My parents bought me a Conn 8D as a graduation prsent from high school in 1970. I was going to major in music in college, but, let's just say, things did not work out according to plan. Anyway, I still have this horn, though it has not been played in years (actually, I did manage to play a "C" scale yesterday, lol!). It does have some sentimental value to me and I'm not sure I want to part with it. But I would like to have some idea of it's worth and was hoping the fine people on this forum could help me out. I assume it was manufactured in 1969 or 1970. Here is all the info I could find on the Horn:

N90495 is stamped on the valve lever rack under the 2nd valve.
8D is stamped on the mouthpiece receiver.
"G.C.CONN LTD. ELKHART-IND. U.S.A." is stamped on the bell.
The mouthpeice is gold and has "Connstellation 7B-W" stamped on it.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Here is my take on the matter - you pretty much know everything you need to know about the instrument. As I understand it the "N" series Horns have a very large and quick taper. In fact I have heard the "N" series is the largest taper. The advantages of the "N" series is you can play pretty damn loud. A dear friend of mine who played in the Washington D.C. army band had one and you can literally feel the walls of his house getting ready to fall down when he plays loud on that horn. The disadvantage is that because of the free blowing open taper of the "N" series you need to be pretty good to play on it. It is an unforgiving instrument, you need to have your stuff together.

What is it worth? I think many many people are tending to lean toward the medium bell throated horns nowadays and the large bore, large sound from the "N" is not as desired, although there still many of us who love them and play on them. If I had an "N series and wanted to sell it I would ask $5800 for it and accept an offer of $4800 or better. YOu'' probably have to sell it for $3700 -$4200 though. IT is the times.

Thanks for the reply, John! It's too bad my "N" horn (now I know what I have... thanks again, John!)has fallen out of favor with players, but, it doesn't matter, I've kept it this long and will continue to hold on to it (even though my playing days are long gone). It's nice to know what the monetary value is, though the sentimental value is much greater.

I have one built just a year or two after yours, late n series. It is a bear to play. I feel like I can empty as much air into as possible and the sound will never break BUT, this is a horn that demands a ton from the musician and it has unforgiving extremes. The highs and lows must be dead on or, rather than breaking or sounding off, it just doesn't sound at all. I'm a good amateur but have never been able to play on these "big" horns. I've had some issues selling at the local pro music shop, people come in and play, and really want a easier horn to play. Mostly it's college students looking. The shop told me that 3100 was a fair price, but selling these instruments can take 6 - 12 mos.

Besides a rental horn in high school, this is the only horn I've known. I had no idea it is considered a "big" horn and hard to play. I wish I had tried other horns... I might have been halfway decent, lol! Anyway, thanks for the good info Phred!