[podink]

Hi everyone,
I've been playing guitar for the past 40 years and have just taken up the sax. WOW. What took me so long...

I have searched this forum and googled endlessly but I can't find much in-depth information on the Conn 110M DJH modified. If anyone has more info, especially if you own one or have played one, please let me know.

I am thinking of buying one from a local shop for $1000. Please let me know if that is a good price.

Serial number is stamped 88111 which I think makes it a 1976. There is no prefix with the serial number. Above that is stamped Conn 110M. Daniel Henkins initials (DJH) are engraved on the bell as is the upper torso of a small naked lady.
All pads are new (replaced by the shop), no dents and has not been relacquered. Very clean and relatively scratch-free except for the area right around the strapring. Made of brass (not plated or anything). Tone holes are rolled (at least they appear to be to my untrained eyes). Keyguards appear to be sheet metal. No leaks or sticky pads, etc. and all notes sound properly. I had my teacher play it just to make sure since my playing at this point leaves a little to be desired!

After playing it I noticed that if you look behind the horn (stand the horn upright and look with the thumbrest in the middle), the bell of the horn is placed off to the left and not directly in-line. I don't know if that is a unique feature of this horn but maybe someone here would know. It doesn't seem to matter when I'm sitting but when I stand I adjust the neck to compensate for the way the horn hangs.

My research indicates that it is a Keilworth copy/stencil. My sax teacher has a Yanagisawa 992 bronze. He loves this 110M and although the action on the 992 is better he thinks the 110M's action can be adjusted. He said the 110's tone is big and warm, "like a cup of hot chocolate", and would make a great jazz horn.

So, is $1000 a fair price for this sax and is a 110M DJH modified a pro level horn?
Thanks very much!
Larry

 

[Raphyel]

Those are nice horns...there is one on Ebay right now for about 2k...a tenor..its a Keilwerth horn though, not a true conn horn. Is the one you're looking at a tenor?

 

[bruce bailey]

Dan Henkin bought Conn in about 1979 so your horn would be a bit later. Yes it is a keilwerth and it should be worth $1,000 assuming the pads and finish are good.

 

[Neil Sharpe]

Here's some information.
http://www.saxpics.com/conn/djh.htm

 

[podink]

In response to Raphyel's question: the 110M is a tenor. Thanks for pointing out the ebay sale (I found one from Wichita Band Instrument Co.). I'm pretty sure the one I'm thinking of buying is the same model. So...it seems that I'm getting a great deal for $1000?

Bruce and Neil: I found the serial number (88111) on a site whose url escapes me now but the date of 1976 according to that serial number chart doesn't match up with the dates that Daniel Henkin owned the company. So, I think you point out correctly that it must be a Keilwerth copy. Thanks for the link to saxpics too.

I wonder if anyone here has a 110M and could provide a short review regarding playability and tone? Is the 110M DJH the same thing as a Keilwerth SX-90R or a Conn 10M with modern keywork and a few other extra touches?
Thank you for all your responses,
Larry

 

[bruce bailey]

Danny Henkin sold Gemeinhardt in early 1977 and stayed on as president until ablut 1979 and as I recall bought Conn shortly after that, maybe early or mid 1980.

 

[podink]

Got it!

Hi all,
Just to let you know that I bought the Conn 110M last night for $999. Also got a Yamaha 5C mouthpiece and a few other odds and ends.

It's a great horn and I could immediately play low Bb with no problem. I'm just a beginner on the sax (2 months) but I've been playing guitar for 40+ years. The Yamaha YTS-52 I had been borrowing was harder to play especially in the low notes.

My teacher has a Yanagisawa 992 bronze and he loves the sound of the 110M. One observation he made was that for certain passages he would use the octave harmonic on the Yanagisawa's lowest C because it had a richer tone than the 2nd octave C (left hand key). The 110M didn't have that problem for him and he loves the tones especially for ballads. I won't be playing super fast anytime soon so it's nice to know that the slow notes will sound good.

Thanks to all for your great advice,
Larry

 

[Finnerski]

http://shmuelyosef.com/Saxophones/Conn_DJH_ladies/

Congrats on your new horn. I sent this DJH price list to Shmuelyosef. Your horn with an 88xxx serial number was made in the 1980's. My DJH bari is an 86xxx # and was made in 83 or 84. 1k for that horn is a great price. It was made at the Keilwerth factory and these babies do in fact have the real rolled tone holes. You really got a steal. Can you post us some pics?

