[JohnMarkPainter]

Found a fun surprise in my basement.
10 years ago or so, a friend of mine’s dad bought an old Selmer (he thought it was a tenor) at a yard sale and was very excited.
Turned out to be a low pitch C

I tried to give it back to him and they didn’t want it. I hadn’t seen it and was trying to remember what happened...
Just found it mixed in with some old cases.

It had a Brilhart Ebolin 3 Alto mouthpiece jammed inside the crook.
Sounded much better when I figured that out

It is a silver Selmer New York
111393
Low Pitch
License
Pat. Dec. 8, 1914 (not sure about the date)

It needs pads/setup but is in excellent condition otherwise.
Fairly dark tone (played open)

I would actually use this. I don’t do a lot of reading gigs so the transposition isn’t an issue for me.
This deserves a rehab doesn’t it?

 

[JayeLID]

Well.......

...well......

made by Conn.

OK from one vantage point:

A full repad/overhaul will vastly exceed the value of the horn. So from the point of view of investment - monetary return.....one can argue "don't bother". Just sell it for $120, and enjoy that $120....

From a second vantage point:

A lot of folks dislike C-Mels for a reason. They just don't sound very good. No it doesn't matter if you outfit 'em with oversize noyek resos, the tone is intrinsic to the design of these. The stretched geometry of the body and neck, particularly.
"Stuffy", 'Muted" are descriptors typically used. So you could proceed, bearing in mind that after the initial 'newness' of the experience wears off, you are gonna just put it aside. But at least you will have given it a whirl and can probably sell it for $300-ish.

Or, maybe you WILL like it. There are aficionados, after all.

Does it have a mouthpiece ????

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

The mouthpiece in it was an Alto.
But it is a really clean maybe late 40's Ebolin 3*
Plays great on my alto. So that's good.

For recording, an odd dark tone would actually be useful for me.
Of course.....I just stick a toilet ring in my Tenor

I just cleaned it more and many pads have been replaced.
I'll check with my tech...

Well.......

...well......

made by Conn.

OK from one vantage point:

A full repad/overhaul will vastly exceed the value of the horn. So from the point of view of investment - monetary return.....one can argue "don't bother". Just sell it for $120, and enjoy that $120....

From a second vantage point:

A lot of folks dislike C-Mels for a reason. They just don't sound very good. No it doesn't matter if you outfit 'em with oversize noyek resos, the tone is intrinsic to the design of these. The stretched geometry of the body and neck, particularly.
"Stuffy", 'Muted" are descriptors typically used. So you could proceed, bearing in mind that after the initial 'newness' of the experience wears off, you are gonna just put it aside. But at least you will have given it a whirl and can probably sell it for $300-ish.

Or, maybe you WILL like it. There are aficionados, after all.

Does it have a mouthpiece ????

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

The plot thickens....
I got it playing better (cleaning, oil, Teflon tape...).
The intonation is better with an alto piece (the Ebolin that came with it).

 

[Reet McVouty]

How about a few pics!

 

[Dr G]

Well.......

...well......

made by Conn.

OK from one vantage point:

From a second vantage point:

A lot of folks dislike C-Mels for a reason. They just don't sound very good. No it doesn't matter if you outfit 'em with oversize noyek resos, the tone is intrinsic to the design of these. The stretched geometry of the body and neck, particularly.
"Stuffy", 'Muted" are descriptors typically used. So you could proceed, bearing in mind that after the initial 'newness' of the experience wears off, you are gonna just put it aside. But at least you will have given it a whirl and can probably sell it for $300-ish.

Or, maybe you WILL like it. There are aficionados, after all.

Here's one: https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?371982-C-melody-performance

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

Here are some pics

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

If I can get it in good playing condition for $350 or so I think I'll do it.
Getting the Ebolin takes some sting out of it.
I could always consider selling that and buying a Caravan if the horn comes out OK

 

[zapatista]

Well.......

...well......

made by Conn.

OK from one vantage point:

A full repad/overhaul will vastly exceed the value of the horn. So from the point of view of investment - monetary return.....one can argue "don't bother". Just sell it for $120, and enjoy that $120....

