Couesnon Bass Sax: It’s A Train Wreck

Source: messenbrinck on eBay.de

I love vintage and antique saxophones, and if you’re reading my articles, there’s a good chance you do too. This is especially true of bass saxophones. I am especially fond of the behemoths that make the glass and metal in a room rattle when the low notes of these vintage beauties rumble out of the bell.

That said, have you ever seen a horn that is so clearly past the point of saving, that you realize it’s time to call the funeral home and give the once vintage beauty a proper send-off?

That might be the case for this Couesnon bass sax being sold by a seller on the German eBay site. My first thought when I saw this horn was: Oh, it’s a vintage bass sax sold as a jigsaw puzzle….

Source: messenbrinck on eBay.de

However, once I took a closer look at all the pictures, I wondered if: a. All the pieces were included, and b. What the f exactly happened to this thing. How exactly do you get bell damage like this? We know the metal isn’t paper-thin, but it sure looks that way in the photo below.

Source: messenbrinck on eBay.de

Since the seller is in Germany, and is aiming his sale at a German audience, he wrote his ad copy in German. This is what he said about this Couesnon bass sax:

Baßsaxophon der Firma Couesnon mit getrennten Oktavklappen, Seriennummer 16859, wohl aus den zwanziger Jahren.

Dieses Instrument ist sehr selten, ich habe keine Spur eines zweiten gefunden. Derzeit ist das Instrument zerlegt wie auf den Bildern zu sehen. Alle Teile sind vorhanden (bis auf eine Strebe des Klappenkäfigs tief C), der Korpus wurde Material schonend sandgestrahlt.

Um das Instrument wieder spielbar zu machen ist sehr viel Arbeit nötig. Der Schallbecher ist abgelötet und hat unter der „Krempe“ Risse, die man mit dem Untersetzen von Flicken mit Weichlot wieder schließen kann, zudem wurden an der Stelle, wo die Verbindungsstrebe zum Korpus sitzt, zahlreiche Risse mit Hartlot (also nicht optimal) repariert (einige sind noch offen), das Resultat ist eine bucklige Oberfläche an dieser Stelle. Der restliche Korpus hat zahlreiche Beulen, am oberen Ende ist ein Tonloch besonders stark betroffen, zwei Tonlochkamine sind lose, nach dem Ausbeulen müssen die Tonlochkamine aber ohnehin alle wieder richtig aufgelötet werden.

Die Mechanik wurde nur partiell gereinigt, viele Böckchen wurden abgelötet da Achsen und Schrauben anders nicht zu lösen waren. Alle Achsen und Schrauben sind rostig und sollten durch solche aus Edelstahl ersetzt werden. Natürlich muß das Instrument nach Abschluß der Blecharbeiten noch überholt (gepolstert) werden.

Plan B wäre das Instrument als dekorativen Blickfang zu nutzen, das wiederum ließe sich wesentlich einfacher bewerkstelligen.

Zum Instrument gibt es keinen Koffer, ich werde es aber sorgfältig mit sehr viel Blasenfolie verpackt versenden.

Dies ist ein Privatverkauf, keine Rücknahme und keine Gewährleistung.

Helen Translate says:

Bass saxophone made by Couesnon. With dual octave keys; serial # 16859; likely from the 1920s.

This instrument is very uncommon. I have found no trace of a second one. At present the instrument is disassembled, as can be seen in the pictures. All parts are present (except for one brace for the low C key guard). The body was carefully sandblasted to save the metal.

In order to make the instrument playable again, a lot of work is required. The bell has been unsoldered. It has tears under the lip, which could be repaired by applying patches with soft solder. Furthermore, at the spot on the bell where the support brace to the body is located, numerous tears were repaired with hard solder (not optimal). The result is a bumpy surface. The rest of the body has numerous dents. At the upper end one tone hole is especially effected. Two tone holes are detached. After all the dents have been removed, all the tone holes will have to be resoldered.

The mechanics were only partially cleaned. Many posts were unsoldered, otherwise the work on the axles and screws could not be done. All axles and screws are rusty, and should be replaced with some made out of stainless steel. Naturally after the bodywork is complete, the instrument needs an overhaul (re-padding).

Plan B: this instrument could be used as decoration. This could be done much easier.

This instrument has no case. I will however, send it carefully with a lot of bubble wrap.

This is a private sale. No returns. No warranty.

Oh where to start… 😆

On second thought, I think the text speaks for itself.

If you really want this Couesnon bass sax, I hope you live in Germany, or have someone there who can take delivery for you. Sorry to all you disappointed potential buyers out there… Maybe next time.

If you do live in Germany, and you really want this Couesnon bass sax for your wall, garden, or maybe to restore (in that case, please send me the after pictures), then you have until May 17 to get your bids in. At the time of writing the price was at €3.33, with 3 bidders. (BTW, xe.com calculates the current bid price to be $3.76 US.) Let’s see where it ends up! This is a no reserve auction, so it should sell.