They’re really cool and nothing plays quite like them. I’ve seen one that had a ton of work done to it to give it radial Yamaha keywork. It was the most comfortable Conn I’d ever played and it still sounded just as good as any other Conn.
Hi Scott! Great content as always! Wondering what your experiences were with a late 60s Zephyr alto as far as ergonomics and sound quality. I'm not willing to dive too far into vintage ergonomics. Thanks and keep up the great videos and info!
Great question. The ergonomics are overall pretty modern. The tone holes are still inline and that’s probably the only thing that would make it feel vintage. It’s a really easy sax to get around on. Sound quality is very good on these. If you find a good deal they’re a great sax for the money. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching, Scott
Cool vid, Scott. In your opinion, what modern horn (if any) would you say comes closest in sound to your Conn? Also, I have a 10M. In your experience, how does the sound between the NWII & 10M compare?
I don’t think anything plays like a Conn. keilwerth and maybe P.Mauriat system 76 have a bigger sound like the Conn, but the Conn still has the advantage. I always felt like the 10m played like a refined nw2. I actually have a couple 10m’s and a 30m that I need to overhaul. Sometimes I wish I had a 10m to play.
What i think is: I am sorry i sold mine. I have a great 10M. But my "Chu" had a thing. Best recording sound for me. I felt that its sound was starting to dictate my language as a jazz player, and that was the reason I sold it. For me the sound is the gateway and it should not get in the way. Some horns are cool for me for 2 years and and then I want to move on. Thats why I have 6 tenors. LOL
Interesting. I’ve sort of done the same thing in a way. I’ve played quite a few tenors and I’m kind of stuck on the Conn. I’m on the lookout for an affordable Balanced Action but those aren’t really affordable anymore.
I have an related-unrelated question about conns. Are conns are bright and projective in terms of sound as something like a Cannonball big bell horn? I'm trying to figure out what horn I should get because I'm looking for a bright and projective sound, but I don't know what's the best option for me.
That’s a tough question. As far as tenors I think this one could do both but something like a Buescher 400 or 10m is going to have more projection I think. I think both could be achieved with the right mouthpiece, reed and embouchure. Something like a cannonball or Yamaha could get the bright part a little easier. Sorry for the vague answer but that’s a complicated question.
As someone who has both the horns Scott mentions below, 10M and 400, he's right, they both project very well with the right mouthpiece, but I also have a Martin Comm. 3 tenor and that one may project the best. You might want to try one of those.
Your horn looks very shiny and protected looking for being unlacquared! What did you use to clean and shine it like that? I love my Conn dearly, but certain spots are really rusting up
It has some green spots so it’s not perfect. When I first stripped it I gave it a light polishing to even everything out then I waxed it with Maguires cleaner wax. It’s holding up pretty well. No smells either.
You would "Wonder" how Conn got it so wrong in the first place and I cant imagine how bad the NW1 was ergonomically. I have a Keilwerth New King Series III however the in line tone holes alone make it difficult to play compared to a modern horn. Enjoyed the video.
Thank you! To be fair every manufacturer was still experimenting with ergonomics back then. Selmer Balanced Action came out in 1935 introducing what is basically what all saxophones copy today. I still think a lot of the American saxophones are just as easy to play though.
