50's Conn Constellation Vs. 50's Martin

rbdeli · 05-17-2009, 12:34 PM

Sorry to beat a dead horse, just curious about those of you who have played or own both these horns what you think? Interesting how their valued so similarly.

1956 Conn Connstellation - $2,600

1950's Martin Committee - $2,700

Schwab · 05-17-2009, 12:51 PM

They are both priced ridiculously high. They play very differently as well, you'd have to try them for yourself to see which you preferred.

rbdeli · 05-17-2009, 05:04 PM

I'm not ready to buy something like this yet. I agree, the price seems way overboard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schwab

They are both priced ridiculously high. They play very differently as well, you'd have to try them for yourself to see which you preferred.

peterp · 05-23-2009, 02:57 PM

I don't know how relevant it is to 50's horns, but I have a 1946 Committee and a 1969 Connstellation 36B. In my mind, they couldn't be much different. The Conn is physically very large and plays well but somehow has a disconnected feel. The Committee is tiny and really unbelievable in the way it plays -- very intimate and it's hard to play a wrong note. I just picked up the Committee and am literally astounded at the way it plays. I was always surprised that Chet Baker switched from a Committee to a Conn -- the Committee seems ideal for his style playing -- Conn does not at all seem his style, but maybe the 50's Conns are quite different from my 69.

A.N.A. Mendez · 05-23-2009, 03:44 PM

If you want to lose 30 minutes pick up a Committee for 5.............

peterp · 05-23-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.N.A. Mendez

If you want to lose 30 minutes pick up a Committee for 5.............

Very well said.

I am also feeling the need to pick up an Olds Recording based on the feedback here -- this site is dangerous...

A.N.A. Mendez · 05-23-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterp

Very well said.

I am also feeling the need to pick up an Olds Recording based on the feedback here -- this site is dangerous...

I keep my Committee in a case, when I left it on a stand I would lose 30 minutes a couple times a day!
Ever wonder what a brand new, never used Olds recording looked like?

1968 Olds recording trumpet,
in mint, never used, dropped, scraped, dinged, scratched case....

Amazing....

bagmangood · 05-23-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.N.A. Mendez

I keep my Committee in a case, when I left it on a stand I would lose 30 minutes a couple times a day!
Ever wonder what a brand new, never used Olds recording looked like?

1968 Olds recording trumpet,
in mint, never used, dropped, scraped, dinged, scratched case....

Amazing....

*drools*

Also, about Chet Baker's switch, I recall reading somewhere that Chet Baker switched when the Martin factory started not being quite so consistently high quality
"It is generally believed that the quality of Martin products eroded after 1956 -- in an interview Chet Baker spoke about switching to a Connstellation at that time because a trip to the Martin factory did not yield a good horn."
http://www.dallasmusic.org/gearhead/...Committee.html
(love that site)

peterp · 05-24-2009, 10:52 AM

That Olds Recording is beautiful Lee.

I had read that story about the Chet factory visit, but just not sure why he would go to the Connstellation. The Conn is a very good horn, but seems as different as you can get from a Committee.

Plankowner110 · 05-25-2009, 06:22 PM

Get the DVD "Chet Baker Live in '64 & '79" from Jazz Icons. Baker played a 38B Connstellation in the 70s and early 80s. He gets such a warm, fluid sound on his Conn in this CD. He also recorded a couple of great LP albums with the Conn in the seventies.

I remember a feature story on Chet Baker in "Down Beat" magazine about 1983 or '84. Baker was playing a Blessing (who knows how he "lost" use of the Conn) but when asked in the interview about his trumpet preference, he said something to the effect of "I really like Conns, but they're so expensive." I always took that to mean he didn't have enough bread to buy another Connstellation.

I knew the regional C.G. Conn sales manager quite well back then and he said they were not interested in Baker's endorsement (and giving him a free horn) because he was not a very good role model for trumpet students.

05-17-2009, 12:34 PM	#1
rbdeli Piano User Join Date: May 2009 Location: CO Posts: 377	50's Conn Constellation Vs. 50's Martin Sorry to beat a dead horse, just curious about those of you who have played or own both these horns what you think? Interesting how their valued so similarly. 1956 Conn Connstellation - $2,600 1950's Martin Committee - $2,700 __________________ Find your favorite Trumpet

05-17-2009, 12:51 PM	#2
Schwab Moderator Forte User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 1,690	Re: 50's Conn Constellation Vs. 50's Martin They are both priced ridiculously high. They play very differently as well, you'd have to try them for yourself to see which you preferred. __________________ Dylan Schwab Stage 1 New York

05-23-2009, 02:57 PM	#4
peterp New Friend Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 10	Re: 50's Conn Constellation Vs. 50's Martin I don't know how relevant it is to 50's horns, but I have a 1946 Committee and a 1969 Connstellation 36B. In my mind, they couldn't be much different. The Conn is physically very large and plays well but somehow has a disconnected feel. The Committee is tiny and really unbelievable in the way it plays -- very intimate and it's hard to play a wrong note. I just picked up the Committee and am literally astounded at the way it plays. I was always surprised that Chet Baker switched from a Committee to a Conn -- the Committee seems ideal for his style playing -- Conn does not at all seem his style, but maybe the 50's Conns are quite different from my 69.

05-23-2009, 03:44 PM	#5
A.N.A. Mendez Forte User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,246	Re: 50's Conn Constellation Vs. 50's Martin If you want to lose 30 minutes pick up a Committee for 5............. __________________ (Above) Alexanders ragtime band-circa 1960 "Baby, I'm already the coolest, and the hippist, now you want me to be on time too?" Buddy Love "We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and our best generals to edit our newspapers." Robert E. Lee

05-24-2009, 10:52 AM	#9
peterp New Friend Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 10	Re: 50's Conn Constellation Vs. 50's Martin That Olds Recording is beautiful Lee. I had read that story about the Chet factory visit, but just not sure why he would go to the Connstellation. The Conn is a very good horn, but seems as different as you can get from a Committee.

05-25-2009, 06:22 PM	#10
Plankowner110 New Friend Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11	Re: 50's Conn Constellation Vs. 50's Martin Get the DVD "Chet Baker Live in '64 & '79" from Jazz Icons. Baker played a 38B Connstellation in the 70s and early 80s. He gets such a warm, fluid sound on his Conn in this CD. He also recorded a couple of great LP albums with the Conn in the seventies. I remember a feature story on Chet Baker in "Down Beat" magazine about 1983 or '84. Baker was playing a Blessing (who knows how he "lost" use of the Conn) but when asked in the interview about his trumpet preference, he said something to the effect of "I really like Conns, but they're so expensive." I always took that to mean he didn't have enough bread to buy another Connstellation. I knew the regional C.G. Conn sales manager quite well back then and he said they were not interested in Baker's endorsement (and giving him a free horn) because he was not a very good role model for trumpet students.

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