Straight Soprano Sax Data measured by Keith W. Bradbury 7/13/02
Measurements in inches
	Buescher C Soprano 1868871						Conn Bb Soprano M205506
					Length	OD
Location	Distance	OD	Wall	Taper	% Smaller	% Smaller	Distance	OD	Wall	Taper
Neck end OD	0	0.441	0.042			4.8%	0	0.463	0.074
1/8" above high Eb OD	4.5	0.758		0.070	14.3%	2.7%	5.25	0.779		0.060
Between F/F# OD	10.75	1.136		0.060	12.7%	5.7%	12.3125	1.205		0.060
Mid low Bb OD	19.25	1.672	0.028	0.063	15.4%	9.4%	22.75	1.845	0.022	0.061
Bell OD	21.9375	3.145			14.2%	12.6%	25.5625	3.598

Line Graph of Data. Bar chart of the above data.

Some comments from users of this web page

From David K.

Wade,
Thanks for the measurements on the "C" Buescher. The bell dia. and length are the same as my 
"C" Artist Model Royal, Bruno, NY. This confirms my feeling that it is a Buescher stencil and not Conn. 
BTW, the Conn "C" has a 3.475 dia bell and is 22 3/16 long. So the Conn is 1/4 longer! The bell is 
easy to measure with a micrometer, but you will have to take an average, because they are out of round 
by .005 to .010
 
Measuring the length is harder, unless one has a surface plate and a two foot height gauge. I laughed 
when I read your length of 21.9375! Golly I am sure that you do not measure saxophones to an accuracy 
of less than .0005 inch. You did a 
fraction conversion.
 
In my line of work, (Tool & Die Maker) if I tell someone that it is 21 15/16 inches; I imply that this is 
fact plus or minus 1/32. If I stated that it is actually 21.9375 long, I imply that this is fact within 
plus or minus .00025 inches.
 
Anyway, keep the information coming!--- Thanks, David K.

From Saxtek

A very admirable comparison between the two horns.  Beware:

Buescher and Conn had very different approaches to their soprano dimensions in general at this time.

Both Buescher and (especially) Conn didn't seem to be interested in research and development of

their C sopranos.  The C sopranos seemed to be modified versions of their Bb sopranos (and here Conn

and Buescher differed once more), and their C sopranos never approached the quality of their Bb sopranos.

As an saxophone approaches the plucked pitch of the reed itself, all the acoustical rules change.  Since

the C sopranos (and Eb sopranos even more) approach this pitch, a tremendous change is necessary in

the dimensions of the instrument.  a comparison between any Bb soprano and any C soprano is rendered

insignificant.  I recommend reading Arthur Benade's Fundamentals of  Musical Acoustics.

From Wade

Please note that I am only the Webmaster for this information.

Keith W. Bradbury supplied this information for me to post on this site.

Please connect to the C-Melody Forum and post comments there under the c-soprano saxophones board

and the c-soprano acoustics thread. Thanks, Wade.

Comparison between C-Soprano and Bb-Soprano Outside Diameters

Bar chart comparison