connloyalist

I was contacted the other day by a fellow who owns (among other things) a 1957 14A Director (serial 6xx,xxx) and a 1959 18A Director (serial 8xx,xxx). He included a picture of the mouthpieces that came with these instruments, side by side: the 1957 14A had a short shank mouthpiece, completely in the style of the ubiquitous 1960's Conn 4.

This made me compare the fit of one of my (Conn) short shank cornet mouthpieces on my 1956 10A Victor and compare it to a (Conn) long shank cornet mouthpiece (a Connstellation 9CW). The result was that there was very little difference in fit (haven't play tested yet).

My current theory is that, contrary to what I have said sofar, Conn switched from short shank to long shank cornet mouthpieces between serials 6xx,xxx and 7xx,xxx (late 1957) and NOT in 1955 from serial 4xx,xxx to 5xx,xxx. That would also match up with the leadpipe change that occured with serial number 7xx,xxx.

So, could those people who own any Conn cornet (28A, 10A, 6A, 80A, 18A, 14A) with serial 5xx,xxx or 6xx,xxx (1955-1957) check the following please:

1. If you know for sure that you have the original mouthpiece that came with your 5xx,xxx or 6xx,xxx Conn cornet (probably a Conn 4), please check whether it is short shank (2 1/2" / 64 mm) or a long shank (2 3/4" / 70 mm).

2. Check whether a short shank cornet mouthpiece fits properly in the receiver of your 5xx,xxx or 6xx,xxx Conn cornet.

3. And if it does fit properly: How does it play?

Regards, Christine