Unraveling The Mystery: Are Conn And Pan American Parts Interchangeable?

The Pan American band instrument company was a subsidiary of Conn, producing more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Both lines continuously evolved on separate paths, with family resemblances between the Conn Ltd and Pan American made instruments. Pan American disappeared around 1955, when Conn started producing student instruments under the Conn brand name.

Pan American band instrument company was a subsidiary of Conn

The Pan American band instrument company was a subsidiary of Conn and was started in the early 1920s. It produced more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955, Conn began producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared. Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier.

The Pan American band instrument company was started in the early 1920s and produced more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955, Conn began producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared. Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier.

The Pan American band instrument company was started in the early 1920s and produced more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955, Conn began producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared. Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier.

The Pan American band instrument company was started in the early 1920s and produced more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955, Conn began producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared. Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier.

The Pan American band instrument company was started in the early 1920s and produced more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955, Conn began producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared. Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier.

Pan American produced more affordable instruments than Conn

The Pan American band instrument company was a subsidiary of Conn and was started in the early 1920s. It produced more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955, Conn started producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared. Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier. These were labeled along the lines of "Produced by the Pan American company", and are included here.

The Pan American saxophone outplays the Conn and has a much richer sound. There are family resemblances between the Conn Ltd made and Pan American made instruments. The same is true for companies like General Motors with GM, Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet.

The Pan American study that Kevin McKnight (badenia) undertook last year was interesting. The Martin-built Pan-Americans are from about 1956-1957 - the assumption is that it's related to Paul Gazlay's tenure as president of Conn after Carl Greenleaf retired and may have something to do with Mr. Gazlay having previously run Continental Music.

The Pan American saxophone has more keys or buttons, G# cluster design, bore and length. Thousands of an inch can make a difference. There may be differences in alloy, plating and hardening. There may be alignment differences as well. Both lines continuously evolved on separate paths.

The Pan American saxophone has rolled tone holes and a micro tuner type neck. The Pan American saxophone has a much richer sound.

Pan American has a much richer sound than Conn

The Pan American band instrument company was a subsidiary of Conn and started in the early 1920s. Pan American produced more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955 Conn started producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared. Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier.

Pan American and Conn Ltd made instruments have family resemblances. Pan American outplays the Conn and has a much richer sound. The same is true for companies like General Motors with GM, Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet.

There are more differences between the two including the number of keys or buttons, G# cluster design, bore and length. Thousands of an inch can make a difference. There may be differences in alloy, plating and hardening. There may be alignment differences as well. Both lines continuously evolved on separate paths.

Pan American disappeared around 1955 when Conn started producing student instruments under the Conn brand name. Pan American was a subsidiary of Conn and started in the early 1920s. Pan American produced more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier.

Pan American and Conn Ltd made instruments have family resemblances. Pan American outplays the Conn and has a much richer sound. The same is true for companies like General Motors with GM, Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet.

Pan American and Conn saxophones are absolutely identical

Pan American and Conn saxophones are not exactly the same, but they are very similar. The Pan American band instrument company was a subsidiary of Conn, and started in the early 1920s to produce more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955, Conn began producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared.

Pan American and Conn saxophones are similar in many ways, including number of keys or buttons, G# cluster design, bore and length. Thousands of an inch can make a difference. There may be differences in alloy, plating and hardening. There may be alignment differences as well. Both lines continuously evolved on separate paths.

The Pan American has a much richer sound than the Conn. In fact, they were both just repadded and set up by the same tech and using the same mouthpiece the Pan American out plays the Conn. There are family resemblances between the Conn Ltd made and Pan American made instruments. The same is true for companies like General Motors with GM, Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet.

In my opinion it’s too bad this was not already done considering all the discussion and debate over the years. Once I finalize the updated serial systems for the Conn Loyalist site, I will be proceeding to production stats and will try to list observable feature differences.

Pan American disappeared around 1955 when Conn started producing student instruments

The Pan American band instrument company was a subsidiary of Conn, producing more affordable instruments than the regular Conn line, geared towards students. Around 1955, Conn started producing student instruments under the Conn brand name and Pan American disappeared.

Pan American had its own "budget" brand, namely Cavalier. These were labeled along the lines of "Produced by the Pan American company", and are included here.

Martin-built Pan-Americans are from about 1956-1957 - the assumption is that it's related to Paul Gazlay's tenure as president of Conn after Carl Greenleaf retired and may have something to do with Mr. Gazlay having previously run Continental Music.

There are family resemblances between the Conn Ltd made and Pan American made instruments. The same is true for companies like General Motors with GM, Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet.

There are more differences, including number of keys or buttons, G# cluster design, bore and length. Thousands of an inch can make a difference. There may be differences in alloy, plating and hardening. There may be alignment differences as well. Both lines continuously evolved on separate paths.

Frequently asked questions