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Wooden Conn

Author: johnniegoldfish
Date: 2009-03-23 15:34

Recently I was at a yard sale and they had a wooden Conn b-flat body in good condition everything else needed reworking if fixable at all. Any idea on the value or sound of this style clarinet?

Post Edited (2009-03-23 17:05)

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Re: Wooden Conn

Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2009-03-23 22:52

Depends, if it were an older style model 444 or 424 could be worth a little bit of money, but not as much as other models. Student line Conn's usually aren't worth repairing unless it has sentimental value.

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Re: Wooden Conn

Author: Molloy
Date: 2009-03-23 23:01

I love my 444N. If it's an even older instrument (with serial number like B#####L or B1#####L), it might be a nice clarinet but probably won't have much cash value unless it has something unusual to interest a collector. Even the 444N go pretty cheap, often around $300-400.

If it's more recent (post-1955) I wouldn't expect much of it musically or financially.

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Re: Wooden Conn

Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-03-24 15:44

I've hung onto a 1957 wooden Conn Director because it was my first clarinet. My dad bought it for me new. Nostalgia's the only reason I keep it, though, because it's got 12ths wide enough for Godzilla to stomp through, among other built-in intonation whoopsies.

Those Conns from the 1950s and later weren't made by the same company that made the justly-celebrated C. G. Conn saxophones and brass instruments earlier in the 20th century. C. G. Conn's widow sold the company name, but without his initials, so that's the telltale: If an old instrument says "C. G. Conn," it might be collectible, although the clarinets aren't in nearly the same class with the old C. G. Conn saxes and brasses, imho. But if it just says "Conn," then it's a student instrument and probably not a very good one.

Btw, I don't know whether the original trademarks and patents expired or whether the widow's heirs have now sold the rest of the name, but brand-new instruments are now being manufactured by Conn-Selmer with a "C.G. Conn" logo. I have no experience with these newbies.

Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.

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Re: Wooden Conn

Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-24 17:07

I have a ca. 1920s Conn "A" clarinet which plays wonderfully. Modern design with the exception of a wraparound register key, very free-blowing and in tune.

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Re: Wooden Conn

Author: johnniegoldfish
Date: 2009-03-24 17:34

Thanks to all replies, learning is always fun!
I believe the instrument has not sold an dI ahve the name of the person, so at $55 I might just check it out and bring a reed this time as the upper section seemd to work and could possibly produce a sound.

Thanks again
johnnie

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