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My New Conn 10M

11834 Views 50 Replies 26 Participants Last post by  HUTMO
I made the deal today and purchased a 10M Tenor

319XXX RTH

I have taken my time deciding if this was the tenor that I wanted. After only one tenor for 25 years this is number six in the past 1.5 years.

I A/B'd this against my Yamaha 62 and decided I liked the vintage sound and feel. The Yammy was a fine tenor that really played well.

Today I went to the shop and played the 10M, a New Ownder and two Mark VI's. The New Wonder was a very lively horn to say the least, One of the Mark VI's was a bit stuffy but the second one (219XXX) was free blowing and spot on. A very nice Jazz sax indeed. After playing this Selmer I brought out the 10M and the deal was sealed in my mind. The 10M, although different, was all the horn the 219XXX Mark VI is.

I plan on playing it for a bit to see if it is my true horn and then I will make the Selmer thumb rest change. Man that thing is painful. I know some will cringe but I could not play an entire gig with the way it is.

The sax as you can see from the images below is quite nice but the case is even nicer. It has had a cover on it from day one. The handle is worn but the case does not have one mark to be found. Very sweet indeed with the original latch keys!

HUTMO



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Very nice looking horn! I tried out an old New Wonder recently, and since then have been trying to convince my wife that I should get a backup tenor.
cograts-a beauty-add a second strap ring and get the neck extended if you want to use high baff mpcs. this one must be one of the last with rolled tone holes
Congratulations, Hutmo.

I have a 316xxx 10M that's a thing of beauty, though not as beautiful as yours. I also have a glorious late Mark VI -- amazingly, it's a freeblowing 219xxx -- that remains my primary tenor, at least until I deal with ergo issues on the 10M.

But I've gigged with the Conn and loved it -- aside from the feeling that my thumb'll fall off -- and you've got yourself a great horn.... Have fun!
219XXX Mark VI's

Kelly Bucheger said:
Congratulations, Hutmo.
I also have a glorious late Mark VI -- amazingly, it's a freeblowing 219xxx -- that remains my primary tenor, at least until I deal with ergo issues on the 10M.
You know the 219xxx Mark VI's must have been a good run. I have a friend who also has a 219XXX tenor and that thing is so free blowing it is amazing. Although, this new 10M is just as good in that department.

As for the thumb... the new thumb rest and new hook will be coming soon.

HUTMO
Man that thing looks in terrific shape and the case, well that's a work of art. That case is a collector's dream, I would think. If it plays as well as it looks., congrats.

BTW, I played 10Ms for a good decade and the thumb rest never bothered me, wonder why? But what got my goat (or rather my chops) was the way that sucker would whack mein the face if I reached for a double, like some crazed goose whacking you on the chops with his beak. Some move the neck strap ring but others simply add one. I guess it's a matter of aesthetics. Anyway, enjoy!
I chose to simply add new strap rings to my 10M horns rather than relocate the original.

I'd kill for that mint case by the way. I have a 1947 The Martin Committee Tenor case and cover in immaculate condition like that, and a remarkably choice King faux crocodile finish alto case from the 1920's.

All my Conn cases have seen better days.:(
Hutmo, you are a very lucky guy. Looks like a dream horn that you can keep for the rest of your playing career!
why does everyone hate pearl thumb rests? it's one of the reasons i prefer my SBA to VIs
WOW. I would most definitely buy this. The maximum that I would ever pay for this would be $3000, and that is over priced too. I thought that when I switched from Selmer Mark VI to a Conn Transitional Chu, that it would be weird, and that the keys would be mounted sideways like a Bundy, and that the table keys would take forever to get used to. I was proved wrong, I got used to it in a day. Try out the altissimo. Finger a note the way that you normally would, and blow it like it was in a third or fourth octave. The altissimo notes play for me even with a CHEESY Bundy Plastic Mouthpiece like the sax is expected to play them and they sound normal. (I haven't bought a new mouthpiece, I just sold my Brillhart LevelAire). Do not let this one slip by, I have done that and regreted it to a sax or two in the past, only later to find out its true potential, but now I know much better!
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Just gotta say, that's a beautiful horn. I've got a 312xxx silver plated alto, and am thinking that I'd love to get my hands on a matching period 10M. I kinda wish I would have gotten one 10 years ago when I got my 6M-VIII... seems like they were quite a bit less back then. Sigh.

