Couesnon 1925 Soprano

[Saxland]

A friend that came across a garage sale find has offered me first dibs on the item. Its a 1925 Couesnon Monopole Soprano sax. No idea if it is high or low pitch, it is not marked. Bb or C no idea. Its 24 inches in length, has been overhauled withen the last 20 years and stored away in a case. The finish is 98% minty brushed silver (I think). Inside the bell it looks new and is nickel. Leaks in three pads, needs to be regulated or new overhaul. But the corks and set up show great care. Blue steel springs. Very sweet tone and a steal. Pads look new, no use, just stored. He trusts me to establish market value. So can anyone tell me more about this? And should I buy it? It looks about as mint as a 1925 horn could be. It is not in the original case.

If I have a gem here that is worth a bit of $, I've agreed to sell it for him if it is above a value my current state of wallet can not endure at this holy time of consumerism. :)

[oscar]

Hi
i have a couesnon sopranino and i don't know about this instrument. Can you tell me what do you know about it? Please, send me information to ohchiques@msn.com.

Thank you very much.

[Saxland]

Go to saxpics.com and read throught the Couesnon section. That is were I have my info from.

[plant]

Hi Saxland

I recently won a 1925 couesnon soprano on Australian ebay. I payed about $400 AUD for it. There were a few international bidders in the auction but I am in Australia so the shipping costs, or lack of, got me over the line.

Its also in terrific condition except for the pads which have not been looked at for some time. The plating though is great, well looked after and possibly excellent quality to start with. It is not a brushed finish though, shiny all over.
I can get a few notes out of it and the tuner indicates it to be a low pitch horn. 24 inches long also. The case is not original. Looking forward to having it overhauled when I can.

Grant

[Saxland]

I phoned USA horn and was told that it probbably was a C melody soprano, My b flat soprano is a few inches longer. What mouthpiece are you using and do you know what pitch it is in. Or year/model it is?

[plant]

The mouthpiece that came with the horn is an A. Perier, Paris? The instrument was owned by a big band leader named Gordan Camp who passed on. The person I bought the instrument from, bought Mr Camps collection of instruments which included a tenor cigar cutter and a true tone alto.

I have not been playing the instrument as it needs an overhaul and I can't do that right now, but I just got it out and played a few notes with the tuner and a C on the Cousenon is showing a Bflat on the tuner, (an often flat Bflat with my not so good embochure).

The model is a 'Monopole', s/n 422xx and there is a small pineapple like figure under the serial number which contains the number 25. I think I have read that this indicates the year of manufacture.

Just remeasured the horn and 24 inches 2/16ths or 61.5cms as we measure down here.

[Saxland]

Does your go to high e and have two palm keys and two side keys? The one I looked at did. I'll go have another look on it and bring a tuner. I though for sure that it was a c melody.

[origani]

A bit over 24" is a long for a C-sop - my Conn measures about 22 3/8". I also have an old, slightly high-pitch (~A=445Hz) Bb-sop only keyed down to low-B that comes in at 22 1/2", so that isn't likely either. Matbe a slightly high-pitch Bb?

Steve

[bruce bailey]

I think the horn may be only keyed to low B rather than Bb. If so it would be pitched in Bb and 24" would be about right.

[plant]

I think the horn may be only keyed to low B rather than Bb. If so it would be pitched in Bb and 24" would be about right.

Nope, she goes all the way down to Bb.

Does your go to high e and have two palm keys and two side keys?

Yep, two palms and two sides, although I can only get to Eb. I am no expert on fingerings for soprano and am not sure how to get to E without the third side key?

[Saxland]

I assumed that the two side keys were for high E and mid and high C. Does that work?

[plant]

'I assumed that the two side keys were for high E and mid and high C'

Mid and high C and Bb. The highest opening key on the instrument is the second left hand palm key, (except the octave keys) which is an Eb?