[Udikas]

Hello!
Just got myself a Conn baritone sax serial number SN N135xxx.
I tried to figure out were and when it was made, there is no Mexico or USA marking anywhere on the body, and it seems like you can't trust the serial number charts that say that prefix N=1970. Anyway, help is appreciated!

Axel

 

[JayeLID]

Correct. The online serial charts are all wrong, basically. N serials existed from '70 to '84. They were the MacMillan ownership serials which Danny Henkin continued until he sold to UMI.

Your number is late 70's. It is therefore very likely MX-made, as Conn production did not return to the 'States completely until around '84.

If you can either post some photos, or contact me via PM so I can perhaps arrange to get some, I would appreciate it. This because , member Stocker and I have been keeping/drafting a Conn N Serial Number List over the past few years to try to get a handle on the physical attributes/specs/details of various N horns.

Is yours a low A or Low Bb ?

BTW, they are good players. Basically the exact same design as the Elkhart-made artists, so they sound and feel the same. In MX horns one tends to see from time to time (but with regularity) some construction/assembly issues which remained fairly constant: too much key play, keycups misaligned over toneholes, key fulcrums on the bow and bell keys poorly oriented. All of these are easily correctable by a decent tech.

Enjoy your horn ...they are fantastic sounding BigHorns !!!

 

[Udikas]

Thanks for the info! JayePDX, I was hoping you would chime in, have been reading what you and topper has been writing in the other threads. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

 

[Udikas]

Hello again!
No pictures, just didn't have the time today. It is a low Bb model. Some new info turned up! The guy I got the horn from bought it from the original owner who in turn got the horn in 1974. Also, he got it here in Sweden if that matters. I'll have the pictures up tomorrow for sure, it really is a great looking horn!

 

[Mike T]

Any pictures yet, Udikas ?

 

[badenia]

Correct. The online serial charts are all wrong, basically. N serials existed from '70 to '84. They were the MacMillan ownership serials which Danny Henkin continued until he sold to UMI.

Your number is late 70's. It is therefore very likely MX-made, as Conn production did not return to the 'States completely until around '84.

If you can either post some photos, or contact me via PM so I can perhaps arrange to get some, I would appreciate it. This because , member Stocker and I have been keeping/drafting a Conn N Serial Number List over the past few years to try to get a handle on the physical attributes/specs/details of various N horns.

Is yours a low A or Low Bb ?

BTW, they are good players. Basically the exact same design as the Elkhart-made artists, so they sound and feel the same. In MX horns one tends to see from time to time (but with regularity) some construction/assembly issues which remained fairly constant: too much key play, keycups misaligned over toneholes, key fulcrums on the bow and bell keys poorly oriented. All of these are easily correctable by a decent tech.

Enjoy your horn ...they are fantastic sounding BigHorns !!!

Just a point of clarifications recognizing this is a saxophone forum, the serials that go beyond the "N" do apply to brass. It's the reason care has to be taken when looking at the "P" serial in the brass as it was repeated in 1971, albeit the designs do give away the vintage.

 

[Udikas]

Hello!
It's hard to take pictures of a sax, but here they are at last... I have been playing this horn in a big band, with a gospel choir and some recording sessions. The tone is great, especially the high register, it got lots of character but the mechanics are not perfect. I had to borrow a Yanagisawa for one concert, the music was to tricky to play on the Conn. The left pinky cluster is very stiff, it got better after I gave it to a tech, but its still pretty rough. Is there anyway to lighten it up? The springs look crazy thick, is there any way to switch them out? Overall I'm very happy with the horn, especially after I got a RPC mouthpiece instead of the STM that came with the horn.

Here's some pictures! Tell me if i should get some more, and if so what I should photograph!

 

[bariandyf]

I'm curious to know what model RPC mouthpiece you got,

thanks

 

[Udikas]

It's a RPC rollover 110. Maybe if I played more baritone I would want a more open piece, but for now it works beautifully.

 

[bariandyf]

It's a RPC rollover 110. Maybe if I played more baritone I would want a more open piece, but for now it works beautifully.

thanks - I've just ordered one from Ron, a 120B, should be here very soon, can't wait.