signs of repair after being fixed, but it can still be brought back to proper playing condition and look presentable.

 

[ChuBerry47]

I wish my conn 10 M looked like that

I don't know if anyone else has seen one, but I recently saw a Satin Gold 10M sell on ebay for only $750! I had never seen one in my life! It WAS original, the seller didn't even know anything about it other than it was a Conn 10M. I should have bid on it, but I didn't have any money. But how rare is this?

 

[bbbouklas]

can you post the link to the auction?
thanx

 

[nitrobaby]

wow....

 

[ChuBerry47]

can you post the link to the auction?
thanx

I know that I probably look like a liar, but I did not save the Link. I would have. Sorry. But I swear to you that it was in Satin Gold Plate. With everything that I know about Conns, This Was the S**T! It needed some dings taken out. To anyone else, it must have looked like a normal 10m I looked at all the pictures close up because I had a hunch, and Sure enough it was in satin goldplate, but it had the normal engraving. Weird? Could this have been the first 10M? I should have done more research at the time of this auction. I know that they come in Satin silver plate.

 

[Seasax]

there was no 'first' 10m, the models were 'transitioned' into each other.

 

[ChuBerry47]

there was no 'first' 10m, the models were 'transitioned' into each other.

By that I simply meant the first with the Side Bell Keys!

 

[ChuBerry47]

This has inspired me to continue to restore saxophones, but out to a much higher standard, than cleaning it up a bit and repadding it. I think this is a great hobby.

 

[Seasax]

i do the same and have my oldest conn yet coming in soon, hopefully this week.
133XXX

 

[Perry Cobb]

Great work!

 

[masonmjs]

I won't be able to fix any more customer horns for the forseeable future because I just got a full time job plus fall semester classes started and I have a full schedule. I probably won't even have enough time to work on any more of my own horns that need it, for quite a while.

Hi Chu-Jerry, I have to completely agree with all who posted previously here, your restoration work is second to none, I am sure that the other posters here will agree that we have all lost a potentially valuable restoring resource - sob.

Whilst I am on the subject, I have recently bought an old re-lacquered Chu Berry which I would like to have a go at myself, can I possibly email you with some questions once I get it (not arrived yet). I also wanted to ask if you recommend re-padding as a DIY activity (I'm pretty handy myself so I would like to try that too if it's possible with no 'special' tools).

Congrats on your restoration, it's a beautiful sax now, probably better than original and I am extremely jealous of the new owner.

Mike

 

[saxologist]

Re: Done!

Muahahaa - It Lives!

Well, looks like two weeks for this one. I'd say about 100 hours - but I'm slow.

Played great right off the bench too. This one surprised me a little; the full range just flows right out - even the altissimo was easy for me and I can't play altissimo.

Just a few last things to do:
I need to replate the neck since its plating got messed up during dent repairs. Case needs cleaning, then this one's good to go.

sell it to me..

 

[CosmicGrooves]

Chu-Jerry, that is AMAZING!!!

What does the glass bead blast do?
It seems it would remove the gold plate.

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Chu Jerry does some of the absolute BEST restoration work I have ever seen. Just wonderful!

 

[rabbit]

Exquisite!

Best of luck.