Check out this nice Couesnon on Ebay

[DezzaG]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2550961906&category=62 4


This must be a late Monopole II it even has a high F# key, wish I could afford another alto!!
Love my Couesnon stencil Bari! Intonation in second octave is funny but I have helped it a bit(I think the lower octave pip is too low!). I am going repad in Roopads with domed resos.

[I. Fallon]

The alto is a late one, since it is in the 10xxx range.

BTW, the Couesnon bari has three octave vents. Make sure that none of them are clogged. What is the name on your stencil--Besson?

[DezzaG]

My bari only has two vents, I think thats why it is a little flat from D-g. It had a STICKER on the bell of some company in california(CMI) who must have got it from couesnon. It has all the rolled tone holes, the unique guards, even the articulated G#(but this was molded into the G# key, so I took the dremel to it and now have a functioning one!).So I am not sure, but like other stencils its like they have backed off on some of the features. Do you have any photos of the octave venting system on your(or somebody elses) sax as I REALLY want to see what it looks like!

[morgan]

The alto is a late one, since it is in the 10xxx range.


I have a 10k alto with paperwork positively placing its birthdate at 1960.

[I. Fallon]

I don't have a digital camera but I will try to take some pictures. I would like to post them with SAXPICS because a repairman would have a difficult to impossible time trying to put one together without a reference.

The Couesnon Monopole was intended as an instrument for musical conservatory use. They really attended to intonation on these gems.

[DezzaG]

Thanks, I think putting them on saxpics is a great idea. My bari has good intonation except it is flat between d-g in second octave. I've had the octave pip enlarged to help with this.Maybe they just missed the third one out on this and that is why it is a tad out.

[DezzaG]

Well I have just re-padded the bari in Music Medic Roo Pads, and what a difference! The intonation is now fixed in the upper register, mmm I wonder what was going on,there were no leaks before!
Anway it sounds so much better than the original pads(that had no card backing....) Plays awesome. Go buy a Couesnon, I hope to get a tenor one day(or a Dolnet)!

[I. Fallon]

I have two Couesnon tenors. I certainly would not trade them for a Dolnet. I might for an SML.

I like the Couesnon altos with the molded brass thumbrests more than the pressed sheet metal ones.

[David Spiegelthal]

I don't play much alto (mostly tenor and bari these days) but this past weekend I had the opportunity to play a show on my Couesnon Monopole alto, and what a pleasure it was! Outstanding intonation --- it was so nice to just PLAY without having to favor the pitch up or down on any note --- and the keywork is fast and comfortable too. I think the Monopoles have to be some of the best underrated bargain horns around.

[noelpaz]

I. Fallon,

I am using this thread - in case your watching it to find some info on Couesnon alto's - how would you describe the sound and the playability.