This unique saxophone (AS109) is very special indeed.... Built by Conn for Wurlitzer (serial prefix W). Most likely built at the end of the Roaring 1920´s. This one has very distinct keywork modifications, is gold plated and has full-bell engraving. I've never seen that before! Fortunately, the previous owner (collector) sent along a lot of information about this sax: see the full description and the beautiful photos under AS109.
Very hard to find : a 6M Ladyface war-horn in the VIII-version, silver plated and in very good condition! Not many horns were built during WW2, with only a handful of the 6M VIII saxes. It has a larger VIII identification both on the body and the neck, compared to the standard VIII stamp. On the neck it´s upside down, typical for these larger VIII stamp…. Serial 311723 was built early 1945, when the USA troops were entering Germany and the Japanese army suffered heavy losses.
One of the rarest Conn saxophones is undoubtedly the 18M stretched soprano. Some general information :
This 10M Ladyface has serial number 307337 and was built in mid-1942. So this is a so-called war-horn (from WW2), from the time when Conn built very few musical instruments. However, the sax has no additional US engraving on the bell and was therefore not built for a US military band. I suspect the sax was already largely built during the outbreak of WW2 (Pearl harbour attack in December 1941) and left the factory in 1942 as one of the very last ´normal´ 10M saxes.
During WW2, Conn produced only a very limited number of saxophones: the factory was almost entirely used to produce, in particular, altimeters for the US Air Force. Most of the saxophones built between late 1941 and late 1945 were intended for US military bands (these then had the US engraving on the bell) and special orders.
MRO ID : AS104 . This is 1 of the first Conn Transitional alto saxes with the Art-Deco engraving. The sax has serial number M239524 and was built in the mid-1930s. This is the silver-plated version, with the ChuBerry keywork layout. The sax was completely overhauled in 2022 and is in fantastic condition both technically and optically. Only slight wear on the usual keys, body is completely straight, tone holes are perfect, no damage, dents or repairs. This sax has a different neck, without microtuner. Perhaps a custom option?
Undoubtedly 1 of the most sought-after vintage alto saxophones is the Conn Transitional. These were built in many versions between 1930 and 1936. Much info can be found on Matt Stoher's website, however that info is not complete.
The Yanagisawa A4 alto saxophone is considered Yanagisawa's first semi-professional instrument. They were built from 1966 to the mid-1970s. There is not too much information online about these saxes, but I have collected this and supplemented it with my own observations.
Trade-in instrument: baritone saxophone Buescher 400, in excellent technical condition and overhauled with Toptone pads.
The Buescher 400 bari are known for their tremendous sound. This is definitely a bari with balls!
Still highly sought-after among jazz musicians : the Conn New Wonder series 2 (better known as the ChuBerry). These were built from mid-1924 and were the successor to the New Wonder series 1. Difference : the ChuBerry has the fingernail Gis key : the typical feature of this sax. Otherwise they are completely identical, although the ChuBerry is much more desirable..... These are fantastic saxes, obviously hand-built and very robust. They feature rolled tone holes and the famous microtuner on the neck. The full and warm tone is great for jazz, blues and ballads.
