screamingmorris

I need advice, help, info.

It is generally accepted that all Conn cornets made before 1958 used short-shank mouthpieces.

Has anyone successfully used modern Bach mouthpieces on those vintage Conn cornets such as the pre-1958 Conn 12A and Conn 80A?
Is there any wobble, does it play flat, have wrong gap, etc?

Conn Loyalist gives compelling reasons for *not* using a modern Bach mouthpiece in a vintage Conn cornet at
The Conn Loyalist
and I fully agree with everything she says there.

However, I cannot afford to get custom-made short-shank replacements of my Bach 7 and Bach 7E and Weril W46 cornet mouthpieces.

Up to now I have simply avoided buying any Conn cornet made before 1960, but it would sure be tempting to get one if a cheap mouthpiece solution can be discovered, such as "just go ahead and use your Bach and Weril cornet mouthpieces".

- Morris

nieuwguyski

Just go ahead and use your Bach and Weril cornet mouthpieces.

Bach cornet mouthpieces fit fine in my 1921 Conn 10A and 1923 80A cornets. So does the vintage Conn Wonder mouthpiece that came with the 10A. So does the Conn 4 that came with my 1942 48A. So do my modern Wicks. Nothing wobbles. Some play better than others, but some of the long mouthpieces play better than some of the short ones.

__________________
John N. Nieuwguyski

Sturmbill

Morris,

I am guessing that buying a new mouthpiece, just not a custom, is a possibility for you. If that's true you might look at the Curry VC series or some of the Marcinkiewicz mouthpieces. I play my '55 Conn 80A with a curry 5VC and a Marcinkiewicz 5XW. Both are short shank and do very well in that horn. They give it a nice, cornet sound rather than a more trumpet-like sound.

I think the other Curry cornet 'pieces like the DC also have a shorter shank.

Good luck!

Bill

__________________
A wise man once said "Learn to write your hurts in sand, and carve your blessings in stone."

screamingmorris

Is that anything like "Klaatu barado nikto"?
And who is "Red Green"?

- Morris

Sturmbill

LOL! No, but I like that one, too!

Red Green is a Canadian who had a long running series that PBS carried. He was in essence a handy man who wasn't, and operated the Possum Lodge where all the local characters hung out. Used a lot of duct tape, made power windows for his van by using a battery powered drill motor, etc.

he always had little sayings like "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy", and "I'm a man...but I can change...if I have to... I guess...". The tag I'm using is translated (ahem) "When all else fails, play dead".

The Red Green Show

Bill

__________________
A wise man once said "Learn to write your hurts in sand, and carve your blessings in stone."

screamingmorris

I stopped watching PBS when they stopped playing John Cleese' "Fawlty Towers".
Perhaps someone would like to buy me the DVD's? <hint hint>

- Morris

Bflatman

The information I have is that pre 1958 most conn cornets only take a conn short shank mouthpiece, the conn short shank is not only shorter but has a different taper than regular mouthpieces.

Some conn cornets around that period are supposed to be transitional horns that can take short shank or regular longer shank, after 1958 longer shank are supposed to be the only correct mouthpiece.

I have heard that some players have fitted Bach mouthpieces and had no problems.

I have also heard that if you fit a long shank mouthpiece with the wrong taper, into a short shank receiver and use it for several years, it wobbles, and the taper in the receiver eventually reams itself out to be more snug with the incorrect mouthpiece, and after that long shank mouthpieces appear to fit ok.

I have also heard that a long shank mouthpiece fitted into a short shank receiver will affect the intonation. This is probably due to the mouthpiece being about a quarter of an inch longer, so the resonant tube length of the instrument is therefore extended.

Its an issue for me because I have just purchased a 1957 conn 80a, and have yet to receive it, I intend to see what my receiver will accept, and then only use mouthpices of that type. I expect it to be pre 1958 short shank only.

The other option is to have a good repairer fit a modern receiver and adjust the leadpipe to preserve the intonation with the new mouthpiece/leadpipe combination.

This may be the best option for playability, as the full range of modern mouthpieces would be available. Another choice is to have a good mouthpiece maker make a custom to fit the receiver.

Does anyone know where I can source pre 1958 conn short shank mouthpieces?

Brian

__________________
The only place that "Results" comes before "Work", is in the dictionary.

"I aint squealing till Ive seen my mouthpiece"

2001 Yamaha YCR2330II Cornet
1954 Conn 80A Cornet
1976 Boosey & Hawkes Regent Cornet
1916 Boosey & Co A/Bb Silbron Class A Trumpet
1930's Monarch A/Bb Trumpet
1950's Comet unknown European Trumpet

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