I am looking to purchase a "Connstellation" with no model number on the mouthpiece stalk. Serial number starts with "GF" any ideas?

Thanks

The Conn Loyalist

Originally Posted by fword

I am looking to purchase a "Connstellation" with no model number on the mouthpiece stalk. Serial number starts with "GF" any ideas?

Thanks

"G" means made in the 1970's.
"F" means made in the month of June.
The next digit of the serial number tells you the year of the 1970's in which it was made.
For example, "GF6XXXXX" would have been made in June, 1976.

"In March of 1974 an alpha-numeric system was established where the first character (letter) of a serial number indicated the decade; "G" for the 1970's, "H" for the 1980's, etc. The second character, also a letter, indicates the month of the year; "A" for January, "B" for February, "C" for March, etc. The third character (a number) indicates the number of year within the decade (indicated earlier by the first letter). The fourth character (number) indicates the specific type of instrument: "1" = Cornet, "2" = Trumpet, "3" = Alto Horn, "4" = French Horn, "5" = Mellophone, "6" = Valve Trombone, "7" = Slide Trombone, "8" = Baritone Horn & Euphonium, "9" = Tuba, and "10" = Sousaphone. The remaining four numbers of the serial number indicate the production number of the instrument on a monthly basis."
Lars Kirmser's Music Trader - Conn Serial Number List

If it has a 5-1/8" bell diameter, then it is a Connstellation 38B
The Conn Loyalist

If it has a 4-5/8" bell diameter, then it is a Connstellation 36B.
The Conn Loyalist

Warning: Starting in 1971, Conn produced silver-plated or nickel-plated student Director models which some people have mistaken for Connstellations.
Those Directors do not have the word "Connstellation" anywhere on them, but they also do not have the word "Director" on them, so some people hope for the best and assume that the 1971 Directors are Connstellations.

Does your trumpet actaully have the word "Connstellation" engraved on the bell?
If it really is a Connstellation, then that word must be on the bell.

Some of the 1970's Connstellations play well, but most collectors do not consider them nearly as good as the ones from the 1950's-1960's,
because another company bought out Conn in 1969 and then started producing the trumpets in a different factory in Abilene, Texas in 1971.

Dean

I'd stay away from any post 1969 Connstellation... .