C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Tenor (C-Melody) Saxophones / C Melody Sax

Stan
User ID: 9614573 Feb 22nd 8:50 PM
I have a 1928 C melody sax made by Cousenon @ Cie, Paris, France. This sax is in near mint condition. Dent free. Plays and sounds great.
Any idea how much it may be worth?

Captain Muggles
User ID: 8945823 Feb 23rd 6:08 AM
Stan.....In playable shape without any dents. About $300.00 US. Maybe more if it is in very good condition. Less, if in bad shape in need of an overhaul!

alan (uk)
User ID: 8200143 Feb 23rd 6:16 AM
Stan, pitched at an American market (I assume you're form the US?), maybe even less than $300, they love their own, but have deep pockets and short arms.....

French Buffet C-Mels are the only yardstick, and even with that name they don't sell well - not many Cousenons appear on ebay, and, sadly, that's where most C-Mels sell..

With lots of good pics, and a great write-up, maybe a patriotic European may value it a little higher. Not really worth selling unless you really want shot of it. Do you ? Wouldn't you rather keep it and play it (maybe, one day, values will rise, they already have a bit) ?

Stan
User ID: 1543764 Feb 24th 9:28 PM
I will keep it til I see it's worth something, or I get a good offer. Too much sax to let go fro a small amount of money.

alan (uk)
User ID: 8200143 Feb 25th 12:02 PM
Stan - good decision.

Jungle Jim
User ID: 0262034 Feb 25th 2:06 PM
Sta. - You might as well. They are very good horns. But keep in mind, I bought a LIKE NEW Time capsule like Straight Neck Conn in perfect original shape with a like new case. I payed about $300.00 on ebay. It is like a museum piece. Your horn is probably in need of an overhaul (used C Melodys usually are). That's a costly deal right there. So a lot depends on supply and demand and condition, condition, condition.

ukebert
User ID: 7921973 Feb 25th 2:08 PM
Yes, but $300 time capsules don't crop up very often. I envy you Jim. Stan, you can save money and give yourself a nice project by overhauling it yourself.

Captain Muggles
User ID: 8945823 Feb 25th 6:57 PM
Stan & Jim....I also own a Conn Straight Neck in like new condition. Mine is Silver Satin with gold keys and rods AND has the Gold Trademark engraving on the outside bell. It is Very rare compared to your average Conn Straight Necks. And like Jim's horn, the case looks brand new also. I paid $350.00 I believe. Also from Ebay. Everything was original pristine. Including the white pads. So there are a lot of good deals out there. You just have to know how to find them!

alan (uk)
User ID: 9245273 Feb 26th 8:00 AM
You guys in the US have a slight advantage that some of the best deals seem to come from a core of US ebay sellers that just won't ship out of the US at all, so end up selling for far less on the US domestic market - shame, serves the miserable gits right ! In fact, some of them won't even ship to places like Hawii, let alone Canada, so what chance all the way across the water to Europe..........

It is getting more difficult to get good deals from 'international' US sellers, but not impossible. Just a lot more competition......

Wish I'd been interested in C-Mels & C-Sops when I worked in the US, I'd have gone to every yard sale, pawnshop and estate clearance I could, instead of enjoying myself drinking, socialising and sightseeing ( but then again, maybe not....;-))

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Feb 26th 8:37 AM
Alan. Had you "visited every yard sale and pawnshop" whilst in the Americas you would now have a junkshop larger than Weymouth. Just imagine all that travelling, and at only 50 MPH. Some things are best not dwelled upon, or even thought about. I would respectfully suggest that the drinking and socialising was, by far the best option. :-))

Alan (UK)
User ID: 9245273 Feb 27th 8:49 AM
It was........

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Feb 27th 11:10 AM
Apologies for the spelling of junk; it should be junque, for the rather superior yard sale selection. :-))

Jim B
User ID: 1913054 Feb 28th 7:29 AM
I have a horn like Capt Muggles(almost). Silver satin,gold keys and rods,gold engraving. Got from a old farmer who put an add in the paper. Paid $100 BUT new pads $300-400 range. Mine has a curved tenor type neck---made in 1916. Old farmer played instrument in a small band in high school in the 1930s. In general there are more USA made C melodys here in the USA vrs french (belgium).My only experience with a British made instrument was a new tenor sax which was a dog; traded it even for a Valve/slide combination King 2B trombone.

