I have a 1939 Conn 6M that my father gave me when I started. It was one he played when he had a band in the 40's. I have taken care of it, and there is no horn, including any Mark VI, that has the tone of that horn. Every musician that hears me play it always comments about what a great sound it has.
that's super cool I got to try one recently at @robertoswinds in NYC and I had to hold myself back from buying it on the spot- there's just nothing else like the sound of a KING IYKYK :)
10M all the way! Had mine for 43 years bought at Bill Lewingtons in London where I chatted to Tubby Hayes a few times. Tried everything else, can't touch the sound! All the best from an old tenor player in England.
Both great! I can only speak out of experience after 35 years playing on Conn pre-war tranny’s alto’s,tenors and bari’s is: They are handmade and sound all slightly different. And maybe this is no news, but I compared 6 tenor 10m’s and one sounded the best. It was the neck. Tried that neck on the other ones , and they sounded also better than with their original necks. This particular neck was also thinner (partly by age & use?) and in good shape. So conclusion : You are real lucky to find a good transitional 10m, New Wonder II with a nice neck.
I have a Conn C melody with a date of 1914 stamped on it. I also have an 1896 curved Soprano manufacturer unknown and a Conn 10M tenor, I believe is a 1967-1968 model.
The 1914 year is the year the process for making rolled tone holes was patented. You'd have to look up the serial number to determine what year yours was made. Not that long number, the other one. Conn C Melody saxophones are considered the best, nowadays.
Hey man!! Great vid! Would you know of any sleeper horns that will quench my thirst of getting a MkVI? Still haven't found anything that sounds like it (though the Tru Six sounds like it might be the real deal). I know this is improbable but you never know until you ask lol!!
Your comment about Yanagisawa and contemporary horns being too thick and heavy to vibrate had me scratching my head. I get the conn and king are great saxes, but, every horn built today is by definition a contemporary horn and I’m pretty sure they all vibrate. Are you going to dismiss them all? Incidentally my horn of choice is the Yanagisawa TWO10-U no high F#. It’s lighter than many horns I’ve played and vibrates beautifully. So what are your students doing wrong? I’ve played vintage horns that felt relatively dead in comparison to well built contemporary horns. So really….what’s your point…
Congratulations on your horn! Buy what you love and have a passion for playing. My experience is that there is a large number of people who buy contemporary tenors from the “big 3”- Selmer, Yamaha, and Yani who end up trading it them in down the road for vintage instruments. Aside from the points I made in the video there’s also value retention and investment to consider- you’re typically losing about 50% of the purchase price when you purchase a new horn at the time of this writing. Thanks for sharing your opinion!
I have a 1939 Conn 6M that my father gave me when I started. It was one he played when he had a band in the 40's. I have taken care of it, and there is no horn, including any Mark VI, that has the tone of that horn. Every musician that hears me play it always comments about what a great sound it has.
Pre War Conn's were definitely a different breed!
SBAs and Mark VIs might have better ergonomics and intonation, but the American made horns had the most luscious tone ever produced on a saxophone.
Love my 1938 King Zephyr Special Tenor and twin 1938 alto. Amazing big rich, crisp sound! 🎷😎 Sax on!
that's super cool I got to try one recently at @robertoswinds in NYC and I had to hold myself back from buying it on the spot- there's just nothing else like the sound of a KING IYKYK :)
Agreed, I love my 1947 King Zephyr, ugly re-lacquer but lovely, rich sound!
I’m waiting on my 10m to get fixed. One of the best sounding horns I have ever played
No doubt! What’s your back up?
@@SHORESAX I play an Eastman 52nd Street. I think it’s a super underrated horn. Really big sound, great response too.
@@usererror2572 that’s interesting I’ve never tried one!
Couldn't agree more had mine for over forty years.
@@usererror2572what mouthpiece are you using with it?
10M all the way! Had mine for 43 years bought at Bill Lewingtons in London where I chatted to Tubby Hayes a few times. Tried everything else, can't touch the sound! All the best from an old tenor player in England.
the 10M is undeniable!
Which mouthpiece do you use with your 10m?
