{"id":25237,"date":"2011-05-12T10:32:42","date_gmt":"2011-05-12T17:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=25237"},"modified":"2011-05-12T10:33:21","modified_gmt":"2011-05-12T17:33:21","slug":"the-f-mezzo-soprano-another-one-up-for-sale-currently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/2011\/the-f-mezzo-soprano-another-one-up-for-sale-currently\/","title":{"rendered":"The F Mezzo-Soprano: Another One Up For Sale Currently"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of all the strange, and now rare horns that Conn designed\u00a0just prior to the Great Depression, none seem to appear for sale as often as the F Mezzo-Soprano. These unusual saxophones were unveiled in the spring 1928 edition<\/a> of Conn’s magazine, Musical Truth<\/em>.\u00b9<\/p>\n

Unfortunately despite heavy advertising by Conn\u2014and the manufacturer’s persuasion of publishing companies to include the F Mezzo-Soprano in their saxophone parts\u2014the instrument never really caught on. By the time the 24M F Mezzo-Soprano was pulled from the market in the mid 1930s, there were many unsold horns left in\u00a0Conn’s inventory.<\/p>\n

Many of these unsold horns were\u00a0infamously used\u00a0at Conn’s repair school in Elkhart. There these unique instruments were “…thrown, far and deep (without case) onto a huge shelf high in the back of the classroom…\u00a0[where they collided] with other horns…” \u00b2<\/p>\n

Dr. Cohen then goes on to say:<\/p>\n

Ron Semak, a extraordinary collector from Detroit, recounted to me a story told to him by a member of the Conn School in which, when the day came where the class would learn how to remove dents and other abrasion from saxophones, the instructor would take an F mezzo off the shelf, very often a brand new one that had not been sold, and bash in the bell and underside with a large sledge hammer. Then, the class proceeded to learn how to take the dents out.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fortunately not all F Mezzo-Sopranos suffered the same fate. Given the number that appear on eBay, Craigslist, and in vintage saxophone speciality shops and the likes, quite a few must have survived.<\/p>\n

One such survivor is currently on eBay<\/a>, and by all appearances, must not have been used a great deal.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Source: eBay.com<\/h6>\n

The seller of this particular F Mezzo-Soprano seems to have taken a page from the Conn advertising manual.\u00b3 The ad has a whole lotta’ “fanfare”, and is filled with “great expectation”:<\/p>\n

HERE IS A Very Old SUPER SUPER SUPER RARE F MEZZO CONN SAXOPHONE…<\/p>\n

Here is a very much sought after Sax…DID I SAY THIS IS NOT A NORMAL SAX???<\/p>\n

CG Conn<\/p>\n

Elkhart, Ind.<\/p>\n

USA<\/p>\n

this one is the curvy model style<\/p>\n

this one has rolled tonal holes as well and i think it is all the way through the sax but not 100% on that….as far as i can see…<\/p>\n

I have this in the shop right now we need to replace the neck cork..and 4 felts maybe a couple of adjustments..the pads were in good condition soft…this should be playing by this weekend…<\/p>\n

the serial number on the back<\/p>\n

\\patd..ect..ect…<\/p>\n

F<\/p>\n

M 21x,xxx<\/p>\n

L<\/p>\n

this one does play up to high F as there is three left palm keys….<\/p>\n

this one does come with a mouthpiece….original from what we can tell it was stuck on the neck so the reason a new cork…the one right side rail looks to have been chipped some makeing the rail a little thinner than the other it looks like it will seal and play ok but thinking maybe a trip to the mouthpiece technician would be a good idea to even it back up and maybe open it up just a tad….it looks to be original and in good shape other than that…<\/p>\n

this has its original case and it is just about as nice as the sax is….<\/p>\n

this sax is very minty shape and we did not see any past damage or repairs if there is some light scratches on it they are very hard to see..i have yet to see any wear on the plateing none i can find but will post if i do see anything..<\/p>\n

as far as i can see this was maybe only played a very few times…..then carefully stored in a climate controlled area for most of its life…<\/p>\n

the gold wash is in nice shape too inside the bell…very stunning…<\/p>\n

this was very well cared for in its lifetime and well perserved…almost unheard of perserved…..<\/p>\n

we have some local people looking at this sax and this listing may be pulled..one person is very interested…..so will see how it goes….<\/p>\n

the pearls are all in nice shape all original and rollers all good too…<\/p>\n

this has the nail file G # key….<\/p>\n

this is also called the Chu Berry of saxes….i just call them the M series……<\/p>\n

this is a very very late model of this sax….and very soon not produced any more….as far as i know they still do not make these saxes anymore…so they are a collectors dream to have around but we intend on playing it some to give us the life it was ment to give…<\/p>\n

NO DENTS ON THIS SAX….. if there is a tap mark hard to see…..<\/p>\n

the neck is in good shape no pull down no damage i saw at a glance….<\/p>\n

the keywork is super tight and wonderful shape ….it looks very straight and true….<\/p>\n

there is no play anywhere on this nice old sax…<\/p>\n

we will try to match the felts to the rest of the sax to keep its originality….<\/p>\n

i will post if we do have to replace a pad or two…the back bottom one is the only one i could see that possibly may need some adjustment….but they do all look original to the sax….quite unbelieveable i think to find such a sax …<\/p>\n

a true closet sax for sure….<\/p>\n

this one is one i may just keep for a long time but i do have to list for other reasons as well….and fun to have in my store….<\/p>\n

will post more as information comes to me…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Wow! Alrighty then… See what mean about fanfare and expectations? One thing is clear, the sax does look pretty darn good. Although I’m not seeing an end plug in any of the photos.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Source: eBay.com<\/h6>\n

The auction for this F Mezzo-Soprano runs until May 15. The Buy It Now price is $7,275.75, although the seller is open to offers. At the time of writing there were no offers yet on this vintage Conn 24M.<\/p>\n

To get an idea of what similar horns have sold for, this lacquered\u00a024M F Mezzo-Soprano<\/a>\u00a0sold last October for $5,877.00. Whereas 2 years earlier, in October 2008, this silver plated 24M<\/a>\u00a0sold for $5100.00.<\/p>\n

_______________________________________<\/p>\n

\u00b9 The source for the background information on the F Mezzo-Soprano is Dr. Paul Cohen’s article: The Saga of the F Alto Saxophone<\/em><\/h6>\n
\u00b2 Ibid.<\/h6>\n
\u00b3 Ibid.<\/h6>\n
\n
…this is just my blog<\/em>. <\/span> My \u201creal\u201d <\/b> website is<\/span> www.bassic-sax.info.<\/a> If you\u2019re looking for <\/span> sax info<\/strong>,<\/span> you should check it out too.<\/span>There\u2019s lots<\/em> there! <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

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