Re: Need Help On Appraising 16m Tenor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Josh,
In good condition, it's hard to get more than $650 for a 16M tenor. About 2 years ago, I sold a 1963 Conn 14M alto that was in very nice shape. The sax had been completely repadded, had a brand new case, 2 mouthpieces; the original Conn precision piece and a newer Meyer piece. Also included were a couple reed holders with reeds, a swab, neotech strap, and a polishing cloth. This sax was made in Elkhart, IN, and it played like a dream! I listed it on ebay. It sold for.....are you sitting down? $425!!! which was the reserve price!
I bought a 16M tenor from a kid who had played it in jr. high and decided to switch to bass guitar. The sax needed pads and had a couple minor dings, but otherwise it was in good condition. It was about the same year as yours; 1960 or 1961. I had the dings removed and the instrument cleaned and polished, and I replaced the pads and corks, etc. It was also like new. I sold it to a lady who wanted a nice sax for her son to start band for $750; which was just a little more than I had into it. This after the sax failed to sell on ebay for more than $605!
The earlier 16M's and 14M's (1955-1968) are good horns. They have good intonation and they play very well. Unfortunately, they were always looked upon as being student model instruments, and the later Mexican built horns even further ruined their reputation.
My advice is that you keep this old sax and enjoy it. If it needs minor repair, I'd spend the money to repair it, but when it gets to the point that it needs extensive repair, then I would make a lamp out of it. Believe me, you would be foolish to sell it, because you could never find a sax that nice for less than twice what you could get out of it!
Jim
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Yahoo!