| In 1977 I bought a Courtois 708 Sonic from Eastside music in Roseville MI.
I tired it beside 2 Schilkes a Benge and 2 Bachs. It won.
I played it until it wore out. Averaging over 150 jobs a year for over 20 years. That horn was GREAT. I finally sold it in 2001 on eBay to a collector. I bought a Schilke B1 then a Schilke B6. Great horns, but not my old Courtois. In March of this year I saw a Courtois 708 Sonic on eBay for $1100.00 nice, but too high. It was on again two weeks later for $1000.00. No location though. I looked through his feedbacks and found out he was only about 15 miles away from me. I called and asked if I could play it. I went to his jewelry/pawn shop and played it. It was like a new old stock horn. Absolutely perfect. Not even any mute scratches in the bell. The grey Supersuede case wasn't even scuffed. I gave a little concert and the guy's mother let me have it for $700.00!!! I would have paid a lot more. I took it back to Eastside Mucsic and we found an Eastside Music sticker in the case!
They had bought 2 708 Sonics, 2 direct air large bore horns and 10 Courtois Flugelhorns in 1977. This was the other 708 I tried. It was 3 serial numbers away from my old horn!
GREAT DEAL on a GREAT horn.
-cw-
BTW the Courtois 708 Sonic is the horn Al Hirt was playing in the famous Sass & Brass video with MF, Dizzy, Mangione, Don Cherry and Sarah Vaughn. |