Conn bass saxophones: models & variations

* All of these topics are found on page 2.

Together with their Buescher cousins, Conns were THE American-made bass saxophones of the 1920s-30s. To this day vintage Conn bass saxophones keyed to high F—the famed late-model 14M—are still the most desirable of all saxophones built during the saxophone’s original golden age. 

Conn Bass Saxophone Models

Wonder Improved

Although when we think of Conn bass saxophones we think mainly of the New Wonder Series of horns, Conn did make earlier ones as well. Although not well known or plentiful, the Conn Wonder Improved bass saxophone was indeed something that was available. Pete Hales discussed this model when he wrote his original Saxpics site. You can still find Pete’s original site materials on the Wonder Improved here.

In September 2015, Saxquest sold the following Wonder Improved bass saxophone on eBay.

Model: Wonder Improved

Serial #: 18547

Finish: Nickel plated

Key touches: Metal

Tone holes: Soldered & straight

Water key: absent

Neck attachment: from the top, like on a bari

Range: Bb – Eb

Description from ebay:

This is a very cool early vintage C.G. Conn bass saxophone in nickel silver, serial number 18547. This is one of the earliest that we’ve seen in decent condition and a rare find with the union stamp on back. The serial number places the manufacturing date on this instrument to 1910. This bass might not be the prettiest looking horn but considering it is over 100 years old, it is in great shape. The original bow cap is in good shape as is the lower bow. Its body tube, bell and bell flare are also in very decent condition. The pictures do tell the story of this horn the best. It does show a history of repair. There has been some dent work around the horn as well as a number of re-solders. Some dings still remain and there are some smaller pushed in areas around a few of the bell key guards. This saxophone does include the original neck. The neck has a few small dings but has never been seriously pulled down.

New Invention

After the fire of 1910 that destroyed the Conn plant, a new series of saxophones was built to celebrate the rebirth of the company’s plant. Full of features that would only be present for a short while, these New Invention horns were a tribute to the company’s ability to rise from the ashes like a phoenix.

However, were there any bass saxophones built under this New Invention moniker? Nothing I have read would indicate there were. That said, this looks to me like this one that appeared on eBay in September 2014, was indeed a New Invention. Judge for yourself.

Model: New invention

Serial #: 29386

Finish: relacqured 

Key touches: MOP

Tone holes: Soldered & straight

Water key: absent

Fork Eb: Present

Neck attachment: from the top, like on a bari

Range: Bb – Eb

Description from ebay:

Offered for your consideration is this c1913-14 C.G. Conn Bass Saxophone with High F Key I believe …this was a High School instrument at one time….it does show use and has some dents…. also has several old solder repairs but look to have been professionally done….I am sure it will need pads and corks…

New Wonder – 14M Series I

After the sale of Conn to Carl Greenleaf in 1915, things changed radically in saxophone production at the Conn plant. Again I will point to Pete’s original work in Saxpics for you to read a full history, but I’ll quote the most salient features for you here:

 ...the best definition I can come up for for “true” New Wonder horns is that they must have the Haynes patent [for drawn tone holes] stamped on the back of them and have rolled tone holes. If these are missing, the horn is a Wonder model.

Characteristics:
– Pearl keys appeared around 1917
– Single octave key
– Rolled tone holes (feature found on all pitches around 1919)
– Standard front F altissimo key on alto and tenor
– Horns are now engraved “C.G. Conn, Ltd.”, instead of “C.G. Conn”
– “Smooth” G# key. The nail-file G# is a characteristic of the “Series II” New Wonder horns.

Finish Choices (all from a March, 1922 catalog, unless otherwise marked):
000 – Virtuoso Deluxe (introduced around 1922 for the C melody and on all models by the end of 1924 ): “Furnished only on special orders and prices quoted on request.” Heavily gold plated over all, hand burnished over all. Each and every key inlaid with special choice and carefully selected pearls. Highest class hand engraving on bell of instrument, as well as a greater portion of the body, all of which is a special design and of the highest character. 
00 – Artist’s Special (“Burnished Gold”): Heavily gold plated, hand burnished over all, pearl inlaid keys, pearl rollers, bell richly hand-engraved. Inside of bell, engraving background, keys, posts and ferrules hand burnished.
0 – Artist Finish (“Satin Gold”): Heavily gold plated over all, pearl inlaid keys and rollers, bell richly hand-engraved. Inside of bell engraving background, keys, posts and ferrules hand burnished.
1 (“Silver & Gold”): Body heavily silver plated, sand blast velvet finish, bell richly engraved, pearl finger tips, pearl rollers. Inside of bell, engraving background keys and ferrules gold-plated and burnished.
2 (“Silver, Gold Bell”): Body heavily silver plated, sand blast velvet finish, bell richly engraved, inside of bell gold plated [and] burnished. [E]ngraving background, keys, posts and ferrules hand burnished. Keys inlaid with pearl and pearl rollers.
3 : Quadruple silver plated over all, sand blast finish; interior of bell and points hand burnished, finger tips pearl inlaid, and on saxophones, pearl rollers. On woodwinds this finish symbol represents heavily silver plated keys, posts and rods, hand burnished. (Not advertised in any catalog I have.)
4 : Highly polished brass throughout, pearl inlaid finger tips and pearl rollers.
5 : Gold brass, highly polished, nickel-trimmed. (Not advertised in any catalog I have.)
6 : Body heavily nickel plated and highly polished, pearl inlaid finger tips, pearl rollers.

