Conn New Wonder II Baritone 208xxx Original Silver Plate Great Deal!

Description

This is a very nice, Gerry Mulligan-vintage Conn New Wonder II baritone. Conn called all of it’s baritones a Conn 12M Baritone but usually this gets applied to the slightly later, same side bell keys models. However, Mulligan mostly played this version his (189xxx I think)  New Wonder II baritone famously the majority of his career, . These horns are HARD to find at all, let alone in good condition like this.

This horn has its original factory silver plate mostly intact, with wear at touch points mostly. The neck, bell, and body tube all look great. In terms of past repairs, it is all pretty minor stuff. The only unusual one is a replaced low C tone hole chimney which is straight, rather than rolled on the edge, which was done well and is functioning just like it should now. The C key guard has been resoldered, and looks good. The upper bow brace has been resoldered, and the upper bow has been apart to remove a few dents. There is also dent work in the bottom bow, both in the bow guard and on the back of the bow. The strap hook is new, and so is the neck receiver. This is good because it means the neck is sealing well and will hold up well over time. Basically, all the problems that this horn had have now been addressed, so it’s in good mechanical shape.

The pads on this horn are also recently replaced. It was done before I got it, so I don’t know who did the work. I had some additional setup work done by Matt Stohrer, and now this horn is playing great and feels good under the fingers.

The tone is classic Mulligan. It’s that warm, cello like timbre that also can scream and bark with the best of them. Great for blues, jazz, rock – really almost anything. These horns like a large chamber mouthpiece to play most in tune. Intonation tends to spread a bit in the upper register, but the horn is flexible enough that you can easily keep it under control if you have a decent ear. Another important point on this horn is its light weight. Conn baritones from this vintage feel more like a tenor than a bari, and are way easier to hold than any modern horn. That can be a big plus if you play for longer periods of time. The keywork is vintage, but not bad. The pearls are more spread than a modern horn, but the action is light and easy.

If you have been looking for a great example of a vintage Conn baritone, look no further. For combination of great tone, beauty, quality workmanship and overall magic, vintage Conn baritones like this are very hard to beat. There’s only one available! Get it now, before it’s gone.