Jack of All Trades? Check Out This Versatile Mid 1960's Conn Connstellation 28A Long Cornet!

[@Birdman1334]

Always wanted one of these when I was a teenager in he late 50's and early 60's Should have nabbed one 12 years ago. Kicking myself now. It had traditional waterkeys in the 60's. Sounds great. Thanks for bringing it out for us to enjoy.

[@rev.edwardmartinez468]

I took trumpet lessons starting at age nine on a Martin, didn't know what I had, don't know what happened to it. Then at high school I played a Conn and thought that was the most wonderful horn in the world. Others told me Conn was a low grade horn and I got away from it. Now I'm learning from you that Conns were really a great horn and you've shown me so much about their beauty that I want one now. Thanks Trent for the details, it means so much to hear your detailed information xplanations.

[@wythetrumpet6419]

Wow Trent, that horn brings back memories for me! That was the second horn I owned as a kid! I believe my parents bought the horn new in 1967! I played it for several years before moving to a Bach 37 Strad. That was a very easy horn to blow. Mine was nickle silver not silver plated. It was indeed a great horn!

[@davehowell5298]

Hi Trent, I have one. Not nearly as nice looking as yours but great fun to play but I’m afraid to say that I use it as my teaching horn. I also take it along to a British brass band when I fill in just to upset people and still sound more “cornetty” than others in the front row. My understanding is that in the 50s all of the youngsters wanted to play trumpets but bandmasters wanted cornets and this was an attempt to keep both groups happy. Mouthpiece choice makes a huge difference and I find my Warburtons great for this as it is easy to mix and match. Great video as always btw.

[@jazzbob7]

When you change mouthpieces to make the horn sound different, does the horn feel different? Like the "flugelhorn" sound, does it feel like a flugelhorn? It was interesting to hear one of these again. The last one I heard was in the early 70s when I saw Duke Ellington. Cootie Williams was playing one. He really made the horn sing.

[@thedamndiz2343]

Ahhh, Pensativa! Beautiful tune!

[@ramirohernandez7483]

Love it! An amazing horn

[@anthonykaiser974]

The way you played it with the Flugelhorn MPC made it sound saxophoneseque. I have one of these on my short list.

[@austincustom]

you can also check out the Conn 10A's (we have a few in the shop) with the copper bell. Supremely versatile!

[@perryparsons9960]

Had a 1958, in lacquer with nickel top valve sleeves, and a 1963 in nickel, with lacquered slides. The chicken/egg argument will always be, were these 38B's with a cornet leadpipe, or are 38B's 28A's with trumpet receivers? I'm not you, have nowhere your versatility, technique, or ability to adapt to different resistance and blows. I determined around 2009, I needed to either play a .459 or .438 bore horn, whether cornet or trumpet. Sold all my .438 bore stuff, including a pristine 1948 Conn 22B, both my 28A's, 3 38B's, and 2 36B's. Still have a 1928 2B, 1941 2B, 1969 60B (my main gigging trumpet) and a buttload of non Conn .459-.460 bore horns. My main cornet is still, and will always be, my 1963 .485 bore 80A. I'm a cornet guy, played the worst road worn Bundy until I got the 80A in 10th grade, which took me to college and won 2 scholarships. My downfall was trying to convert to some sewer grade trumpets, but hey, they were Strads, and supposed to be awesome, right? Bore is irrelevant, at least to me, if you spend enough time in the woodshed. You are the embodiment of that. To mere mortals that practice gig charts 3 hours a week, like me, yes, focus in on a very small area and make it work. I love my Victor cornets, but play a 1936 36A, which is a .459 bore, a Conn 60-B, which is a .459 bore, and a Yamaha 2310 flugel, which is a .459 bore on gigs. Notice a common thread? Add to that, I play the exact same diameter Stork mouthpiece on all 3. Again, 3-4 hours a week practicing, to do a 4 hour gig. My spirit animal is the sloth. Too lazy to actually put in the time, you practice more every day than I do all week.

[@austincustom]

Actually there is a known right answer! The 38B is based on the 28A - the 28A came first in Conn's records. Check out the discussion here: cderksen.home.xs4all.nl/Conn28A1956image.html

[@edstud1]

Is it easy to play?

[@dominiqueblin6302]

Morning, Can you please inform me of your mouthpeace