1965 Conn 15A Director Cornet | Instrument Reviews

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Thanks for tuning in today! This review was lots of fun and I hope you enjoy :)

[@popawalker]

I started on the conn director in 1964, same case and all. I used it from 6th grade through 12th grade. I enjoyed playing it and was never jealous of the trumpet guys. I recently bought a 70's model Bach cornet with shepherds crook, I believe it is a CR310, It plays really nice.

[@Edmund007013]

Great lecture on the Conn Director Coronet. Mine was bought for $ 25 and is from 1966. You are a great teacher !

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

@@Edmund007013 Thank you for the kind words! $25 is quite a deal! Or was that all the way back in ‘66?

[@sceu25]

I have the same cornet and I love it. I didn’t really like it so much when I first got it though. Apparently it was sitting in someone’s attic for a looonnnnggg time and it really showed. There was dust and cobwebs all over the cornet in the case (+ a dead spider). Dust just starting flying out of the bell when I gave it it’s first blow, and the smell was just horrible. I cleaned it up though and got everything back to working condition and it plays beautifully. I think it’s a great horn despite it’s little quirks.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Oh, yikes! I wouldn't like to see dead bugs in my horns. I definitely know the musty smell that comes pre-installed on a lot of vintage instruments though. Glad you could get it working! Like you said, it does have its quirks but it's a lovely player.

[@michaeltroster9059]

This guy sure knows his cornets.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

@@michaeltroster9059 Cornets are “my thing!” I almost enjoy playing cornet more so than trumpet. I certainly have a lot of them in my collection now.

[@robbicu]

You know how much I like cornet! Great review!

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Absolutely!! Hoping to review many more cornets in the future-they have some of the most interesting history in the brass family.

[@tubaman54]

This was very helpful, I actually picked one up from an antique store for $12 recently. now i just need to find a mouthpiece, but otherwise its in decent condition

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Wow, congrats on the find! Thanks for watching!

[@bobjacobson858]

I enjoyed this video very much! I own ten brass instruments of various kinds, but now have six made by Conn--a 1965 Director trombone, a 14-C alto horn, a 14-I baritone horn, a 1956 20-J recording contrabass tuba, a 1924 'French horn style alto horn (probably best referred to as an Eb mellophone, but I play it using a French horn mouthpiece I purchased separately), and then one of my latest additions, a 1965 Conn Director cornet. (I also have a 1917 Conn New Wonder alto sax my mother played in high school, and some 'non-Conn' instruments, both brass and other types). My Conn cornet looks exactly like what you show in your video, therefore, I'm assuming mine is also a 15-A. I found that in 1965 they were priced at $155, including case. I had to purchase a mouthpiece for this cornet, so I bought a Conn 'Remington-style' mouthpiece like one of those you pictured, to be completely 'authentic'. However, a few things struck me as unusual about this instrument, compared to my other instruments: 1) It seems very heavy compared to my other cornets (Yamaha and Olympiana) or to my Blessing B-125 trumpet. (If I recall correctly, I read or heard something to the effect that the Conn cornet is 'built like a Sherman tank'!) As you mentioned in the video, it is also shaped differently from other cornets--to me looking almost like a hybrid between a trumpet and a cornet with that longer loop of the main tubing below the bell. 2) I can't seem to find any numbers on the valve pistons indicating 1, 2, or 3 position, unless I'm simply overlooking them. 3) The pistons are different from those of any of the other valved instruments I have, even the four others made by Conn, in that they have a few small pieces of hardware at the top, two metal and another of plastic (and these can be removed and replaced), and it looks as if the orientation of the pistons within the cylinder can be changed as a result of the position of these small parts. 4) Therefore, I was wondering whether the pistons were actually designed to be interchangeable, with their use in respective cylinders determined by the orientation of these small parts, as opposed to a metal tab on the piston itself. 5) When I obtained the Conn cornet, I found I was unable to blow into it (I should mention the cornets were offered very inexpensively in person upon collecting the mellophone I had won on eBay, so they weren't played until I got home), and I suspected the pistons were in the wrong places. I found that exchanging the one in the #3 cylinder with that in the #1 cylinder solved the problem, and each piston lowers the pitch by the required interval. Now all I need to do it lubricate the valves to get them in perfect working order! I have the original cases for all the Conn instruments except for the baritone which came with a newer, unnamed case--but the 20-J makes up for it by having TWO cases, LOL! I play them nearly every day-- and I like having these examples of an iconic American brand, and am also trying to obtain original literature on them.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Thanks very much for the comment, Bob! Congrats on the formidable collection and best of luck in this clearly ongoing endeavor. I myself am the proud owner of half a dozen Conns: - 17A (same cornet as the one I borrowed for this video, but with the 100% copper-ion or "coprion" bell) - circa 1917 'New Wonder' (potentially model 4A?) cornet with opera-glass tuning slide and intact pull mechanism to the key of A. INCREDIBLY cool horn steeped in a lot of history; it inspired the 80A and some of the Conn Victor line. - 8D, the gold-standard F horn, which I got by trading in a 6D (their intermediate model; still a great horn) and a fat chunk of change. Still worth it. - 14H .485" teeny bore Director trombone - 50H .522" medium-large bore Bb/F trombone (supposedly the Conn Director bass trombone but let's face it, it's too small to even be a symphonic tenor and is rather a jazz or ballad horn) - 88H, the gold-standard symphonic tenor! Also incredibly worth the cost. Now to answer your questions: Yes, the Director cornets are certainly comparable to military-grade tanks in the brass world! The hefty build and unconventional wrap give them a unique blow and sound that is tough to replicate on any modern instrument. It may look as though the holes drilled into the top of the valve would allow the valve guides to be set at a different orientation, but beware: one hole is actually intended for the valve guide to go into, and the other, I believe is a relief hole so that there's no buildup of air pressure in the valves or slides. This is most similar to Yamaha marching baritone valves that I've seen. I can't find any designators as to which valve goes in which casing either. They're definitely not interchangeable, as the position of the valve ports is different for each one. That's why the instrument wouldn't sound until you reversed valves 1 and 3 back to their original casings. Let's keep in touch! I am always interested to discuss matters such as these.

