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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2023 10:28 am Post subject: Conn 61B super connstellation |
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Hello guys , i just won a mint Conn 61B super connstellation model and i am very excited ...can you please tell me your experience with this horn and every infos you probably now until the horn comes.
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
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Goby Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2017 Posts: 641
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:22 am Post subject: |
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The Conn 60B came out in 1967 as Conn's response to the King 1055T Silver Flair. The late 60's and early 70's was the heyday of ultra lightweight trumpets, with Schilke and Calicchio being prime examples from this period. Since Conn only made the 60B and 61B for a few years, there aren't that many out there, and there aren't too many players who endorsed them compared to the 38B Connstellation or 8B Artist model. I know there is at least one photo of Maynard Ferguson holding a 60B from this time period. As far as I know, the 61B is the same as the 60B, but with a 1st slide thumb saddle. The 61B was only made in Texas. Congrats on your purchase, and please post a review after you receive the horn! |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:25 am Post subject: |
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Thanks , sure I will do it.
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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bach_again Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Posts: 2478 Location: Northern Ireland
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Halflip Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1862 Location: WI
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2023 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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I have a lacquered 60B that Charlie Melk restored for me. It's a really nice, responsive player, and very lightweight compared to the 38B, 36B, and even the 8B Artist. It's wild to see the distinctive Conn valve mechanism (of that era) incorporated in a lighter, more mainstream wrap.
The Conn Loyalist website has a little information about it:
https://cderksen.home.xs4all.nl/Conn60B1970image.html
My guess is that you will like it . . . a lot. Enjoy! _________________ "He that plays the King shall be welcome . . . " (Hamlet Act II, Scene 2, Line 1416)
"He had no concept of the instrument. He was blowing into it." -- Virgil Starkwell's cello teacher in "Take the Money and Run" |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2023 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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Halflip wrote: | I have a lacquered 60B that Charlie Melk restored for me. It's a really nice, responsive player, and very lightweight compared to the 38B, 36B, and even the 8B Artist. It's wild to see the distinctive Conn valve mechanism (of that era) incorporated in a lighter, more mainstream wrap.
The Conn Loyalist website has a little information about it:
https://cderksen.home.xs4all.nl/Conn60B1970image.html
My guess is that you will like it . . . a lot. Enjoy! |
Thanks buddy.
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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terum2 Regular Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2012 Posts: 17 Location: London
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2023 6:20 am Post subject: |
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I purchased a Conn 61B from a shop outside London in 1980 Approx from new.
People in the UK either think the 61B is a student trumpet or say it was built to revile the Bach Strad. I had a brochure at the time that said it was a dance band instrument - that's why I bought it.
In those days I could just about squeeze a super C and when in the shop preparing to purchase this instrument the shop manager at Delmars potters Bar and the Conn rep complained about the noise.
It seemed to go higher than my Mercedes II
The problem I had with it was the valves and I was too young to realise it should have been corrected.
Sold it to a guy in the London philamonic who sold it to a pit pro - some student horn ! |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 8:17 am Post subject: |
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I try to find the date that my horn is made but I am not sure , the serial number is
GJ520740
Do you now what is the exactly year of manufacturing and if is a Elkhart horn or a newer one ?
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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terum2 Regular Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2012 Posts: 17 Location: London
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Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 9:40 am Post subject: |
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For example "GK521719", the "G" means the 1970's, the "K" means November, the "5" means 5th year of the 1970's (1975), the "2" means "trumpet", and the rest "1719" is the unique serial number for your instrument |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:00 am Post subject: |
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terum2 wrote: | For example "GK521719", the "G" means the 1970's, the "K" means November, the "5" means 5th year of the 1970's (1975), the "2" means "trumpet", and the rest "1719" is the unique serial number for your instrument |
Thanks.
That dates my horn in 1975 , I read that Conn start to move from Elkhart in 1970 until 1978 , is it possible to find if this horn was made in Elkhart or not ?
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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plankowner110 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 3620
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terum2 Regular Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2012 Posts: 17 Location: London
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Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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The below info maybe correct and I think obtained from trumpet master or trumpet herald sometime back.
Abilene is where the pro models were made after Elkhart factory closed in '71
It may well be the case that the 60B Super Constellation was a superior instrument. |
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Halflip Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1862 Location: WI
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Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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giakara wrote: | Do you now what is the exactly year of manufacturing and if is a Elkhart horn or a newer one ? |
Regarding where your horn was made, I found this thread:
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19355
(I noticed that Goby also mentioned that the horn was made in Texas in his post earlier in this thread.)
Conn designs manufactured in Abilene aren't necessarily bad, and if there are problems, they were due to quality control issues in manufacturing. More often than not, problems like that can be rectified by a good tech. _________________ "He that plays the King shall be welcome . . . " (Hamlet Act II, Scene 2, Line 1416)
"He had no concept of the instrument. He was blowing into it." -- Virgil Starkwell's cello teacher in "Take the Money and Run" |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys , I guess that is a good buy , I pay €600 and I belive that the horn worth the money since it looks mint , I will recive it probably next week and I will post a full review.
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:50 am Post subject: |
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Hello guys , today the horn arrived , is in really great condition , the slides are clear like a new horn , if you now what I mean, the valves are fast and with massive compression and the only bad is two tiny dings on first and second slide and and extra shallow small dimple on the side of the bell , it comes with original case in excellent condition , Conn 7C mpc and the original Conn valve oil almost full.
I just clean up the horn inside out , oil and greased valves and slides and polished the silver that is 100% intact and now it looks almost like a new horn , I really like the adjustable hook on first slide and the bell shape.
I had a full three hours practice session today morning and my chops are a little tired but I play it for a half hour with my Reeves stock CF mpc , the high registers are really easy on these horn , the slots also are nice and the sound is piercing and bright, definitely a lead commercial trumpet, I am used to play horns with round tuning slides
and reverse leadpipes and I don't now if these is tight for me but tomorrow I will try it with fresh lips and some extra mpcs.
Definitely a keeper and for sure a bargain that cost me only €600.
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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Halflip Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1862 Location: WI
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:40 am Post subject: |
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giakara wrote: | Definitely a keeper and for sure a bargain that cost me only €600. |
Glad to hear it, pal! _________________ "He that plays the King shall be welcome . . . " (Hamlet Act II, Scene 2, Line 1416)
"He had no concept of the instrument. He was blowing into it." -- Virgil Starkwell's cello teacher in "Take the Money and Run" |
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plankowner110 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 3620
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2023 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys , I am on the way to the rehearsal room of Athens big band and I will start my practice routine with the new toy....
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:53 am Post subject: |
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The 61B is a animal, I played for two hours with several Reeves pieces , is painful bright and the sound quality is superb , the blow also is very open and I never had any backpresure of the feell that the horn can take more air .
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3826 Location: Greece
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Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:55 am Post subject: |
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As I play this horn it reminds me a late 70's Calicchio 1S7 I had in the past, same quality of sound -the Cali was not that bright- same fast response and same feeling on my hands -both are a little tight for my big hhands- truly magnificent horn.
Did any of you have a similar experience?
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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