I agree! I’m team Conn also! I currently doing an extensive overhaul on a Buescher Top Hat and Cane that I’ll put up against the Conn. hopefully soon. Thanks for watching! Scott.
Very nice comparison. I’m in my 60’s and just started to learn how to play a sax. Just purchased a conn-Selmer Prelude AS711 alto. I like the darker rich tones of the Conn. would love to get my hands on a Selmer Mark VI someday.
I have four NWIIs, and they are just my favorite saxophones on the planet. Personally, I prefer vintage American horns like them to anything else I’ve ever played, including a mark vi
Thanks! They both sound great. Completely different sounds but both great. I’ll keep making these types of videos because I get a lot of different instruments in my shop. I also have a Mark 6 tenor that I’ll be overhauling soon. Scott
❤ new to saxophone and watching videos on UA-cam to learn before I spend the cash on my first horn. I loved your video. I felt like I was talking to a guy who loves saxophones and wanted to give his honest opinion on so I can make a decision. Keep it up. I am here for it
Thanks so much! Let me know if there’s a certain video that could help. I’d be happy to try and make something that would help you and others. Thanks for watching! Scott
@@Scottsmusiccave I have to say I met some great people online. Looking forward to getting my own sax soon. It will be a second hand buy because I want to get the most bang for the buck. If you could maybe told about how you a technician would look online for a used saxophone that would help a lot of new people like me find a good deal. That you
@@Scottsmusiccave another thing to consider is that a lot of the people who are buying the instruments may be non playing parents. I am older (50) so I can pick a saxophone based on what I want and can spend. That parent probably got a note from the school band department with a list of supplies and a local shop they can rent. It would be helpful if you made separate video for that. I know that some of them end up renting a used student horn for the 2 to 4 years and spend enough money to cover a $3700 saxophone. They could get a decent used saxophone for less I work in IT and often have to help non tech people pick a good option for their needs and budget. There are some good videos out there but it would be nice to see one geared to what we see here in the US.
I have a 1970's area Conn Baritone saxophone that a local swing band had sitting in their closet not even been used for 20 + years and they needed a full time baritone player badly, I asked about it and agreed that they would give it to me and I would get it overhauled and fixed up at my expense (my tech guy had to hand make some tools to fix it up since the tools were out of date for some parts) Took him about 8 months but after he was done with man what POWER it has. My opinion I would get an older model and get it overhauled, sometimes its cheaper to do it that way than spending more money on a student model in todays inflation. I remember my student Yamaha alto sax had constant issues when I was in high school lol. Nice comparison!
Nice vid. An interesting comparison for sure. I have a bit of a reverse scenario. My "modern" horn (2006 is still modern right lol) is a Pro Yamaha 82z alto and my vintage horn is a student 1950s Conn Shooting Star. No point trying to do a video to see which horn is better in my case hehe. That being said I love playing the Conn. It's my back up horn and since I'm away from home a lot these days I've been playing the Conn a lot more. I enjoying every minute of it tbh.
That YTS sounds just fine and would be great for a beginner, but old Conns just sing. I have a '27 Soprano, a '35 Alto, '32 Tenor, and '45 Bari (and a '22 C melody that is mostly just for fun).
Nice video man! Am gonna buy a Conn 10M year 1957 . Been playing alto as a kid but its been more than 15 years... Gonna buy a standard plastic mouthpiece first and than change to another more jazzy...
Awesome! I like the Premier by Hite mouthpieces for a cheaper plastic mouthpiece or you could find a used Vandoren V16 or something similar for a little more money that would be even better.
3.5 soft Rigotti with a .105 tip opening on both mouthpieces. Recently I've gone to a 3.0 hard, but I think I'm going to try some BSS 3.5 next time I need a box. I've gone back to my Brilhart Hard Rubber with a .110 tip opening and I'm thinking about trying a Boston Sax Shop 3.5 with it. The facing curve must be a little different on the Brilhart. Thanks for watching! Scott
Could you do a video about pads. I want to have some original no resonator leather pads in my 1959 Conn 16M replaced but all the local shops will put in are pads resembling circles cut out of old credit cards with the top of a small plastic Easter egg stapled on as a resonator. Yes, I know it was only a “student model”, unworthy of better pads and even their time. But won’t their pads have an effect on how my saxophone feels and sounds? What are options for pads? There are metal resonators. Are they better than plastic? Is plastic better than leather for the pads themselves? What are Kangaroo pads?
Great question and I will absolutely make a video about pads. I'm not not exactly sure what you mean by the pads the other shop wants to use, but I'll talk about the pads I use and why. I'll also get into the resonators I prefer and why.
@@Scottsmusiccave thank you for considering this topic for your channel. I wished I had taken a picture of the pads shown me, or asked them for brand and model information.
The Yamaha definetely was brought to life with that Berg Larson! Both beautiful horns. Thanks for the comparison! Team Conn here
I agree! I’m team Conn also! I currently doing an extensive overhaul on a Buescher Top Hat and Cane that I’ll put up against the Conn. hopefully soon. Thanks for watching! Scott.
Vintage Buescher and Conns have something special about their sound that sets them apart for me. Can’t wait for your upcoming video.
@@olaflangness2907 I need to get the video done. So many videos to make! I'm trying for 2 a week.
This is an interesting head-to-head comparison and valuable lesson in matching the right mouthpiece with the right horn. 🎷
Thanks for watching! I surprised myself a little.
Very nice comparison. I’m in my 60’s and just started to learn how to play a sax. Just purchased a conn-Selmer Prelude AS711 alto. I like the darker rich tones of the Conn. would love to get my hands on a Selmer Mark VI someday.