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Feb 28th 10:20 AM
Jim B.
My satin silver with gold keywork and rose gold bell interior C Melody is a Buescher, my only remaining C tenor which, although I seldom play, I will keep as a lovely example.
My experience of C tenors is restricted to Kings (exquisite engineering), Conns (probably the most user friendly keywork) and the Buescher, which, to my ears, has the most robust sound. Although these vintage horns all feel so solid and well built, the body seems so frail and light with the keywork removed; an impression that I have not felt with modern horns...light gauge with extra robust keywork or just an impression?
Your dog of a British made saxophone, was it made in the 1970s when we did indeed turn out some disgraceful products. Some of our cars of the period make me shudder...yours were pretty grim also; still wobbling like a jelly on a spring half a minute after they had been hauled to a reluctant stop. :-)

Jim B
User ID: 8430353 Feb 28th 11:06 AM
I had a 1968 Camaro which was a super car not a dog. When I traded it in, it was on the lot less than 30 min.Unfortunately the car I got with the trade in was a dog.
Got a reply from my brother on the factory he visited in Taiwan. Info below:
"The sax factory
wasn't Jupiter-- though I'm not certain it might not make saxophones
for jupiter. They let me try one which had "Conn" engraved on the
bell. They make horns for many old-name American companies now,
apparently. They all played well. And jupiter is well respected by
my friend and sax tech Jeff Reitz. Here's the place we visited:

http://202.39.225.132/jsp/Eng/html/attractions/scenic_spots.jsp?id=5426

Also some other info:
http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/Tj/ct.asp?xItem=20742&CtNode=118

As a teacher, I have a few corrections-- Lester
Young is identified as Coleman Hawkins on one page, for example. But
hey, these kids did well, in English!
Lots of background shots are taken in the Sax Museum we visited.

Enjoy

http://webbbs.mingdao.edu.tw/~foo/www4/a1.htm

ronaldo
User ID: 0526904 Aug 21st 6:57 PM
do you have an alto sax (SELMER SUPER ACTION brand made in france),AND HOW MUCH IS THE COST,I'M IN THE PHILIPPINES,is it possible to package such things going to philippines.
please reply.this is Email Add: odlanor33@yahoo.com,please reply soon.thanks.

