Conn Saxophone Value Guide

By SaxTeacher UK 20 Aug 2026 8 min read

The question everyone asks after dating a vintage Conn is what it is actually worth. Two Conn saxophones built in the same week can be worth ten times different amounts, because model, tone hole construction, finish and condition all matter far more than age does. A tired 1930s student horn is worth less than a well-kept 1960s one. This guide sets out what each major Conn model tends to fetch, what the condition grades really mean, and the specific things a buyer looks at that move the number up or down.

Don't know what you have yet? Start with the Conn serial number lookup — the model era it returns is the single biggest factor in everything below.

Model Beats Age

Age alone tells you very little. A professional 10M or 6M is in a different bracket from a student horn built the same year. Identify the model first. Date your Conn ›

Ranges, Not Valuations

The figures here are indicative UK private-sale ranges for research. Dealer prices run higher and auction results lower. Always check recent completed sales for your exact model.

Conn saxophone value guide — model-by-model price ranges for vintage Conn saxophones, illustrated with an engraved Conn Elkhart bell from the SaxTeacher UK collection — What a vintage Conn is worth depends far more on model, tone holes and condition than on the year it was built.

What Decides a Conn Saxophone's Value

Five factors, roughly in order of weight

Buyers of vintage American saxophones work through the same short checklist, and the order matters. Model comes first, then how the tone holes were made, then condition, then finish, then whether the neck is the one that left the factory with the horn.

The model — the largest single factor. The professional M-Series horns and the rare 26M and 30M Connquerors sit in a different bracket entirely from student instruments.
Rolled tone holes — Conn drew and rolled the rim of each tone hole until around 1947. A rolled tone hole 10M is worth meaningfully more than the same horn made a few years later.
Condition and playability — a horn that plays in tune with a good pad set is worth far more than one needing an overhaul, because a full professional overhaul is a serious cost.
Originality of the finish — original lacquer, even heavily worn, generally beats a relacquer, because buffing during a relacquer permanently softens the bell engraving.
The neck — Conn necks are model-specific and easily lost or swapped. The wrong neck, a pull-down, or a repaired tenon all take a significant slice off the value.

Why Rolled Tone Holes Matter So Much

Rolled tone holes seal exceptionally well against a pad, which is the practical reason players want them. The commercial reason is scarcity and repairability: rolling the rim was dropped around 1947, and a damaged roll cannot be flattened and re-rolled without specialist tooling. That combination — a feature that stopped being made and cannot easily be restored — is what creates the premium. If you are looking at a horn advertised as having rolled tone holes, check the rims are intact and even before you pay for them.

Conn Saxophone Values by Model

Indicative UK private-sale ranges

The figures below assume an instrument in honest playing condition with its original neck and case. A horn needing a full overhaul sits at or below the bottom of its range; an exceptional original-lacquer example can exceed the top. Dealer prices run higher than private sale, and auction results lower.

Conn Saxophone Values REVIEWED AUGUST 2026

Model	Years	Typical value
Conn 26M / 30M Connqueror	1935–1943	£3,000 – £6,500
Conn 10M tenor — rolled tone holes	1934–1947	£2,200 – £4,500
Conn 10M tenor — post-roll	1948–1954	£1,400 – £2,600
Conn 6M alto — rolled tone holes	1934–1947	£1,600 – £3,200
Conn 6M alto — post-roll	1948–1954	£900 – £1,800
Conn 12M / 11M baritone	1934–1954	£2,000 – £4,000
Conn New Wonder II tenor (Chu Berry)	1925–1930	£1,500 – £3,000
Conn New Wonder II alto (Chu Berry)	1925–1930	£800 – £1,800
Conn Transitional models	1931–1933	£1,000 – £2,400
Conn Late Elkhart 10M / 6M	1955–1962	£700 – £1,600
Conn C melody	1920s	£250 – £700
Conn student models (Shooting Star, Director)	1950s–1970s	£150 – £450

These ranges are a starting point for your own research, not a formal valuation. The vintage saxophone market moves, and condition varies enormously between individual instruments.

What the Condition Grades Mean

Where in the range a particular horn actually sits

Condition is the difference between the top and bottom of every range in the table above, and sellers describe it inconsistently. These four grades are how a technician would sort the same instruments.

