Saxophones Vintage Sax worth?

MJC · Dec 13, 2019

I have and old saxophone (inherited) but don't know what it is and it's worth?
PATD DEC. 8 1914
1119954
S
97262
L

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If anyone can help me out here, I would greatly appreciate it!

nigeld · Dec 13, 2019

It is a curved soprano saxophone.

The 1914 patent was used by Buescher and Conn - two American saxophone manufacturers.
It may be a “stencil” instrument - made by one manufacturer for a different company.
@MJC - does it have a company name on the bell?

It looks like it has rolled tone holes, which may mean that it was made by Conn, in which case the serial number suggests that it was made in 1922.
The “L” means that it is Low Pitch - which is good - it has modern tuning.

MJC · Dec 13, 2019

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The front has a floral etching with CONN?

MJC · Dec 13, 2019

Stamp

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nigeld · Dec 13, 2019

So it is a Conn New Wonder 1 low-pitch curved soprano, made in 1922.
I can't tell from the pictures whether it is silver plated or nickel-plated.
@MJC - is it golden coloured inside the bell ("gold-wash bell")?

Here are some pictures to compare:
Photo Gallery :: SaxPics.com

MJC · Dec 13, 2019

That looks just like it.
Now how do I get a real appraisal?
Thank you so much, MJC

Wade Cornell · Dec 14, 2019

Being a name brand instead of a stencil is a good start. However it's like buying a very used car. First question a buyer has is "does it go"? Next is if not what will it take to fix it?

Here's your worst and best case scenarios as per today's E-bay:
Original Gold Plated CG Conn New Wonder Curved Soprano Sax - Serial # 120969 | eBay

1921 C.G. CONN "NEW WONDER" PROFESSIONAL Bb CURVED SILVER SOPRANO SAXOPHONE | eBay

nigeld · Dec 14, 2019

The value of the saxophone depends on its condition, and in this case on the condition of the leather pads. It looks to me as if the pads are old, and that some of them may be missing.

So there are two questions you need answers for:
1. How much would it cost to get the saxophone into playable condition?
2. How much could it fetch if it was in playable condition?

Its current value is the difference between the two.

@JayeNM may be able to help.

JayeNM · Dec 14, 2019

nigeld said:
@JayeNM may be able to help.

My ears started twitching (and not from the usual bugs).

OK so here is one thing yet to be mentioned, and it is fairly important when it comes to valuation:

The sax is only keyed up to high Eb, if I am correct in interpreting the pics (I see only 2 side keys then the F# trill key below the two; and 2 palm keys stacked above the upper stack...and if you compare your horn to the second like which @Wade Cornell provided, you will see the eBay horn - although absurdly priced considering it needs an overhaul - has the 3 side keys and the LH palm keys are no longer in-line with the upper stack).

A curious and somewhat puzzling reality...since the eFlay horn is OLDER than the OP's horn, so one would expect the opposite....

OK, so....that is the bad news.

JayeNM · Dec 14, 2019

The GOOD news is: it IS Silverplate, and it looks like the plating is in fine shape too.

Also the horn overall seems to have been neither abused nor neglected, so that is a plus.

Lastly...those mouthpieces. Please tell us what they read. Because those are not Soprano mouthpieces to mine eyes. And if they are vintage mouthpieces, you may have some very nice 'case candy' there and those mouthpieces may be worth a decent penny.

So...back to the horn....

A New Wonder I, keyed only up to Eb, silverplate, in good physical shape but likely needing at least a repad has a market value (US) of around $375-450.
IF it plays some on its old pads, perhaps $500-550 on a good day.

If it had been keyed up to high F, as a p[roject horn it would have been worth a good $800-900, and after a repad it'd be worth $1600 pretty easy.

But the lack of high F hurts the value/desirability significantly.

Now only other thing I can say here is this: on eBay, it is somewhat COMMON that bidders fail to notice the keying on old curvies.
They see the name....they see the finish....they see it is a curvy, so they conclude "valuable".

I have seen old curvies keyed up to Eb go for MORE than my estimates solely because - while the pics clearly showed the side keys and palm keys - the bidders were obviously not very astute...and the seller didn't particularly specify it was keyed only up to Eb (sometimes because the seller honestly didn't know much about saxes, so no real fault of theirs).

nigeld · Dec 14, 2019

JayeNM said:
My ears started twitching (and not from the usual bugs).

OK so here is one thing yet to be mentioned, and it is fairly important when it comes to valuation:

The sax is only keyed up to high Eb, if I am correct in interpreting the pics (I see only 2 side keys then the F# trill key below the two; and 2 palm keys stacked above the upper stack...and if you compare your horn to the second like which @Wade Cornell provided, you will see the eBay horn - although absurdly priced considering it needs an overhaul - has the 3 side keys and the LH palm keys are no longer in-line with the upper stack).

A curious and somewhat puzzling reality...since the eFlay horn is OLDER than the OP's horn, so one would expect the opposite....

OK, so....that is the bad news.

There is a Conn from 1916 in Saxpics that has high E and F keys.
Photo Gallery :: SaxPics.com
So maybe it was an optional extra.

JayeNM · Dec 14, 2019

nigeld said:
There is a Conn from 1916 in Saxpics that has high E and F keys.
Photo Gallery :: SaxPics.com
So maybe it was an optional extra.

photos.app.goo.gl

nigeld · Dec 14, 2019

The pads may not be as bad as I thought.
It has a “gold wash” bell.

Wade Cornell · Dec 14, 2019

The modern mouthpieces also give clues to it having been played (somewhat) recently, so not likely to be original pads or strictly a closet horn.

JayeNM · Dec 15, 2019

nigeld said:
The pads may not be as bad as I thought.
It has a “gold wash” bell.

Wade Cornell said:
The modern mouthpieces also give clues to it having been played (somewhat) recently, so not likely to be original pads or strictly a closet horn.

Yup, goldwash bell helps resale...and has a modern case too....sooooo...could be this sax actually is in playable shape now, or nmeeding relatively minimal tech servicing; which would be a plus for you, Mark.

Do you know any sax players who can playtest it ?

MJC · Dec 17, 2019

Thank you.
I'm dropping by a music store that a friend recommended to playtest it.
I will follow-up with the results!

MJC · Dec 18, 2019

Found out that it's in great shape, plays well, just needs couple of pads.
Am going to take the sax to an accredited musical instrument appraiser.

Pete Thomas · Dec 18, 2019

MJC said:
Now how do I get a real appraisal?

Is this some kind of certification you need for insurance? It will most likely be very different from what it is actually worth on the open market. Not that in the ebay links neither of those horns are sold yet. The second one is a stupid price. I think round about $1000 is most likely if it is in very good playing condition. But an insurance appraisal should be a lot higher, ie what it would cost if you had to quickly get one and pay through the nose at a dealer.

Pete Thomas · Dec 18, 2019

Wade Cornell said:
1921 C.G. CONN "NEW WONDER" PROFESSIONAL Bb CURVED SILVER SOPRANO SAXOPHONE | eBay

Note that this horn has been for sale since April.

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