Conn 30M Tenor Saxophone 306xxx

Description

The Conn 30M is the most super-deluxe saxophone model that Conn ever produced, and is at least a strong contender for the pinnacle of American saxophone manufacturing. Desired by players and collectors alike, these rare saxophones come up for sale only infrequently. They were sold as special orders and made in small numbers compared to the much more plentiful 10M tenors. Assuming 1/3 of Conn saxophones were tenors in the 30M era, and estimating roughly one 30M for every 100 10M’s, made between SN 274xxx and 307xxx, there are probably roughly 1100 30M’s that were made. Of those that are still around, there are not that many original lacquer ones in good physical condition. This is one of that small number remaining.

The Conn 30M is a saxophone that happened because someone at Conn was given free rein to improve the already-great 10M to a ridiculous extent. It has an improved neck design with an art deco octave key shape, improved octave mechanism, individual perm-adjust screws on every key, so that if the horn is setup once correctly, it can in just continue to stay in adjustment with only pads swapped out for several decades or even more. On top of that, it has extensive deco engraving, and everything that your hands touch on the horn is either pearl or solid silver.

This particular horn has a fresh full overhaul by Matt Stohrer, which cost about double what a normal overhaul costs, because of all of the extra work involved in setting up a horn with so many extra adjustments and getting all of them perfect. The keywork feels remarkably smooth and light under the fingers, and the pads are extremely snappy and seal with a hollow, ringing pop. This is some of the best overhaul work that I have seen, bar none, so big thanks to Matt. This is the horn featured on his YouTube overview of Conn Connquerors, by the way, so if you buy this one, you will have an increasingly famous saxophone:-) It sports firm precision pads and Reso-tech style screw-in domed metal resonators, which are super-nice and reusable.

There are no past repairs at all on this horn. The original neck is perfect, there were no dents removed, no resolders. It’s one of the cleanest vintage Conns that I have seen. It is original lacquer, aged to a dark molasses color, and there is barely any play wear to speak of either. The keywork is perfectly tight, and everything is just as it should be. Comparing it to an original factory setup 30M I have in the closet, I would say that this horn is just as it should be, or even better.

This horn is one of the last 30M’s made by Conn before the factory was converted for wartime munitions production in mid 1942. This was to be the last time that Connquerors were ever made. This horn was made right at the pinnacle of Conn’s manufacturing abilities, and the company sadly never reached its pre-war peak quality again. So if you want one of the best saxophones ever made in America, this is it.

The tone is classic 10M/30M Conn, which, if you have never played one, is hard to describe, but is big, dark, full, complex, with power when necessary, but easy to play softly as well. More focused than an older Conn, but more spread than any modern horn, able to fill a room easily. Dexter Gordon got his signature tone first of all by being Dexter Gordon, but his Conn 30M (and sometimes 10M) together with a vintage Dukoff Hollywood helped quite a bit. If you want to hear a Conn like this in full song, you can go listen to Dexter’s classic album “Go,” or someone contemporary, like Dave O’Higgins, who also sounds great on his Conn.

This horn ships in a new Hiscox Pro II tenor case, and you can talk to me about upgrading to an “artist” case if you want to. The original case for this horn is also around, but it’s not recommended for safe shipping. Talk to me about including that as well, if you want that added on.