Contrabass Digest

To subscribe or unsubscribe, email gdgreen@contrabass.com

 
 

1998-11-06

 
list                           Fri, 6 Nov 1998            Volume 1 : Number 21

In this issue:
 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 07:19:08 -0800
From: "Johnson, David L" <David.Johnson7@PSS.Boeing.com>
To: "'list@contrabass.com'" <list@contrabass.com>
Subject: Conn Bass Sax  finishes prior to 1920.

  In regards to Rober Howes remarks on lacquring a 1919 Conn Bass Sax.
  What finishes did the older Conn Basses prior to 1920 have?  Silver plate,
gold plate (expensive but I have heard of one), polished brass, brass with
lacquer?
 

                                             David L Johnson
                                              ph 206-662-1769  ms 14-MF

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 12:25:27 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time)
From: Frank D Diaz <Frank.D.Diaz@wdc.com>
To: list@contrabass.com,
    David.Johnson7@PSS.Boeing.com
Subject: RE: Conn Bass Sax  finishes prior to 1920.
 

Regarding finishes on Bass Saxes, Conn and Buesher basically had these available in the
"pre-laquer" days:
 


Conn referred to these as Finish I, Finish II, etc. The horns were the same. Only the
finish was different.There are exceptions and combinations to these finishes, but those
were the basic ones advertised in my old Conn catalogs and from what I've seen. Around
1917, a gold plated Conn Bass was around $235.00 if I remember reading correctly.

I've come across 2 Conn Basses that were stripped and laquered. Both were ABSOLUTELY
butchered ! If you want this done, you better go to a 1st rate, properly equipped shop. To
keep the horn authentic, it should be replated instead. No body metal has to be removed
this way, except for the tiny amount removed while leveling the tone holes, if any.

Frank Diaz
----------
------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Nov 98 17:16:07 -0600
From: Richard Fenno <rfenno@earthlink.net>
To: <list@contrabass.com>
Subject: Re: Conn Bass Sax  finishes prior to 1920.

>  In regards to Rober Howes remarks on lacquring a 1919 Conn Bass Sax.
>  What finishes did the older Conn Basses prior to 1920 have?  Silver plate,
>gold plate (expensive but I have heard of one), polished brass, brass with
>lacquer?
>
>                                             David L Johnson
>                                              ph 206-662-1769  ms 14-MF

Mine (Wurlitzer stencil ca. 1915) is silver. Beautiful 2-tone finish.

Richard Fenno * Austin, Texas
Saxophones, Woodwinds, Arranging, Music Prep
Author of Claris Home Page 3 for Windows & Macintosh, a Visual QuickStart Guide

------------------------------

End of list V1 #21
******************
------------------------


 
Next Digest ->
Previous Digest <-
Index
Top