Nice find... congrats.

**BRENT**
Awesome horn! You know it's interesting, I have a 30m that's from right around the same time, and - guess what - a 219xxx Mk VI! Funny you mention it, the 219 is the first VI that I thought worked for me.... maybe there's something in our ears that draws us to both these horns...

Pete
No, MINE ,MINE my PrEcIous...err....ahem

Nice Conn.
ChuBerry47 said:
WOW. I would most definitely buy this. The maximum that I would ever pay for this would be $3000, and that is over priced too. I thought that when I switched from Selmer Mark VI to a Conn Transitional Chu, that it would be weird, and that the keys would be mounted sideways like a Bundy, and that the table keys would take forever to get used to. I was proved wrong, I got used to it in a day. Try out the altissimo. Finger a note the way that you normally would, and blow it like it was in a third or fourth octave. The altissimo notes play for me even with a CHEESY Bundy Plastic Mouthpiece like the sax is expected to play them and they sound normal. (I haven't bought a new mouthpiece, I just sold my Brillhart LevelAire). Do not let this one slip by, I have done that and regreted it to a sax or two in the past, only later to find out its true potential, but now I know much better!
Wonderful advice from someone who was born the year I graduated from college and entered the world of work. ;) No offense, and believe me, I don't look at everyone's profile. ;) There's just an innocence and naivete to some of these musings that sometimes makes me curious--and more than often my prediction is right. But like the consensus expressed on another recent thread (btw consensus has three s's; I can't believe how many times I've seen it misspelled here), if someone has experience with something saxophone, then they have a right to share it, regardless of age or experience. Carry on, my wayward son.... :)

BTW beautiful horn! But as an ex-moderator famously wrote: "All that matters is how it plays." (And at one point, Bix used to carry his cornet in a paper bag.) I just bought a '37 Buescher Aristocrat tenor close to the vintage of this 10M that has soldering, lacquer loss and pitting throughout (and I betcha I paid a lot less); but it sounds oh so sweet and beautiful. These horns ARE all they're cracked up to be. I hear Bootman's selling his pre-war Aristos if anyone's interested.
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I love how you said: "New!" Considering that is 68 years old, and that it is mint. I just find that funny. I like to say that about my Transitional
My new 10M

Swingtone said:
"All that matters is how it plays." /QUOTE]

Here's how the deal went.

The looks and condition of the 10M caught my eye. I walked away from it because I did not want to play it. You know what happens then. :D

I then played it and was very interested... but I walked again to think it over.

I then A/B it against my YTS 62 and I decided I wanted the 10M but I did not buy it right then.

I then A/B'd the sax against 2 Mark Vi's and a New Wonder and BOUGHT IT.

When I play this 10M I feel like Dr. Frankenstein. "ITS ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE"
So yes, it is quite a looker but it can back up its looks. I will add a Selmer style thumbrest and an additional strap hook. This baby will be ready to play.

My friend with the 219000 Selmer played this 10M. He said he was a bit depressed and had to go home to play his sax. :D :D :D

Thanks for the nice words regarding my 10M. I am quite happy with it.

HUTMO
Wow. That looks exactly like the horn my friend bought for 30$ bucks. Well.. his looks like hell, and the pads are KIND OF moldy, but it still manages to play like a dream. That is one heck of a horn :D.
acti0n_jacks0n said:
Wow. That looks exactly like the horn my friend bought for 30$ bucks. Well.. his looks like hell, and the pads are KIND OF moldy, but it still manages to play like a dream. That is one heck of a horn :D.
Tell him that I will buy it for 31$ Bucks, that is my final offer.
(
btw consensus has two s's; I can't believe how many times I've seen it misspelled here),
I'm losing track as well...good thing you're here to keep things straight!
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