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I am Currently stuck playing an old Conn 5j at my high school right now. It's a relatively nice horn but it's intonation is pretty bad and it was in really bad repair when I got it. I was wondering if anyone know how old this horn might be and some of the history because I am kind of curious. I think that Harvey Philips used to play one and I kind of think that mine is from the 50's or 60's but I'm not real sure on that. If you know anything about these horns let me know.

Thanks for your help.

The Conn 5J is a relatively small bore BBb instrument that has been made since the 60s (or earlier?) and is still in production. Some have called it a 3/4 size, but I consider it a small bore 4/4, or maybe a 7/8. I think that they are genreally good horns, especially for middle school and beginning high school students, or even adult amateurs. Here's a link to the current specs:

http://www.cgconn.com/catalog/detail.php?item=5J

If you want to know how old it is, check the serial number against this list:

http://www.cgconn.com/content/serialno_conn.php

Harvey Phillips played most of the time on a Conn 2J, which was a CC horn very similar to the 5J.

bigboom wrote:...I think that Harvey Philips used to play one and I kind of think that mine is from the 50's or 60's but I'm not real sure on that. If you know anything about these horns let me know.

I don't know whether Mr. Phillips played a 5J or a 2J, but the variations between the various xJ-series tubas are not clear to me. 50's and 60's sounds about right. I don't recall seeing any xJ's in my 30's catalog (though I'm not sure that catalog is complete).

My reason for responding even though I don't know much about the history is that I've never heard of these instruments having poor intonation. You might see about getting the instrument cleaned, and checking for valve leakage. No telling what is lurking on the inside, but poor intonation, in this case, is not likely related to design issues.

Rick "who sat next to a fellow playing a CC 5J at TC a couple of years ago" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:

bigboom wrote:...I think that Harvey Philips used to play one and I kind of think that mine is from the 50's or 60's but I'm not real sure on that. If you know anything about these horns let me know.

I don't know whether Mr. Phillips played a 5J or a 2J, but the variations between the various xJ-series tubas are not clear to me. 50's and 60's sounds about right. I don't recall seeing any xJ's in my 30's catalog (though I'm not sure that catalog is complete).

Rick "who sat next to a fellow playing a CC 5J at TC a couple of years ago" Denney

As an aside to this topic: Where is Klaus when we need his brand of expertise? I haven't heard hide nor hair from him on the board for quite awhile. Anyone know what happened to him? I miss his posts!

scottw wrote:As an aside to this topic: Where is Klaus when we need his brand of expertise? I haven't heard hide nor hair from him on the board for quite awhile. Anyone know what happened to him? I miss his posts!

He's still very much around, but I don't think he's browsing TubeNet much. If you want to catch up with him, try the horn or recorder list.

Thanks, Chuck! Too bad about Klaus--maybe he will pay us a visit now and then?

scottw wrote:Thanks, Chuck! Too bad about Klaus--maybe he will pay us a visit now and then?

You can also find him posting here:

http://norsktubaforum.1go.dk/phpBB2/index.php

My first tuba was a Conn 5j and I used a Conn Helleburg mp with it. the 5j was stuffy in the extreme low register but was overall a nice horn to play. I found the intonation on that horn to be really first rate for a tuba (better than my Mirafone 186) but I had mine since it was new, and I kept it in like new condition, cleaning it with brushes often...

With an old school horn though, there are a lot of things that could go wrong that might affect the intonation...it probably needs a good bath or chem clean, dents taken out, it may need felts, corks, all kinds of things. Who knows, there could be a dead rat or gym socks inside of it!

The Conn 5J is basically a first-cousin to the Olds O-99, but with a wider flaring bell (the bells are pretty much interchangeable between the two). Either tuba generally exhibits very good intonation. I believe that the 5J has the very flat Harvey Phillips-style 4th valve.

I'd have yours checked by a pro for problems. A leak can really play hob with a horn's playing tendencies.

Thanks for the help guys, it looks like I will be getting a different horn through my school, hopefully one of the Meinl Weston 25s they have. If I end up only getting a yamaha 321 BBb, I'll stick with the Conn.

Thanks
Ben