Overhauled

Recently overhauled by a good technician, sealing properly, ready to gig. Expect the top of the range, and ask who did the work.

TOP OF RANGE

Playing, honest wear

Worn lacquer, older pads, but airtight and in tune. This is what most vintage Conns on the market actually are.

MID RANGE

Due a service

Playable but leaking, with sticking keys or perished corks. Deduct the cost of a service, typically a few hundred pounds.

BELOW MID

Needs full overhaul

Not airtight, missing parts, or with dents and creases. A full overhaul can cost more than the horn is worth on student models.

BOTTOM OR LESS

What Reduces the Value Most

Check these before you agree a price

A replaced or non-original neck — often the single most expensive problem to put right, and the one most often left out of a listing.
Body creases — particularly around the bow and the bell brace, which are difficult to remove without leaving evidence.
Flattened or repaired tone hole rolls — these undo the main premium on a pre-1948 horn.
A relacquer with softened engraving — permanent, and immediately obvious to anyone who knows the model.
Previous solder repairs around the posts — a sign of past damage and of stresses that may return.
A missing original case — worth less than people expect, but still a factor on collectable models.

Getting an Accurate Valuation

When it is worth paying someone, and when it is not

If you think you have a 10M, 6M, 26M or 30M, it is usually worth paying a technician for an inspection. They can confirm the model, find hidden damage such as body creases or previous solder repairs, and tell you whether an overhaul would add more than it costs — on a horn in that bracket it frequently does, because the work is recovered in the sale price. If you are in or near the capital, our guide to the best saxophone repairers in London lists the workshops worth approaching for an assessment. On a student model, the inspection can easily cost more than the difference it uncovers.

For your own research, completed sale prices are the only figures that mean anything — asking prices tell you what sellers hope for, not what buyers paid. Compare like for like on model, tone holes, finish and whether the neck is original, and treat any listing that omits the serial number or the neck with caution.

Once you know what you have and it is playing properly, the next step is making it sound like itself. Saxophone lessons are available in person in South East London and online, whether you have just picked up a vintage Conn or you are returning to one after years away. Book a lesson to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is my Conn saxophone worth? +

It depends far more on model and condition than on age. A Conn 10M tenor or 6M alto from the Elkhart years with rolled tone holes and original lacquer sits at the top of the market, while later student models and C melody saxophones are worth comparatively little. Date the instrument first using the Conn serial number chart, identify the model, then assess condition honestly — a horn needing a full overhaul can be worth less than half the figure for the same model in playing order.

Are rolled tone holes worth more? +

Yes. Rolled tone holes are the single biggest value factor on a vintage Conn. Conn used them until around 1947, so a 10M or 6M made before that point commands a clear premium over an otherwise identical later horn. They are also expensive to repair correctly, so flattened or badly repaired rolls reduce value sharply.

Does original lacquer matter? +

A great deal. Original lacquer in honest condition, even heavily worn, is usually worth more than a professional relacquer. Relacquering involves buffing the body, which softens the bell engraving permanently. Collectors pay for originality, so a tired original finish generally beats a shiny refinished one.

Is a Conn C melody saxophone valuable? +

Usually not. Conn produced very large numbers of C melody saxophones in the 1920s and demand today is limited, partly because mouthpieces are harder to source and the instrument sits outside standard ensemble writing. Most sell for a modest sum regardless of condition, with the exception of unusually clean or rare-finish examples.

Should I get my Conn valued before selling? +

If you think it may be a 10M, 6M, 26M or 30M, yes. A technician or specialist vintage dealer can confirm the model, check for hidden damage such as body creases or previous solder repairs, and tell you whether an overhaul would add more than it costs. For student models it is rarely worth paying for a formal valuation.

Can I get help learning to play my Conn with saxophone lessons? +

Absolutely. Whether you've just acquired your first Conn saxophone or you're a returning player dusting off a vintage horn, working with a teacher will help you get the most out of it. SaxTeacher UK offers saxophone lessons in person in South East London and online — covering everything from your first notes to advanced jazz improvisation. Get in touch to book a lesson.

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SaxTeacher UK is a woodwind and piano teacher based in South East London. With 17 years of individual and group tuition experience. Get in touch for in-person or online lessons.

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