@@Tom06 Drake/ Bergonzi 8* about 4 yrs, previously always Link
@@Tom06 Just borrowing it- I own the Super 20 1A transitional! I play a Dukoff Stubby clone with a Robertos Uovo ligature!
Both great! I can only speak out of experience after 35 years playing on Conn pre-war tranny’s alto’s,tenors and bari’s is:
They are handmade and sound all slightly different. And maybe this is no news, but I compared 6 tenor 10m’s and one sounded the best. It was the neck. Tried that neck on the other ones , and they sounded also better than with their original necks. This particular neck was also thinner (partly by age & use?) and in good shape. So conclusion :
You are real lucky to find
a good transitional 10m, New Wonder II with a nice neck.
Just don't believe anyone who says Bueschers are strictly classical saxophones! The 1925-'55 models might be the ultimate all-rounders.
Love the Conn!! (I own a 32 Conn Transitional) Big bright sound of the King.
I love my King Super 20. It is a 1977 model I bought in 1978. Great horn
I just sold a Silversonic from '75- what an incredible horn!
I have a Conn C melody with a date of 1914 stamped on it.
I also have an 1896 curved Soprano manufacturer unknown and a Conn 10M tenor, I believe is a 1967-1968 model.
The 1914 year is the year the process for making rolled tone holes was patented. You'd have to look up the serial number to determine what year yours was made. Not that long number, the other one. Conn C Melody saxophones are considered the best, nowadays.
appreciate you sharing! I've actually never played a C melody
How do they compare to the Martin's in your opinion?
You sound amazing on those horns.
I really appreciate you listening!
Thanks for the info. Joel B.
Both sounds beautiful, but i like the Conn better...
They're so different I think they could definitely be "one and dones" or part of a larger collection of horns!
Hey man!! Great vid! Would you know of any sleeper horns that will quench my thirst of getting a MkVI? Still haven't found anything that sounds like it (though the Tru Six sounds like it might be the real deal). I know this is improbable but you never know until you ask lol!!
Absolutely! Send me a DM on insta @john.Petrucelli.sax and I’d be happy to hook you up! I really need to make a full video on this as well :)
@@SHORESAX doing so right now!! thanks a bunch!
I’ve had a lot of horns ..closes to selmer 6 to me is b&s Chicago jazz/Medusa or cannonball vintage reborn
Yeah John! Got me laughing!
Thanks for checking out the video! If I can ever help you find a horn let me know :)
The King Super 20 has a brighter sound than the Conn.
agreed that they are totally different sound profiles... and I own the King ;)
Nice hair bro 😮
Thanks :p
What makes a saxophone a “jazz” saxophone is the artist, not the horn.
Your comment about Yanagisawa and contemporary horns being too thick and heavy to vibrate had me scratching my head. I get the conn and king are great saxes, but, every horn built today is by definition a contemporary horn and I’m pretty sure they all vibrate. Are you going to dismiss them all? Incidentally my horn of choice is the Yanagisawa TWO10-U no high F#. It’s lighter than many horns I’ve played and vibrates beautifully. So what are your students doing wrong? I’ve played vintage horns that felt relatively dead in comparison to well built contemporary horns. So really….what’s your point…
Yeah man. I have a 1940s Buescher Top Hat & Cane and let me tell you, that is an incredibly heavy saxophone!
@@oldmatedave1 Legend has it, the M4 Sherman tank was originally….a design variant of the Buesher Top Hat & Cane.
Congratulations on your horn! Buy what you love and have a passion for playing. My experience is that there is a large number of people who buy contemporary tenors from the “big 3”- Selmer, Yamaha, and Yani who end up trading it them in down the road for vintage instruments. Aside from the points I made in the video there’s also value retention and investment to consider- you’re typically losing about 50% of the purchase price when you purchase a new horn at the time of this writing. Thanks for sharing your opinion!
@@Tracksafe Top Hat and Cane tenor weight: 6.8 pounds. Yani TWO10 weight: 7.716 pounds
@@SHORESAX the point was they’re not flimsy. Also my special order yani would weigh a bit less.