Here's another Classic Vintage Conn trumpet we have in the shop: a Conn 12B, this horn features a Copper bell.
This trumpet has was a well played horn and does show some signs of its vintage. There is some lacquer wear around the body of the horn. This instrument had some dents and dings around it, notably on the leadpipe, bell, 1st & 3rd tuning slide that have been repaired by us. The serial number on this horn is very faded so dating this particular instrument is difficult. As with many vintage horns you may prefer to use a thicker oil like Berp No. 3. There is some slight bending at the bell bow, typical signs of usage for a horn of it's age. This horn has the stylish Conn braces and long mouthpiece receiver, bottom sprung valves, and bell engraving. The main tuning slide also features a slide stop and nut. Please check out the photos to see the condition of the horn.
Bunny Berigan was known to favor this model trumpet!
Conn Loyalist says:
Notice the Coprion bell. The 12B is the coprion version of the venerable 22B. The coprion bell improves projection and darkens the sound somewhat. The dark color of the Coprion bell is due to the fact that (original) Lustre-Conn finish tends to darken somewhat with age. As far as I know this darkening of the lacquer has no effect on the sound. Also notice that the third slide finger ring on this instrument is fixed, not adjustable. This is normal for Conn trumpets before the 1950's. Starting in the 1950's new models, both student and professional, had adjustable third slide finger rings.
When it first came out the 12B was apparently featured by the entire trumpet section of the Jimmy Lunceford orchestra. I also read that Bunny Berigan used it for the sound track of the 1942 movie "Syncopation".
What Conn said in 1939:
Built in small bore, but the seamless bell of Coprion gives it the power you would expect only from larger bore. Ease of playing, beauty of tone, accuracy of scale and amazing flexibility. Impossible to overblow or crack a note. Patented Clickless Crysteel valves. Bb and A. Brass, heavily clear lacquered.
This trumpet is sold with a case, but no mouthpiece.
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Also note weight indicated in the ad is shipping weight not actual weight of item.
