{"id":48273,"date":"2019-10-12T11:09:21","date_gmt":"2019-10-12T18:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=48273"},"modified":"2024-06-26T10:36:28","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T17:36:28","slug":"conn-new-wonder-series-i-tenor-sax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/2019\/conn-new-wonder-series-i-tenor-sax\/","title":{"rendered":"Conn New Wonder Series I Tenor Sax"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"silver<\/a>
Conn New Wonder Series I # 89XXX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s fall, and those of you who have been following my website for years can probably predict what happens often in the fall: I write about a new-to-me horn. It’s almost like I feel I need to take one in before the Northwest’s cold, damp, winter rains settle in. My studio has a Valor gas fire place, so everyone\u2014our two black cats, my “girls”<\/a>, horns, and of course me\u2014will all be nice and toasty warm over the next few months while we get pounded with our wet, winter weather.<\/p>\n

At first blush fall 2019 appears no different than the one of 2018, 2017 et al. The difference this year, is that I have had this horn for months now, but due to the shit storm that I found myself in during the summer, I never had a chance to write about this interesting Conn New Wonder Series I. <\/p>\n

How I ended up with a Conn New Wonder Series I tenor<\/h3>\n

When I started grade 8, I met a man who I would end up remaining friends with my entire life. My junior high school band teacher played tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He was also my first private saxophone teacher. Although he had a Mark VI, he also had a silver Conn tenor that he occasionally brought to school when his Selmer was in the shop. <\/p>\n

Fast forward to spring of this year when Kenton finally decided he wanted a second Mark VI as a back-up horn. I connected him with a musical colleague of mine who had a minty, closet VI  that needed a player. This left the Conn New Wonder Series I needing a home.<\/p>\n

Never wanting to see a vintage horn in need of a good home, Kenton’s tenor came to live with me. I would be lying if I didn’t say this horn has some pretty sentimental value to me. It means more to me than many of my vintage babies since it belonged to the man who initially inspired me, and got me going on saxophone the right way. <\/p>\n

This New Wonder’s back story<\/h3>\n

Based on published serial # charts this New Wonder is from 1922-23, since its serial is 89XXX. When Kenton was 15 years old, [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If I had had to start on a Conn New Wonder, Martin Handcraft, or Buescher True Tone\u2014all horns I own and love to use now\u2014I’m not sure I would have kept playing.[\/perfectpullquote] he was taking clarinet lessons, but his teacher also taught the saxophone. Kenton was really interested in learning how to play sax, and one day this silver saxophone was lying there tempting him. Although the horn was more than 40 years old already by that time, it was in its original case, and shiny as a hubcap.<\/p>\n

Kenton didn’t have the money to buy the sax outright, but his teacher let him pay for it through instalments. Kenton had a paper route, so he gave all the money he made through his job to his teacher until the tenor was paid off. Kenton played that sax for a few years until he bought a new Mark VI in 1967\u2014the same one he still uses today.<\/p>\n

I have played this Conn on and off over the 35 or so years that I’ve known Kenton. Before I became proficient in playing vintage saxophones, I remember finding this New Wonder being a pinky buster. I also remember thinking: This is the most awkward horn I have ever played in my entire life. <\/p>\n

Sidebar <\/h3>\n

When parents ask me if a vintage horn would be good for their child just starting out, this is exactly why I say: No.<\/p>\n

If I had had to start on a Conn New Wonder, Martin Handcraft, or Buescher True Tone\u2014all horns I own and love to use now\u2014I’m not sure I would have kept playing. Vintage horns are a speciality that should not be foisted upon students just learning, or players who are anything less than intermediate players.<\/p>\n

Vintage saxophones simply require a lot of finessing and good chops to play them properly. However, once mastered, vintage horns are unique, lovely instruments that are unmatched by today’s mass-produced schlock. There, I said it. I’m sure I’ll take some heat for that. \"\"<\/p>\n

Getting back to the Conn New Wonder Series I tenor<\/h3>\n

When I got the horn in late spring it needed some work. I took it to my tech<\/a> and he tweaked it for me so I could use it for my month long stint as Tenor 1 in the big band I play in. Unfortunately I never did get to use it for the concert in the park, because the socket is worn out. David tried to tighten it as best as he could, but the neck still tends to travel\u2014usually at the most inopportune times\u2014like before a solo.<\/p>\n

Right now David and I are hunting for a donor horn. He has a couple New Wonder altos in the back as parts horns, but no tenors that are easily visible. Now that all the rental stock is nearly out though, I can dig around in the back room and look through all the old cases. Maybe I’ll find one yet. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, the New Wonder does get to come with me to rehearsals, and I use it at home.<\/p>\n

The New Wonder has a huge, fat, loud tone. It doesn’t have the certain something<\/em> that my Martin Handcraft has, but it is more spread in tone, and capable of more volume than the Martin.<\/p>\n

I use my usual vintage Dukoff MPs and L\u00e9g\u00e8re Signature Series reeds. This combo works great on this nearly antique Conn. With this set up the Conn’s p<\/em> and pp<\/em> are lovely, and its subtone sublime. <\/p>\n

But where’s the sax porn???<\/h3>\n

Since this is a special horn, I took quite a few HDR photos of it. For those of you looking for sax porn, you come to right place. \ud83d\ude09 <\/p>\n