[@bobjacobson858]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass Thanks, Samuel, for your reply. I discovered that the 2nd valve tuning slide had one end unattached to the instrument, so once that was plugged in, and I lubricated all valves--perfect! In doing so, didn't dare touch anything on the valves that might get anything out of kilter. The Blessing trumpet was the first valve instrument I obtained, and it has each spring incorporated directly into the upper end of the piston, which makes it very easy to simple to service. When I first got the tuba, I was wondering how to take the cap off the top of each valve without damaging something because of the stem being off-center, but I soon realized there were a couple parts that prevented this. I'm impressed at how easy it is to play these valves which are so much larger than those of the other instruments, and I've only had to lubricate them once since getting it in late April, while some of the other instruments seem to need oil on one or more valves every couple days. I guess the Director instruments are so 'solid' because they are student models designed to withstand plenty of banging, dropping and other kinds of abuse. That's probably why they are still playable after nearly 50 years. I've been looking through the old Conn catalog pages (found on the Saxophone.org website), and was able to see some of the instruments you listed. I see the 8-D horn is nickel-silver, which is what I believe my mellophone is, as well as the old alto sax, with both having a brassy interior of the bell. You have a good collection. Yes, I'll be happy to keep in touch, especially as I learn more or discover something I think would interest you. By the way, the man who sold me the three cornets and the mellophone said that at one point he had a double-bell euphonium--that would be a strange instrument to have!

[@paulgrimm]

I love old horns . I have a old Bundy designed by Bach. I really like it.

[@jakester-lr8dm]

Nice vid ! I'm getting a 1955 80A that was gone over and will try it out next week. I'm relearning the Trumpet from years ago and want a Chris Botti Martin dark mello sound only from this. I like a 5c megatone on the trumpet for my dark mello sound.What mp do you think I should start with for my wishes in tone? An old Conn 4 comes with it.....yuk right ? Thanks ps I hope you get this post to reply too.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Thanks for your comment, Jake. It depends on how dark and mellow you want to go. If you want a darker and smokier sound that’s still, well, “American” in nature, the Bach 5B and less common but deeper 5A are good options. If you’re really looking for the darkest sound possible, like old-school British brass band cornets, then you’d do better on a Denis Wick 5 or 5B. I do agree that the provided Conn 4 is not the way to go.

[@jakester-lr8dm]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass thank you so much !