my name is RONALDO

Stan User ID: 9614573	Feb 22nd 8:50 PM I have a 1928 C melody sax made by Cousenon @ Cie, Paris, France. This sax is in near mint condition. Dent free. Plays and sounds great. Any idea how much it may be worth?
Captain Muggles User ID: 8945823	Feb 23rd 6:08 AM Stan.....In playable shape without any dents. About $300.00 US. Maybe more if it is in very good condition. Less, if in bad shape in need of an overhaul!
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	Feb 23rd 6:16 AM Stan, pitched at an American market (I assume you're form the US?), maybe even less than $300, they love their own, but have deep pockets and short arms..... French Buffet C-Mels are the only yardstick, and even with that name they don't sell well - not many Cousenons appear on ebay, and, sadly, that's where most C-Mels sell.. With lots of good pics, and a great write-up, maybe a patriotic European may value it a little higher. Not really worth selling unless you really want shot of it. Do you ? Wouldn't you rather keep it and play it (maybe, one day, values will rise, they already have a bit) ?
Stan User ID: 1543764	Feb 24th 9:28 PM I will keep it til I see it's worth something, or I get a good offer. Too much sax to let go fro a small amount of money.
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	Feb 25th 12:02 PM Stan - good decision.
Jungle Jim User ID: 0262034	Feb 25th 2:06 PM Sta. - You might as well. They are very good horns. But keep in mind, I bought a LIKE NEW Time capsule like Straight Neck Conn in perfect original shape with a like new case. I payed about $300.00 on ebay. It is like a museum piece. Your horn is probably in need of an overhaul (used C Melodys usually are). That's a costly deal right there. So a lot depends on supply and demand and condition, condition, condition.
ukebert User ID: 7921973	Feb 25th 2:08 PM Yes, but $300 time capsules don't crop up very often. I envy you Jim. Stan, you can save money and give yourself a nice project by overhauling it yourself.
Captain Muggles User ID: 8945823	Feb 25th 6:57 PM Stan & Jim....I also own a Conn Straight Neck in like new condition. Mine is Silver Satin with gold keys and rods AND has the Gold Trademark engraving on the outside bell. It is Very rare compared to your average Conn Straight Necks. And like Jim's horn, the case looks brand new also. I paid $350.00 I believe. Also from Ebay. Everything was original pristine. Including the white pads. So there are a lot of good deals out there. You just have to know how to find them!
alan (uk) User ID: 9245273	Feb 26th 8:00 AM You guys in the US have a slight advantage that some of the best deals seem to come from a core of US ebay sellers that just won't ship out of the US at all, so end up selling for far less on the US domestic market - shame, serves the miserable gits right ! In fact, some of them won't even ship to places like Hawii, let alone Canada, so what chance all the way across the water to Europe.......... It is getting more difficult to get good deals from 'international' US sellers, but not impossible. Just a lot more competition...... Wish I'd been interested in C-Mels & C-Sops when I worked in the US, I'd have gone to every yard sale, pawnshop and estate clearance I could, instead of enjoying myself drinking, socialising and sightseeing ( but then again, maybe not....;-))
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Feb 26th 8:37 AM Alan. Had you "visited every yard sale and pawnshop" whilst in the Americas you would now have a junkshop larger than Weymouth. Just imagine all that travelling, and at only 50 MPH. Some things are best not dwelled upon, or even thought about. I would respectfully suggest that the drinking and socialising was, by far the best option. :-))
Alan (UK) User ID: 9245273	Feb 27th 8:49 AM It was........
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Feb 27th 11:10 AM Apologies for the spelling of junk; it should be junque, for the rather superior yard sale selection. :-))
Jim B User ID: 1913054	Feb 28th 7:29 AM I have a horn like Capt Muggles(almost). Silver satin,gold keys and rods,gold engraving. Got from a old farmer who put an add in the paper. Paid $100 BUT new pads $300-400 range. Mine has a curved tenor type neck---made in 1916. Old farmer played instrument in a small band in high school in the 1930s. In general there are more USA made C melodys here in the USA vrs french (belgium).My only experience with a British made instrument was a new tenor sax which was a dog; traded it even for a Valve/slide combination King 2B trombone.
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Feb 28th 10:20 AM Jim B. My satin silver with gold keywork and rose gold bell interior C Melody is a Buescher, my only remaining C tenor which, although I seldom play, I will keep as a lovely example. My experience of C tenors is restricted to Kings (exquisite engineering), Conns (probably the most user friendly keywork) and the Buescher, which, to my ears, has the most robust sound. Although these vintage horns all feel so solid and well built, the body seems so frail and light with the keywork removed; an impression that I have not felt with modern horns...light gauge with extra robust keywork or just an impression? Your dog of a British made saxophone, was it made in the 1970s when we did indeed turn out some disgraceful products. Some of our cars of the period make me shudder...yours were pretty grim also; still wobbling like a jelly on a spring half a minute after they had been hauled to a reluctant stop. :-)
Jim B User ID: 8430353	Feb 28th 11:06 AM I had a 1968 Camaro which was a super car not a dog. When I traded it in, it was on the lot less than 30 min.Unfortunately the car I got with the trade in was a dog. Got a reply from my brother on the factory he visited in Taiwan. Info below: "The sax factory wasn't Jupiter-- though I'm not certain it might not make saxophones for jupiter. They let me try one which had "Conn" engraved on the bell. They make horns for many old-name American companies now, apparently. They all played well. And jupiter is well respected by my friend and sax tech Jeff Reitz. Here's the place we visited: http://202.39.225.132/jsp/Eng/html/attractions/scenic_spots.jsp?id=5426 Also some other info: http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/Tj/ct.asp?xItem=20742&CtNode=118 As a teacher, I have a few corrections-- Lester Young is identified as Coleman Hawkins on one page, for example. But hey, these kids did well, in English! Lots of background shots are taken in the Sax Museum we visited. Enjoy http://webbbs.mingdao.edu.tw/~foo/www4/a1.htm
ronaldo User ID: 0526904	Aug 21st 6:57 PM do you have an alto sax (SELMER SUPER ACTION brand made in france),AND HOW MUCH IS THE COST,I'M IN THE PHILIPPINES,is it possible to package such things going to philippines. please reply.this is Email Add: odlanor33@yahoo.com,please reply soon.thanks. my name is RONALDO