Couesnon Monopole II tenor vs SBA

[saxydad2]

Hi , just want to share my recent experience that my newly acquired Couesnon Monopole II tenor really sings and feels like my friend's 49xxx silver plated SBA ;the difference is that he paid 10 times more than mine !!!:D Does anybody here have the same experience ?

[EddieG]

Hi
Is glad to see the information on this saxophone.
My friend has casually purchased in Jerusalem this model (47хх) and I have tried and have fallen in love.
I dream about same. If it is known where I can purchase - I will be glad to hear. The very beautiful saxophone

[saintsday]

They are such unattractive horns. No one would want such ugly ducklings. The average Bundy sounds better.:shock: ;) Ssshhhh... let these things stay secret and keep the price down.http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/saintsday/IMG_0899.jpghttp://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/saintsday/IMG_1815.jpg

[Chris J]

Can't see if it is Monopole II, but there is a tenor on Ebay right now.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190117627394&rd=1&rd=1

Chris

[Chris J]

EddieG

Having a second look at the Ebay photo, it is probably not a Monopole II - looks earlier, no LH front F and therefore is likely to be in similar serial number area as your friend's.

Saintsday has much more experience with these than me

[JMac]

EddieG-

First off - welcome to the board! I'll second the fact that Saintsday will give you great knowledge about these fine horns -as well as just about every other horn ever made!

Another good source of information is Pete Hale's site - Saxpics (http://www.saxpics.com/Couesnon/index.htm). Just click on the link and it will take you straight to his Couesnon page.

I do have a Couesnon tenor that I have not had the time to restore. Serial # is 1010X making it a Monopole Series II per Pete's website.

I will try to attach some photos. The horn needs, or has had, the following work:

The low C-C# key-guard has been re-soldered (photo 2) and it appears as though some of the rolled tone hole on the low C is starting to fray, for lack of a better term. There is a ding in the bell (tried to capture it in photo 3). Picture 4 also indicates a re-soldered lyre holder. The neck is slightly out of round where it has suffered some obvious pull down damage (picture 7) and an octave key ding. It does not appear to have split the brass anywhere, but there is a messy re-solder of the support as shown in picture 8.

On the plus side:

The articulating G# still intact and functioning. Remaining rolled tone holes in good shape. Still has the original HR mouthpiece. All pearls are present and in good shape - even on the key-guards, which are oftentimes missing. The horn has no unpleasant odors, the case is immaculate, functioning, and still has keys.

I paid about $400 for the horn, but would be willing to let it go for $300 (obo plus shipping) to see her get restored as she deserves.

Please feel free to e-mail or send me a private message if you are interested by clicking on my user name to the left and following the links.

[JMac]

Here are the remaining pictures. Best of luck - Jeff

[saintsday]

Oh stop it! So many horns, so little time.
If I didn't already have two of these beasts on the project pile...

BTW, I know the seller a little bit that has the eBay horn. She's OK and you can trust her on a wire transfer, but expect to pay about 130 Euro to ship the horn stateside and you'll still have an overhaul. And be careful with serial numbers. It appears that they had 2 or three different serial runs so a higher number doesn't always mean a later horn. There is a guy on the French SOTW, jazzbrass I think, that seems to know a lot about these.

[Jazzbrass]

There is a guy on the French SOTW, jazzbrass I think, that seems to know a lot about these.

Indeed, I know the hoppers Couesnon rather well, see :
http://web.mac.com/mjean2/iWeb/Passi...-Couesnon.html
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=53729

I currently have on sale superb a tenor Monopole silver plated # 8248, 1940c in a state of play, see the diaporama:
http://web.mac.com/mjean2/iWeb/Passions/36DA2BD7-EB59-4E7E-B3A6-E102DF1B80D4.html

I also have in restoration an alto Monopole # 2078 of 1930c which will be soon available to the sale:
http://web.mac.com/mjean2/iWeb/Passions/Alto_Couesnon.html

See also the Couesnon catalogue of 1915:
http://web.mac.com/mjean2/iWeb/Passions/Catalogue-Couesnon.html

All additional information available : mjean2@mac.com

[Jazzbrass]