 

[John Gilmore]

110m owner and saxophone player!

Good job Larry! I'm glad you were able to get a screamin' deal on a great horn.
Yes, definitely post some pics when you can. Oh, and it turns out that the Wichita Band 110m doesn't even have the original neck. I believe it's a Conn neck from a lesser quality horn. You got a real deal, congrats!

 

[podink]

Hi,
Finnerski, thanks for that great link! Great photos of engraved ladies and the price list too.

I've never posted pics before, although I've appreciated when others would do so, so I'll try to figure out how to do that ASAP. If anyone has a link to how to do that please let me know.

As for the serial number, I initially went to this site (http://drrick.com/conn.html) and thought the 110M was a 1976 model. Maybe the Nogalles horns carry that serial number?
But that didn't match with the info about DJH's purchase of Conn from 1980-85. Thanks to SOTW and the posters here in this thread, I read up on the history of Conn and that Keilwerth manufactured many of the Conn's that were DJH mods including the 110M.

Just for your info: My sax teacher is Juan Cruz (http://www.untilbefore.com/bios_/cruz_detail.html) over at Baum's Music in Albuquerque, NM. Very cool guy with lots of creative ideas too. He really helped me make the decision to get the 110M.
Thanks,
Larry

 

[Finnerski]

As for the serial number, I initially went to this site (http://drrick.com/conn.html) and thought the 110M was a 1976 model. Maybe the Nogalles horns carry that serial number?
But that didn't match with the info about DJH's purchase of Conn from 1980-85. Thanks to SOTW and the posters here in this thread, I read up on the history of Conn and that Keilwerth manufactured many of the Conn's that were DJH mods including the 110M.

Your horn, even though it says Conn is a Keilwerth. These horns are in same range as the Keilwerths as far as serial #'s go.

 

[podink]

Pics

Hi all,
Here is a link to a Photobucket album I just created. I've never done the Photobucket thing so I hope this works!

http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc83/bingolittle/

Even though the horn says Conn Finnerski is correct in pointing out that it was made by Keilwerth.
Thanks,
Larry

 

[bfoster64]

Wow, you scored big time to get that horn with a fresh repad for $1000. Don't ever sell it.

 

[Finnerski]

Very nice Podnik. You asked if they are similar to the SX-90R in one of your previous posts. The answer is yes, you are holding one of the original SX-90Rs, and there are several JK diehards that will say the horn you have is much better than the current JK's. I have a friend that has one of these tenors, and he can blow any house down, such a powerful sound is capable with this horn. You are one lucky guy, but the downside of the JK is the resale. Just look at what you got and for how cheap! Hell, there are several mouthpieces for sale that cost more than your horn. Its getting crazy!

 

[John Gilmore]

Great lookin' horn!

The horn looks great Larry! Very nice!
Of course I must ask, if for some reason you ever decide to sell it one day...:roll:

 

[podink]

Hi all,
I have to say that it makes me feel great to get feedback from more experienced players who says I got a great deal. As a beginning sax player I was very nervous about investing so much money on something I knew very little about.

Just for general interest to beginners who are searching for a horn...I did a lot of research on all the major brands that I could afford and even the ones I couldn't just to get general knowledge.

I also had a friend who owns a Cecilio tenor sax come by and play it for me. It sounded great and he gigs regularly at the Casinos here. He says it is his regular gigging horn. He has about 10 other horns too. He also has a student who also bought a Cecilio tenor and has had it for 9 months with no problems. Of course the local repair shops won't touch them. I actually think the Cecilios are a pretty nice horn and that the attitude prevalent today will change soon. I read in a music trade journal (I'm in the guitar dept. at a local shop) that Cecilio just hired a new marketing VP, so I think they are serious about cracking the U.S. market and upping the quality level.

My biggest dilemma was deciding between getting a classic vintage-type or new sax for under $2000 or just getting a temporary sax like the Cecilio for $350 or so. I read almost every word on Stephen Howard's site (http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/) and his views on cheap Chinese horns was very persuasive. His reviews were very educational as well. I think I would have bought a Cecilio if this Conn 110M hadn't come along.

I hope the photos I posted will add to the relatively sparse info about the Conn 110M DJH available on the web. Lot's of information about Selmers though!
Thanks,
Larry

 

[Finnerski]

Cecilio tenor = a junky horn.

Conn DJH Modified tenor = a killer horn.