Thanks, Paul!
I have four NWIIs, and they are just my favorite saxophones on the planet. Personally, I prefer vintage American horns like them to anything else I’ve ever played, including a mark vi
I’m in love with mine! I get to play a lot of saxophones and I can’t find anything I like more.
Very cool and fun video. I liked hearing the difference with the vintage horn!
Thanks! They both sound great. Completely different sounds but both great. I’ll keep making these types of videos because I get a lot of different instruments in my shop. I also have a Mark 6 tenor that I’ll be overhauling soon.
Scott
❤ new to saxophone and watching videos on UA-cam to learn before I spend the cash on my first horn. I loved your video. I felt like I was talking to a guy who loves saxophones and wanted to give his honest opinion on so I can make a decision. Keep it up. I am here for it
Thanks so much! Let me know if there’s a certain video that could help. I’d be happy to try and make something that would help you and others. Thanks for watching! Scott
@@Scottsmusiccave I have to say I met some great people online. Looking forward to getting my own sax soon. It will be a second hand buy because I want to get the most bang for the buck. If you could maybe told about how you a technician would look online for a used saxophone that would help a lot of new people like me find a good deal. That you
@@MrLawjet great idea! Maybe I’ll review some eBay auctions and show what I look for when considering a purchase. Thanks!
@@Scottsmusiccave another thing to consider is that a lot of the people who are buying the instruments may be non playing parents. I am older (50) so I can pick a saxophone based on what I want and can spend. That parent probably got a note from the school band department with a list of supplies and a local shop they can rent. It would be helpful if you made separate video for that. I know that some of them end up renting a used student horn for the 2 to 4 years and spend enough money to cover a $3700 saxophone. They could get a decent used saxophone for less
I work in IT and often have to help non tech people pick a good option for their needs and budget. There are some good videos out there but it would be nice to see one geared to what we see here in the US.
I have a 1970's area Conn Baritone saxophone that a local swing band had sitting in their closet not even been used for 20 + years and they needed a full time baritone player badly, I asked about it and agreed that they would give it to me and I would get it overhauled and fixed up at my expense (my tech guy had to hand make some tools to fix it up since the tools were out of date for some parts) Took him about 8 months but after he was done with man what POWER it has. My opinion I would get an older model and get it overhauled, sometimes its cheaper to do it that way than spending more money on a student model in todays inflation. I remember my student Yamaha alto sax had constant issues when I was in high school lol.
Nice comparison!
Thank you! Congratulations on that bari, Those 12m baritones are very good saxophones. I own a transitional from 1929.
Thanks for watching! Scott
Just play!!!!! Practice! Learn! Enjoy!!
Old horns like Conn’s, your playing history!!!
That's right!
Nice vid. An interesting comparison for sure. I have a bit of a reverse scenario.
My "modern" horn (2006 is still modern right lol) is a Pro Yamaha 82z alto and my vintage horn is a student 1950s Conn Shooting Star. No point trying to do a video to see which horn is better in my case hehe. That being said I love playing the Conn. It's my back up horn and since I'm away from home a lot these days I've been playing the Conn a lot more. I enjoying every minute of it tbh.
Thanks watching! I actually really like those 50’s Shooting Stars. They play really well. Great budget sax.
Scott
That YTS sounds just fine and would be great for a beginner, but old Conns just sing. I have a '27 Soprano, a '35 Alto, '32 Tenor, and '45 Bari (and a '22 C melody that is mostly just for fun).
Agreed. It’s hard to beat an old Conn!
Nice video man!
Am gonna buy a Conn 10M year 1957 .
Been playing alto as a kid but its been more than 15 years...
Gonna buy a standard plastic mouthpiece first and than change to another more jazzy...
Awesome! I like the Premier by Hite mouthpieces for a cheaper plastic mouthpiece or you could find a used Vandoren V16 or something similar for a little more money that would be even better.
@@Scottsmusiccave haha you can read minds tomorrlw i get my used vandoren V16 metal
sounds like youre playing with a very soft reed , is that right ?
3.5 soft Rigotti with a .105 tip opening on both mouthpieces. Recently I've gone to a 3.0 hard, but I think I'm going to try some BSS 3.5 next time I need a box. I've gone back to my Brilhart Hard Rubber with a .110 tip opening and I'm thinking about trying a Boston Sax Shop 3.5 with it. The facing curve must be a little different on the Brilhart. Thanks for watching! Scott
Can you repair / repad a 1948 King Super 20 alto? Mine is in need of repair, maybe not a full overhaul though.
I can. I’m pretty booked for the entire summer though.
both horns are great but vastly different, conn is darker, thicker and spread more, yamaha is medium bright and focused, different aesthetics
Well said! Thanks for watching, Scott
The conn was way better to me
Agreed! I love that Conn!
Could you do a video about pads. I want to have some original no resonator leather pads in my 1959 Conn 16M replaced but all the local shops will put in are pads resembling circles cut out of old credit cards with the top of a small plastic Easter egg stapled on as a resonator. Yes, I know it was only a “student model”, unworthy of better pads and even their time. But won’t their pads have an effect on how my saxophone feels and sounds? What are options for pads? There are metal resonators. Are they better than plastic? Is plastic better than leather for the pads themselves? What are Kangaroo pads?
Great question and I will absolutely make a video about pads. I'm not not exactly sure what you mean by the pads the other shop wants to use, but I'll talk about the pads I use and why. I'll also get into the resonators I prefer and why.
@@Scottsmusiccave thank you for considering this topic for your channel. I wished I had taken a picture of the pads shown me, or asked them for brand and model information.
Conn!
I love my Conn!