CONN 30M CONNQUEROR TENOR SAXOPHONE - VINTAGE 1936 - VG PLAYING CONDITION

Description

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*Today I am listing the latest installment of mouthpieces and other sax gear which I am selling on consignment for saxophonist Frank Catalano. For those of you who may not be familiar, Frank is a true heavy hitter in the jazz world and has been featured on multiple Grammy winning albums. He is also the quintessential gear hound, having amassed a collection of over 500 mouthpieces! He now endorses and plays Jody Jazz mouthpieces exclusively so he is purging some of his massive collection of mouthpieces he has acquired over many years, as well as other random gear. Be sure to check out my other items for more great items from this collection. There will be more to come later, so add me to your favorites list and check back later to see new additions.
T
his listing is for a vintage Conn 30M "Connqueror" tenor saxophone, with its original neck (in excellent condition and valued at upwards of k by itself). The serial number is 274,xxx, indicating a c.1936 production date. It is stamped "L" for low pitch, the desired tuning for modern use.
The 30M was Conn's top of the line tenor sax. It is a step above even the 10M professional model. Some liken it to a 10M on steroids! In fact, it is built on the basic platform of the 10M design, but with lots of upgrades. It has solid silver key touches, and a redesigned octave key that is hinged on the bottom of the neck. The oversized pinky table keys have also been re-designed for lighter action. There are adjusting screws everywhere, which makes repairs easier and more accurate. It also has standard Conn features, such as locking pivot screws, and of course rolled tone holes.
This horn is in very good playing condition. It had a playing condition job done relatively recently by a well known Chicago area tech. I just did a leak light inspection, and all pads are sealing properly with a light touch. Of course you may want to have it adjusted to your tastes by your own tech, but it is definitely fully playable right out of the box.
This horn is in very good physical condition as well. The body is straight, and the neck has not been pulled down. There is one minor ding on the bell, and maybe a couple additional super tiny pings, but no significant dents or dings. No obvious signs of past trauma or re-soldering. The keys are all moving freely, and rollers are all turning. It doesn't have  excessive mechanical wear to the keywork. The pads are older (except for a few just replaced at the last servicing). I would say they are about mid-life.
Now for the one negative...unfortunately this horn has been relacquered, and it was buffed rather heavily in the process. The engraving isn't completely buffed out, but it is faint. Luckily the tone holes seem to have been spared. My guess is that this was not the result of a single buffing incident, but rather the combined effects of multiple buffings over the decades. From the 1940's through the 70's it was all to common to buff and relacquer horns as part of a standard overhaul. From what I've heard, they wouldn't even ask if you wanted it done, it was just a matter of course, and most players prefered a shiny 'new' looking horn. Obviously the tide has changed on that sentiment. I won't get into the debate about whether or not this affects the sound of the instrument, because you probably already have your own opinion.
This horn is a monster player! The tone is incredibly rich, and FAT! It has just a massive sound to it, very spread, and on the dark side. The intonation is quite good for a horn of this age. It speaks easily from low Bb all the way into the altissimo. Frank mentioned that he thought the neck from this one is particularly good (and he's played enough vintage Conn's to know!). Incidentally, I had originally sold this very horn to Frank a number of years ago, so I know a little of its history prior to his ownership. It was owned by a longtime pro player who passed away in his 90's some time ago. This player also had a 58' Selmer Mark VI that I bought, but he apparently continued using this Conn as his main axe even after getting the VI. I've got a few of his business cards that were in the case, which I will throw in, just for kicks.
Lastly, the case is in overall good condition. It is solid, but well worn. There are no structural issues, the handles are present, and the latches spring open as they should. I'm not sure if it is original to the horn or not, although it does look to be from the right era. Of course you'll probably want something more modern for day to day use.
There is no mouthpiece, nor any other accessories included, except for the original end plug.
Please feel free to email me with any questions.
Thanks again for looking!
Note to international buyers:
Due to the current global pandemic, international shipments via USPS mail are experiencing significant delays. This is due to lack of available transportation (ie. mail is normally carried overseas as cargo on commercial passenger flights, however the flight schedules have been slashed). European buyers have experienced wait times of up to 2 months for shipments to arrive. If this potential wait presents a problem for you, please refrain from purchasing at this time. I sincerely apologize for this, unfortunately unavoidable, inconvenience.