[@peternaryd_operasinger]

Great video Samuel!😁👍👍👍

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Thanks Peter!

[@peternaryd_operasinger]

You're so welcome!😁👍

[@SoopSoopa]

Thank you!! I just ordered my first cornet!! the Conn 1962 15A! what are the differences betwixt the 1962 and 1965 models?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Congratulations! There shouldn’t be any significant differences. Three years isn’t much time in the history of the Conn Director line.

[@SoopSoopa]

thanks:DD@@SamuelPlaysBrass

[@Thenotosfamousiq]

I have a conn usa in silver plating, but it looks like a conn 80a but with different bell engravings, bottom, top and valve buttons. I dont know what to call the special feature on the cornet, but i belive its called a micro tuner

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

You might then be the lucky owner of a 1910’s or 20’s Conn New Wonder! That slide you’re talking about is called an opera-glass tuning mechanism.

[@Thenotosfamousiq]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass Thanks for the information, my friend also plays a conn that looks like mine and his is in really good condition.

[@thebrasspedagogue]

Great review. Interesting that it has a dual bore like on old king’s or CG Benge. What do you use to make your thumbnails?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

A lot of “good” cornets that sound like proper cornets have that dual bore (my John Packer is identical on both legs), and I think it would be pretty weird playing on an instrument that’s .484” before even the main tuning slide. As for thumbnails, I really don’t have a good answer. Sometimes I try to make use of Canva’s free tools, but it’s not great...

[@SoopSoopa]

Is there any way to get a trumpet sound from this cornet? if i want a punchy bright sound would it be possible?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Any cornet will sound like a trumpet if you use a trumpet cup on it. Any Bach cornet piece ending with the letter C, D, or E will definitely do it.

[@golf4funjn532]

Enjoyed it!

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Glad to hear! Stay tuned for more!

[@paulgrimm]

Old horns are a better value. I have a old Selmer coronet designed by Bach on it.Great sound. Great Bach type valves . Refurbished in silver for $250! I love it.Easy to play

[@pebblebeach8517]

Do you have a favorite shepherds crook cornet you’ve played?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Unfortunately I still haven’t managed to play a really good one. My John Packer student model tends to sound a little tinny and the Bach 184G that my local brass band lends its cornetists hardly sounds like a cornet in my opinion…

[@KleberebelK18]

Does this cornet have top-sprung or botton-sprung valves?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Good question. This cornet, unlike most from its time period actually has bottom-sprung valves.

[@KleberebelK18]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass btw I played on a similar cornet today. Conn Continental colonial. Very nice horn. Easy to blow. Can you tell me how rare this horn is? I've not found much on the web about it.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

@@KleberebelK18 I’ve never heard of the model you’ve played, and I’ve only played more common ones like the Director and Victor. Sorry about that…

[@potatus6542]

​​​@@SamuelPlaysBrassContinental colonial is a pan american stencil (ancient conn brand for student instruments) . I bought a continental colonial trumpet and it's very basic and it plays pretty decently for being a 70 years old student horn and somewhat abused.

[@RobertCardwell]

Disney plus TurboTax? One of us has hit the big time...

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Sadly not me. AdSense revenue absolutely tanks after December. It happened the same way last year.

[@Juan_Bone09]

what?!?!?!?! 484 ?!?!?! that is the same bore size as early conn director trombones

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Yes! Pretty crazy. I have a Director 17A cornet and 15H trombone, both with a .484-.485" bore, and I love the way they blend together in jazz!

[@tonysgrazzutti1606]

That’s a weird key to play carnival of Venice in..

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

It’s not standard, but I like the sound of that excerpt in concert G major, and it gave me a chance to showcase the horn’s sound up to high written A and play through some of the usual “uglier” notes for demo purposes. I don’t think it’s that weird for the sake of the theme, although I wouldn’t want to play the variations in that key.

[@CH47U]

Great cornet. That's from the Elkhart, Indiana era. The best era of Conn.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

That’s right! It really is a fun instrument to play and great value for the price they typically go for online!

[@CH47U]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass Yes. There is a 1967 Conn 15A for $225 at Reverb. Since I play trombone, I ask you, is the cornet the same fingering as the trumpet?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

@@CH47U Yep, exactly the same fingerings. All of the valve slides are the same length as on trumpet, which is the most important factor.