Conn New Wonder II Alto "Chu Berry"

The Conn New Wonder II (often called the "Chu Berry" model, though the nickname originates from the tenor version) is a vintage alto saxophone from the late 1920s known for its big, dark, robust, and spread tone with excellent projection. It pairs best with mouthpieces featuring medium to large chambers to complement its design, enhance intonation (especially with the microtuner neck), and avoid stuffiness or sharpness issues that can arise with small-chamber or high-baffle modern pieces.

Key Recommendation

Prioritize large or medium-large chamber mouthpieces. Small chambers often require pulling out too far at the neck, disrupting the horn's scale

Meyer hard rubber (5M or 6M tip opening) — Frequently called a "standard" setup for vintage Conns; versatile, warm, and affordable (new or used).

Otto Link hard rubber (Tone Edge or vintage Early Babbitt; medium-large chamber models) — Provides a fat, classic jazz sound that tunes well.

Brilhart Tonalin (vintage, around 3* or similar) — Comes stock on some Chus and delivers a big, effortless tone.

Modern Options That Work Well

Vandoren V16 (A5, A6, or A7 with medium or large chamber — avoid small) → Dark and flexible; many players modify or choose larger chambers for Conns.

Morgan Vintage or similar large-chamber hard rubber pieces → Praised for intonation and depth.

Custom/refaced options like Ron Coelho, Phil Barone Jazz, or even a refaced Soloist-style for round-chamber warmth. Many players report success with these, though some note that extreme high-baffle bright pieces can cause tuning quirks unless the horn is modified (e.g., bow baffle addition).

Tip openings around 5-7 (e.g., .070-.080") are common, paired with medium-strength reeds (2.5-3.5).

Ultimately, try several if possible — vintage horns like the Chu are mouthpiece-picky, but the right one unlocks that legendary big, smoky sound.

Famous Players

• Johnny Hodges (alto saxophonist with Duke Ellington's orchestra, known for his lyrical, bluesy style in swing and big band jazz): Played the Conn New Wonder II early in his career, though he later used models like the Buescher Big B Aristocrat and Conn 6M.

  • Mouthpiece: Brilhart Tonalin (often modified to use a tenor reed for greater note-bending flexibility) or Bruno Royal Artist.

  • Facing: Typically a "3" (medium tip opening around 0.070–0.075 inches, with a medium facing length for control and warmth).

• Benny Carter (multi-instrumentalist and alto saxophonist, a swing-era pioneer known for his elegant phrasing and arrangements; led bands and worked with Fletcher Henderson): Endorsed and used Conn saxophones exclusively during parts of his career, including vintage models like the New Wonder series.

  • Mouthpiece: Brilhart Ebolin or Tonalin (hard rubber models popular in the mid-20th century for their dark, focused tone).

  • Facing: Specifics vary, but he favored medium-open facings (e.g., around 0.070–0.080 inches) for versatility in jazz ensembles.

Modern/Contemporary Players

These musicians continue to perform and record with the Conn New Wonder II "Chu Berry" alto, often in traditional jazz, swing revival, or straight-ahead contexts.

• Dan Block (jazz clarinetist and saxophonist; has worked with Charles Mingus, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Wynton Marsalis; known for his mainstream and traditional jazz expertise): Plays a "Chu Berry" alto as part of his vintage Conn collection.

  • Mouthpiece: Customized models (he works with refacers like Scott Shachter for adjustments), but no widely documented specific facing for his Chu Berry setup.

• Dave Glasser (alto saxophonist with the Count Basie Orchestra; straight-ahead jazz player influenced by bebop and swing): Plays a Conn New Wonder "Virtuoso Deluxe" (a high-end engraving variant of the Series II).

  • Mouthpiece: Meyer (as a signature artist for JJ Babbitt, makers of Meyer; he switches between small-chamber for brighter tone and large-chamber for darker sound); also uses JodyJazz DV HR or DV NY models.

  • Facing: Medium (e.g., Meyer 5M or 6M, with tip openings around 0.071–0.076 inches and medium facing curves for balanced response).

• Chuck Hancock (professional jazz saxophonist based in New York; performs in various ensembles and specializes in vintage gear for authentic tones): Exclusively plays a Conn New Wonder alto for gigs.

  • Mouthpiece/Facing: No specific details documented in available sources, but players of this horn often pair it with classic hard rubber pieces like Brilhart or Meyer for a warm, projecting sound.

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Other alto players like Charlie Parker and James Spaulding used Conn altos, but typically later models (e.g., 6M "Naked Lady") rather than the New Wonder II. If you're looking to play one yourself, common modern mouthpiece recommendations for this horn include Vandoren V16 (e.g., A7 with a 0.082-inch tip), Meyer, or Brilhart Tonalin 3 for a vintage vibe. These setups emphasize the horn's dark, powerful low end while providing control.