Source: http://saxpics.com/conn/new_wonder1.htm

 This stunningly-beautiful, New Wonder Series I, 14M bass, was sold by The Mighty Quinn Brass and Winds on eBay in March 2017. Yes, it is burnished gold.

Model: New wonder series I

Serial #: 111397

Finish: 00 – Artist’s special

Key touches: MOP

Tone holes: Drawn & rolled

Water key: present

Fork Eb: Present

Neck attachment: from the top, like on a bari

Range: Bb – Eb

Description from ebay:

HOLY COW! Here is a MAGNIFICENT Conn bass saxophone. Have you ever seen anything like this? Original gold plate is 90%+ present and looks very good-there are a couple of spots of wear and some resolders but nothing too significant. Incredible custom engraving of Psyche from Greek myth on the bell looks incredible-this is the only custom-engraved bass sax I’ve ever seen. Tone holes are rolled and this horn plays just like a vintage Conn bass-it plays great! Big, dark sound. Pads and action have just been adjusted and this magnificent instrument is ready to play.

New Wonder – 14M Series II

It isn’t at all surprising that the Series II bass saxophones don’t follow the conventional evolution of the New Wonder that Pete outlined. That said, the finishes would have been the same as those listed for the Series I.

While true they did adopt the nail file G# key, the New Wonder series II bass saxophones had a number of features that came at various times through the production run. These include:

• Addition of a bis Bb key.¹
• Larger internal diameter of neck. ^2/3
• Sink trap neck, which changed the neck attachment from the top like on the baritone, to insertion from the bottom.
• Increased range to high F.
• Having both the low B and Bb keys located on the right side of the bell.

Back in the fall of 2011, the shop where exactly a decade later I would buy my Couf Superba I bass, listed this Conn Series II for sale. At the time the staff spoke to me about the horn, and asked for my input. I suspect they secretly hoped that I would want it. Although I must admit I kind of did, I am very glad I held out for the Keilwerth I have now.

Model: New wonder series II

Serial #: M200XXX

Finish: relacquer 

Key touches: MOP

Tone holes: Drawn & rolled

Water key: present

Fork Eb: Present

Neck attachment: from the Bottom, AKA, sink trap neck

Range: Bb – Eb

Description from the shop’s website:

Serial No. M200XXX (1927) Low pitch New Wonder Series II

Nail file G# Rolled tone holes Has “biss” key

All pads in good condition No major dents

Originally a bare-brass instrument – now has age darkened lacquer with little wear in the lacquer

Includes a vintage case which is likely the original case.
It has been recovered and is in pretty good structural shape for its age.

Also includes a mouthpiece, ligature and cap. However, the mouthpiece is cracked
and is glued and taped together. It does work though.

Also includes stand as seen in photos

Of all the possible features a Series II bass saxophone could have, it is missing about half.

• It is not keyed to high F.
• It does not have right-sided bell keys.
• It doesn’t have a fork Eb.

Model: New wonder series II

Serial #: M257599

Finish: relacquer 

Key touches: MOP

Tone holes: Drawn & rolled

Water key: present

Fork Eb: Present

Neck attachment: from the Bottom, AKA, sink trap neck

Range: Bb – F

Description

This particular 14M is an example of a horn that appears to have almost all the possible features that a Series II, 14M bass could have:

• Bis Bb
• Sink trap neck
• Keyed to high F
• Right-sided bell keys

The only feature that may not be present is the fork Eb key. They photos don’t specifically show that area of the horn, so it’s hard to say for certainty if the horn has one or not. 

Additionally, one feature it has that is not stock is its finish. Lacquer was not an option back in the day of the bass saxophones. This bass most likely got a factory (re)lacquer at some point in its life, since it would have started out its life as a bare brass horn (Finish 4). 

¹ The bis Bb may be present in earlier horns as well, but it is somewhat hit and miss—just like the water and fork Eb keys.
² The smaller diameter of the neck on the earlier horns allowed for use of baritone saxophone mouthpieces.
³ Source: Saxophone: Ein Kompendium, Fifth Edition, Uwe Ladwig, page 33.