Looking for a first cornet - Conn 80A?

[Johann24]

Hi, I'm looking to purchase my first cornet. I've had my eye on the old Conn 80A cornets for awhile and am thinking about snagging one. This will be a first cornet, so I figured I'd ask some people first. I plan on using the cornet mainly for solo work in a concert band setting, but might also use it for jazz and such. I'm looking for something vintage and fairly inexpensive. Thanks for your help.
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V~Raptor Bb, Standard Weight
Conn 80A Victor Cornet

University of Rochester, Class of 2010

[tom turner]

Hi,

I love my 1939 80-A. They are a really cool type horn to play, for people are drawn to see this very unusual but beautifully proportioned cornet!

Bix played an 80A in his early years of being famous, and Jim Cullen (Riverwalk on PBS) still gigs on his! Mine is pristine and perfect and I've definately giged on mine too!

THE SOUND . . .

The 80A was an evolution of a new cornet "wrap" that appeared initially on the Conn "New Wonder" just before WWI. Soon the 80A replaced it and it has a totally different valve body than the New Wonder but looks very similar. Both these cornets were a new type design that was quite revolutionary around the WWI years . . . and a design Conn kept in their cornet line up into the 1960s. It was that good.

The sound? Well, this new type of "long bell" cornet gave the 80A a more powerful, brighter, more projecting sound than the old-fashioned short model cornet . . . and this quickly caught favor with the jazz and Dixieland cornetists of the time because of the greater power and projection! It also became popular with band musicians too for the same reason. As cornets go, the 80A is a bright cornet unless you tone it down via the correct type of mouthpiece.

Yes, it is a brighter type cornet that bridges the gap between the sound of the short model cornets and brassy trumpets. With a trumpet-type cup mouthpiece it truly can mimic a trumpet . . . but with a good, deep cornet mouthpiece the 80A can be fairly mellow too.

I think you'll enjoy yours. If it plays like mine did after restoring it, the horn should have a very easy blow and slot like a rollercoaster car on rails beyond Double C. They have a very easy upper register too.

Oh yeah . . . did I mention how COOL they look?

Sincerely,

Tom Turner

[David]

If you are only going to have ONE cornet and play it for special tunes with the idea of having a different sound than your trumpet, I would suggest the 80A is NOT the choice for you.

I would think you would want something with a sound that is more distinctively different than your trumpet. The 80A can actually substitute very well for a trumpet and could make a good choice as an ONLY horn.

Just my thoughts . . .
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Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig.

[Gilligan]

If you are concerned with price and performance I would recommend a LA made Olds Ambassador. They are probably the darkest of the American long model cornets and can be found fairly easily on eBay. The Fullerton models are good too but the LA models are better (IMHO). I found one for about $45.00 and spent another $80 on it for repairs and now have a great horn.

If you are loking for a great smaller bore cornet I would consider the Reynolds Roth cornet. They rarely go for more than $30.00 on eBAy and are a very nimble and easy nstrument to play. They maybe the best hidden value in cornets ever. There is one currently on eBay for $19.00. I found one for $23.00 and after a good cleanup and dedenting it knocked my socks off. It has a good dixieland / American concert band sound and will brighten up when pushed if you need to compete with the trumpets.

If you want a top of the line professional cornet there is a Reynolds Contempora currently avalible on eBay. You'll spend a bit more but many consider them to be one of the best American cornets ever.

What might be the best really depends on what you are loking for in a cornet. At a .485" bore the 80A is considered by some to be more of a super large bore trumpet than a cornet. It will brighten up when pushed up high and still have rich undertones.

I hope this helps to give you an idea of the many possibilities that are out there. I've only spoken of vintage horns but you may also want to look into some of the more modern used Getzens or Kanstuls.

I'll let the other guys sign in on those.

Have fun looking.

Gill
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Gill

[Johann24]

Thanks friends, all this advice was great. I did go ahead and buy the Conn, I believe it will be a good versitile horn for my purposes (I may want to push it and blend with trumpets one minute and bring it down for a solo the next). On that note, I'll be using a deeper mouthpiece. Tom, I was wondering what MPC you use? Any advice you may have on getting a good setup with the horn will be appreciated.

Thanks guys!
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V~Raptor Bb, Standard Weight
Conn 80A Victor Cornet

University of Rochester, Class of 2010

[plp]

Congrats of the 80-A. I personally think it was a great choice for a first cornet, and mine was the only instrument I played for years in all types of situations from marching band to liturgical to jazz band. As far as mouthpieces, a Bach 5A is a good deep cup mouthpiece, and the shank seems to be a good fit for the old Conns.

[tom turner]