[Dixielandjazz] More on Sopramno Sax

Mon Mar 10 16:35:17 PDT 2008

Confused here. Do youe mean a C-melody Sax" That would be a concert C 
overtone sax -- Trambauer or Rosy McHargue most noted for it.
Of do you mean a Conn Bflat soprano sax -- curved or straight fish horn? 
I have my father's Bflat Conn curved Soprano Sax, which he recorded 
with  Spike Jones (Pass the Bisquits Mirandy"), and which he got in 
Chicago in the mid-'30's from Peter Palmer III, scion of the Palmers of 
the Palmer House. The young lad had decided to play sax and bought the 
small soprano because he thought it would be easier to learn to play 
being smaller.
When he awoke to reality, he basically said screw it and gave it my dad 
(Red Ingle). I have it, in playing condition and might part with it some 
day, but not today. (I also have two of his violins as used and recorded 
with the Natural Seven. Mom sold his tenor, baritone, clarinet, and bass 
clarinet when he passed.)
The little soprano has the most shattering god-awful bark this side of a 
Mastiff on steroids.
Don Ingle

Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis wrote:
>> You will easily find my old Conn C Soprano Sax -- current bid $700.
> __________________________________________________________
>
> It's interesting how much C saxes bring today.  A few years ago they 
> were pretty much worthless but they seem to bring pretty good prices 
> on e-bay in almost any condition.  I completely restored a 1923 
> Buescher tenor a few years ago and it cost about $650 and would have 
> been more if there were any dents.
>
> Considering most of these horns haven't seen a repair shop since the 
> 30's and are costing anywhere between $350 and $700+ then spending 
> another couple of hundred on restoration would seem to not make 
> sense.  One would wonder what people are doing with them?  There 
> aren't that many authentic 20-30's bands around that would require the 
> rather unique sound of the C to warrant what seems to be the increased 
> interest in the instrument.
>
> At one time transposed sheet music wasn't readily available and the 
> idea was that people could play in their parlors without extra music 
> or transposition.  I think that it was the "different" sound that they 
> had plus the instruments reflected the technology of the day (same for 
> the soprano) was the reason they didn't retain popularity.  The 
> biggest reason for the C and the soprano to fall by the wayside was 
> the depression.  People including professional musicians just didn't 
> have the money for them and they became a dead end more or less.  The 
> soprano revived but the  C just didn't.
>
> Either there is a revival of the C going on, people are buying them as 
> collectors items and speculating on them or people think they are 
> buying tenors.  It's hard to believe that people are buying them to 
> play on unless they are playing music of the period and want to sound 
> authentic.
>
> Some people call them C tenors and they are advertised that way.  
> There have been some listed just as tenors on E-bay but their fairly 
> long narrow bell makes me believe that they are C's.   If someone 
> bought a C Melody thinking it was a Tenor might not be happy with his 
> purchase.  I don't think this is dishonesty but rather people buying 
> or inheriting estates and not knowing what they have.   A Conn tenor 
> in playable condition and depending on the year it was made and model, 
> brings somewhere between $500 and $1000 which is in the ballpark.  I 
> could see people being confused but I don't really understand the 
> demand, that apparently is there, for the C.   C's in just about any 
> condition seem to be bringing around $350.
>
> I have owned three of them over the years and not one cost over $35 
> and I never sold one for much more and at least one became a wall 
> hanger.  Now I wish I still had them.  Save your Confederate money.  
> It seems that eventually everything rises again.
> Larry
> St.L
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stan McDonald" <stanmm at comcast.net>
> To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
> Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 12:46 AM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Stan McDonald -- recordings, artifacts, 
> memorabilia
>
>
>> Dear fans and friends (old or new),
>>
>> I have not engaged in DJML until now, but wanted you to know that I 
>> have several of the above sorts of items posted on Ebay. Please check 
>> them out. I have consignonline doing this for me and they are just 
>> acclimating to dealing with my/our specialty, so you may have to hunt 
>> a bit for things like the tuxedo I wore in 1975 with Bobby Short and 
>> Claude Hopkins on PBS TV; one of the unique New Black Eagle Jazz Band 
>> t-shirts that I wore with them on festivals here and in Europe; or an 
>> original feature article on me in the MIssissippi Rag, Feb. 2003.
>>
>> You will easily find my old Conn C Soprano Sax -- current bid $700.
>>
>> I have of course continued active since my departure from the New 
>> Black Eagle Jazz Band in 1981, when I founded the Blue Horizon Jazz 
>> Band. You might check our name on Ebay for items; the Web under my 
>> name, and also our web site: www.bluehorizonjazzband -- and come and 
>> hear us live when in the Boston area.
>>
>> This is my first venture with Ebay, but I have a great deal more 
>> stuff to put up, depending upon how consignonline works out. I'd 
>> appreciate your advice on anything I have that you might think of 
>> interest. I have a remaining stock of the first BJHB Lp recording as 
>> listed on Ebay that I'll send you for $15.00 ppd. in the US. Original 
>> shrink wrap with extensive notes of trad jazz revival in New England, 
>> through the 50's and 60's.
>>
>> With fond regards and thanks for all the dear friendships -- faded or 
>> not -- and warm regards, always,
>>
>> Stan McDonald
>> Leader, Blue Horizon Jazz Band
>>
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