Saxophones Conn 10m.... Could this be the one?

[Woodpad]

Nope can't say that I've seen or heard that particular recording Pete 😏 but I believe you as I did see a comparison on a MK VI Vs Yam 62 - no difference at all and I was watching the changes. 🙄

I dunno 🙄 it's all getting quite confusing and overwhelming.

I guess it comes down to personal preferences in all of it. Mpc, lig, reed and horn not discounting the player variables in all of this of course.

Confusion is normal and don't worry too much if you feel that its more complicated than you can imagine.
Thanks to the internet we now know what we don't know. Before that the teacher was the most important source of knowledge and often we found out that he didn't know how limited it was.

 

[teen37]

Confusion is normal and don't worry too much if you feel that its more complicated than you can imagine.
Thanks to the internet we now know what we don't know. Before that the teacher was the most important source of knowledge and often we found out that he didn't know how limited it was.

Yes! Thank heavens for the Internet! 🙏 And cafe sax 🙏 and all you guys on here 🙏 and of course good ol AI 😂
Which in all honesty is telling me all sorts 😂 can't tell you how many saxes it's recommended to look at but maybe it's not all bad as it's very unbiased 🤔🤔🤔

 

[Wonko]

Lots of good info here already, let me just add my experience for good measure.
I consider myself a beginner (with lots of experience), but I have learned some stuff along the way that I want to share.
I started on a Yamaha (YTS32, I still have it as a backup tenor) and played that for over 10 years while taking lessons. About 4 or 5 years ago I got myself a 10m from 1963, I loved the huge, colourful sound that I could get out of that horn.

I am convinced however that, say 2 years prior to buying that horn, I would not have been able to get that sound out of that horn. I just didn't have the breath support, embouchure, and other technical abilities to get that sound. So don't rush into buying gear to get a certain sound, practice will deliver more results.

After a couple of years trying to get to grips with that horn, I went to London to try out some modern horns that might get me a similar sound, but with modern ergonomics. The key layout and ergonomics on the 10m are quite different to the Yamaha that I had started on. But the change is manageable. But my bari also has the modern key layout, and I still feel more comfortable with that layout.

I found 2 horns that came very close to the sound that I wanted, the Rampone & Canzanni R1 Jazz and the Eastman 52’nd street (with the M-neck). I also tried the TJ-signature (very curious about that one because Stephen has been praising it so much), but that sound was more along the lines of that Yamaha than the Conn, not what I was looking for.
So if I were to get myself a tenor now, I would be going for a Rampone. Based on my (very limited) experience with that brand in London, I got myself a Rampone curved soprano that I am taking lessons on right now. I like it very much.

So I would conclude, don’t rush into buying a new (or second hand) horn. Try lot’s of horns, by all means, but don’t feel compelled to buy any of them as long as they don’t grab you……

 

[teen37]

Lots of good info here already, let me just add my experience for good measure.
I consider myself a beginner (with lots of experience), but I have learned some stuff along the way that I want to share.
I started on a Yamaha (YTS32, I still have it as a backup tenor) and played that for over 10 years while taking lessons. About 4 or 5 years ago I got myself a 10m from 1963, I loved the huge, colourful sound that I could get out of that horn.

I am convinced however that, say 2 years prior to buying that horn, I would not have been able to get that sound out of that horn. I just didn't have the breath support, embouchure, and other technical abilities to get that sound. So don't rush into buying gear to get a certain sound, practice will deliver more results.

After a couple of years trying to get to grips with that horn, I went to London to try out some modern horns that might get me a similar sound, but with modern ergonomics. The key layout and ergonomics on the 10m are quite different to the Yamaha that I had started on. But the change is manageable. But my bari also has the modern key layout, and I still feel more comfortable with that layout.

I found 2 horns that came very close to the sound that I wanted, the Rampone & Canzanni R1 Jazz and the Eastman 52’nd street (with the M-neck). I also tried the TJ-signature (very curious about that one because Stephen has been praising it so much), but that sound was more along the lines of that Yamaha than the Conn, not what I was looking for.
So if I were to get myself a tenor now, I would be going for a Rampone. Based on my (very limited) experience with that brand in London, I got myself a Rampone curved soprano that I am taking lessons on right now. I like it very much.

So I would conclude, don’t rush into buying a new (or second hand) horn. Try lot’s of horns, by all means, but don’t feel compelled to buy any of them as long as they don’t grab you……

Hello wonko ☺️ and thank you so much for sharing your experience with me 🙏😘
I love how you have adopted that term "a beginner with lots of experience" 😊 maybe that also applies to me these days 🤔😂🤷
Anyway, I think you are definitely onto something. As I'm discovering listening to y'all that one horn doesn't fit all players.
I shall endeavour to try as many horns as I can but it is difficult in the UK, there just aren't many places to do that but I'm planning another trip to London soon where I'll pop into Sax. Co and Howarths. Hopefully that will give me insight and answers on what I need to look at. 🤔😊

And no, I'm not going to rush into anything 😊😘

 

[Colin the Bear]

We're all improvers.

Bear in mind that any recording you listen to is just that. Any video may not be of the instrument you're hearing.

Peter's anecdote of his recording experience highlights the unimportance of the horn to the finished sound. Producer, mic's, studio and the production mix all play a greater role.

Thursday gig with a three part front line and a banjo Tuba back line and the alto was singing and the sop was soaring.

Saturday gig in a different bar with a solo guitarist. The alto was screaming, the sop was nasal but the tenor and baritone were sonorous and melodic.

Horses for courses. Playing just one horn it needs a set up to be very flexible to fit in with different ensembles and venues.

I like Yamahas for their accurate intonation, mouthpiece friendliness and the ease of regulation. In a mixed wind ensemble their neutral tone blends and solos easily.

The tenor picked me first. A 25 at a rock bottom price in fantastic condition. The alto soon followed.
Finances restrict a Bari and sop, but, never say never.

 

[Targa]

I shall endeavour to try as many horns as I can but it is difficult in the UK, there just aren't many places to do that

You could have a look at Hanson, he will send you one out for a 14 day free trial.
I bought one in 2009 and still happy with it.

 

[teen37]

You could have a look at Hanson, he will send you one out for a 14 day free trial.
I bought one in 2009 and still happy with it.

Actually I bought my clarinet from Hanson a few years back as I had sold my original one way back in the 80s as I was only playing my tenor back then. Got upto grade 6 on the clarinet. Now I just have a go at Artie Shaw and maybe a bit of Paul Read 😊

 

[LostCircuits]

You’ve obviously missed my old (but true) anecdote of when I was recording an album and two weeks into the recording my MKVI broke. I panicked a bit but then found a 10m and continued the recordings. Nobody, including the producer, noticed I’d started a solo on the MKVI and finished it overdubbing some dropins on the 10m. Even to this day I cannot tell the difference in sound. What I do know is the Conn was easier to get in tune at the top hence I stuck with it rather than going on a hunt for a MKVI.

But, the mother of all questions: How bad did you break it that you needed a new horn?
I feel there is more to that story ..