From a second vantage point:

A lot of folks dislike C-Mels for a reason. They just don't sound very good. No it doesn't matter if you outfit 'em with oversize noyek resos, the tone is intrinsic to the design of these. The stretched geometry of the body and neck, particularly.
"Stuffy", 'Muted" are descriptors typically used. So you could proceed, bearing in mind that after the initial 'newness' of the experience wears off, you are gonna just put it aside. But at least you will have given it a whirl and can probably sell it for $300-ish.

Or, maybe you WILL like it. There are aficionados, after all.

Does it have a mouthpiece ????

Or you're just plain wrong and there's a stigma associated with C Melodies that shouldn't exist based on psuedo-science. Your OPINION is just that.

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

Is this a Conn or a Buescher?
The dent guard and the serial number engraving look like 1920’s Buescher pics I have seen elsewhere

I heard enough good sounds from it to be interested enough to fix it.
Then I might be interested enough to get a proper mouthpiece

 

[GaSax]

Is this a Conn or a Buescher?
I heard enough good sounds from it to be interested enough to fix it.
Then I might be interested enough to get a proper mouthpiece

Doesn't look like a Conn stencil. Don't know enough about the Buescher saxes but the bottom strap on the bow, serial number style, "Low Pitch" and the lyer holder looks like the Buescher C Melody I have. It doesn't have the same brace on the neck, and the G# key is different. Then again the G# keys were done differently depending on when it was made.

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

The Ebolin Alto mouthpiece that came with it appears to be a Carlsbad.
I haven’t spent time with it but it seems to have better intonation than the Tenor pieces I tried so far.
And of course, the Tenor has to be pushed in and the Alto is out pretty far.

 

[Dr G]

The Ebolin Alto mouthpiece that came with it appears to be a Carlsbad.
I haven't spent time with it but it seems to have better intonation than the Tenor pieces I tried so far.
And of course, the Tenor has to be pushed in and the Alto is out pretty far.

And a C-melody piece would be just right... :bluewink:

If you are using both tenor and alto pieces on it, which has the better intonation tendencies throughout the range of the horn? Pick a note to tune, let's say B2 (B in the middle of the range), then check which way and how far each note swings from center pitch (keeping the embouchure consistent). That'll give you an idea of which piece is actually working better.

 

[Grumps]

It's a Buescher. The arc of the serial number, rooster bow guard, etc.

 

[milandro]

It certainly deserves to live especially if it costed you nothing

Indeed, a Buescher C melody and they are very good, there is nothing wrong in the sound of any C melody and even less when in the hands of anyone who knows what to do with it.

The playing position of these Bueschers is a little bit awkward ( the bow tends to come very close to your body) it may be helped if you get hold of an alternative neck (with all the caveats of a neck that is not made for any particular saxophone)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/profession...072386?hash=item2d0ac2e242:g:qzUAAOSw3eRciLsv

 

[kreacher]

Don't listen to any previous opinions, it's not worth restoring, really, a snake's pit!
Just send it to me so I can dispose of it properly. No charges, I'll even cover shipping!

 

[musekatcher]

False information. Lots of it. In this thread. Just wrong.

Never ask a flat-earther to explain escape velocity. Never ask a banjo player what their favorite instrument is. And don't ask superstitious dislikers, to share what they like about something they dislike. Pretty obvious self-fulfilling responses will follow.

 

[Grumps]

False information. Lots of it. In this thread. Just wrong.

Well, I did get Buescher right. And hey, I didn't even take the gratuitous opportunity to bash C melodies. A rarity, 'round these parts. For me, at least...

 

[zapatista]

Well, I did get Buescher right. And hey, I didn't even take the gratuitous opportunity to bash C melodies. A rarity, 'round these parts. For me, at least...

Duly noted.

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

Good stuff.

I’m going to keep cleaning it and playing it for the next few days.
The keys and pads are waking up now.
I have a tech looking at it Thursday to get it in ‘playing condition’.

I’ll likely get the Caravan to make my life easier.
I have no interest in trying to make this sound like an Alto or Tenor