Superb série 1 tenor Monopole silver plated # 8248, 1940c in a state of play, see the diaporama: New photos after révision:
http://web.mac.com/mjean2/Passions/Ténor_Couesnon.html
(in double clicking on a photograph one can download it)
And :
http://gallery.mac.com/mjean2/100025

[Jazzbrass]

Superb série 1 tenor Monopole silver plated # 8248, 1940c in a state of play, see the diaporama: New photos after révision:
http://web.mac.com/mjean2/Passions/Tenor_Couesnon.html
(in double clicking on a photograph one can download it)
And :
http://gallery.mac.com/mjean2/100025

[newsax]

I have a Monopole 2 .I would say it has a smaller sound though than say an sba ,not a huge sounding horn but nice qualities to it.
Any difference in the monolpole 1,there seems to be no brace on the neck on those.

I was thinking about an sml for a similar sounding horn to this but with a bigger sound,would anyone know if that would be the right direction ,french made and all that.
Thanks

[AhCheung]

I have a Monopole 2 .I would say it has a smaller sound though than say an sba ,not a huge sounding horn but nice qualities to it.
Any difference in the monolpole 1,there seems to be no brace on the neck on those.

I was thinking about an sml for a similar sounding horn to this but with a bigger sound,would anyone know if that would be the right direction ,french made and all that.
Thanks

Newsax: I got the same impressions. I know the SML GMII pretty well (alto & bari) and speaking of altos the Couesnon monopole to me sounds and feels similar, just a bit less boomy in the low end (cause the bore/bell are smaller).
But this is a tenor thread... sorry.

[Chris J]

Interestingly, and very relevant to the thread, the review by Steve Howard on his web site of the Monopole II says

"So how does it compare to the Selmer MKVI? Actually, I feel it compares better to the earlier Super and Balanced Action horns. These earlier Selmers have a more focussed, narrow tone - which lends these horns a more intimate feel. The Couesnon certainly fits within this category, but with an ability to extend a little further.

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Tenor/Couesnon_Monopole_II_tenor.htm

With the comment about the alto Monopole II:

"Well, I blew barely five notes on it and wouldn't have been at all surprised if a gospel choir had appeared out of nowhere behind me and began to sing in exquisite and glorious harmony.
This little alto just oozes soul.
Just like the tenor, the tone of the alto seems to capture the very best of the vintage genre and blend it seamlessly with the brighter, punchier contemporary tone. The final result is a tone for all seasons.
But surely, if you're a jack of all trades you're a master of none?
Not so...this alto has so much flexibility that it takes a mere tweak of the embouchure to lay the tone back or kick it into overdrive. It is, frankly, stunningly articulate."

He liked that too!.....

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Couesnon_Monopole_II_alto.htm

[saintsday]

These are terrible horns.:D :twisted: Everyone would be better off with a Yamaha:D :D :twisted:

[manne]

Hey There. I have a Qouesnon & Cte. Paris. Nr48972 Monopole Serie 1900
Is it wise, Repairing it. Hans

[newsax]

update on my monopole 2 ,i had it redone i now i get a huge sound from the thing ,wow i am impressed it had several leaks throughout the horn which gave me the impression it had a smaller tone ,it still played but i was wrong it seems,glad i kept it now.

[Sax Magic]

OK, Saintsday, quit making me have GAS for a Monopole II alto. I know you have them, and I have too many altos that I love already!

:D

Sax Magic

[saintsday]

OK. How about a Monopole I.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/saintsday/IMG_1933.jpg

[geauxsax]

Does that play as good as it looks?:shock:

[saintsday]

Does that play as good as it looks?:shock:

See post 15.:D

[saxez]

Hi, I have a Couesnon Monopole Conservatory II tenor saxophone. It is really a good French saxophone. I personally played Selmer mark VI, VII, Radio Improved, cigar cutter, and SBA. I would say it has similar sound to SBA, but not a huge like SBA. BTW, The horn I have it now is not expensive like SBA ad I can tell. So I would say it is very good for price. I don't really know how much SBA is worth on the market right now? I also owned a Buffet SDA tenor sax, I like this one more than. Some one might disagree with me, but it is my opinion.