I think that the key here is that your son is embarassed by the Conn. A large part of the selection of an instrument is not objective. There are actually some Conns later than yours that are pretty well thought of. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160146990961&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=006
The deal the store is offering is not bad, especially if they are going to warrant the Yamaha. Your vintage of Conn will seldom go over a couple hundred on eBay, so you are getting a YAS 23 for 7-750, which isn't horrible when you can play it and inspect it before hand. No dents, dings or scratches a Yamaha can bring that much on eBay. http://search-completed.ebay.com/Ya...pZ2QQnojsprZyQQpfidZ0QQsacatZQ2d1QQsofocusZbs
The horn that best suits your son at this point is the one that he is psyched to play. It really doesn't matter that a vintage Buescher will blow away a Yamaha for that kind of money if he won't play it. If it takes shine to get him pumped for practice, get him some shine, used.
The deal the store is offering is not bad, especially if they are going to warrant the Yamaha. Your vintage of Conn will seldom go over a couple hundred on eBay, so you are getting a YAS 23 for 7-750, which isn't horrible when you can play it and inspect it before hand. No dents, dings or scratches a Yamaha can bring that much on eBay. http://search-completed.ebay.com/Ya...pZ2QQnojsprZyQQpfidZ0QQsacatZQ2d1QQsofocusZbs
The horn that best suits your son at this point is the one that he is psyched to play. It really doesn't matter that a vintage Buescher will blow away a Yamaha for that kind of money if he won't play it. If it takes shine to get him pumped for practice, get him some shine, used.