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COPYRIGHT® NOTICE
What You Will Find On This Page
  • Photos
  • History and Facts
  • Statistics
  • Models
  • Wiring Information
  • Links

All content on this site is copyright 2007-2022, but is free to download except if otherwise specified, and as long as acknowledging this site as the source. HOWEVER, no information from this site can be redistributed, copied to a sales or auction listing, or sold, or placed on a site that charges a fee for accessing it.

PHOTOS

PHOTO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The below listed individuals have submitted photos or links to photos of their Conn electric guitars. All photos were either sent in by the listed owner, were used with permission, or were extracted from public domain sites, where no copyright notices were invoked.

Click on the above "Full Photo Library" link to see the entire Conn Guitars library (acoustic and electric) where you can actually browse through and see every instrument that owners have submitted. Of if you prefer, you can simply click on an owner's name below and a new window will open showing only that owner's instrument photos.

Individual Owners' Photos
BASS
CSB-1 Bass
CSB-7 Bass
SIX-STRING GUITARS
 
CSE-1
CSE-2
CSE-35
CSE-4B
CSE-4V
CSE--5
CSE-7
CSE-??? (Unknown Model -- CSE-6?)
CONN DID NOT MAKE ANY ELECTRIC 12-STRING GUITARS

CONN ELECTRIC GUITARS BRIEF HISTORY

YEARS SOLD

Conn electric guitars were only been marketed in 1980. Production likely began in mid-1979, and sales after 1980 were only to sell off excess manufactured inventory excess stock at dealers. This short run of electrics followed Conn's departure from making acoustic guitars from 1969 through 1978. It is thought that the attempt to enter the booming electric guitar market was a "last hurrah" attempt to capture some the market in the burgeoning electric guitar sales of the 70's and 80's. However, it was probably too little too late since many other manufacturers, who had seen the opportunity much earlier on, had already captured the loyalty of followers for their brands (examples, "big brands" Fender, Gibson, Washburn, etc).

QUALITY and PRICE

The quality of the electric guitars in the Conn line was rather good. Both quality and price were competitive with that of the big brands, but sales were insufficient for this essentially "introductory" line of guitars to continue production, so the project was scrapped.

LMITED INFORMATION AVAILABLE

This is all of the historical information that is currently known about G.C. Conn company's line of electric guitars. However, as new information is discovered, it will be included here.

G.C.Conn also had spinoff electric guitar brands which may have even continued on after the actual CONN brand was dropped. These spinoff brands--which may have actually become independent--are not not the subject of this web site (spinoffs include the brands "Continental" and "Drifter" and possibly others). No information will be included on this site about any of Conn's other brands. Feel free to see the Conn main page, to see a more complete history of the makers venture into the guitar business.

HISTORY AND FACTS

Conn's models were mostly "knock-offs" of other famous maker brands and models. There were subtle differences to avoid lawsuits. Unlike other manufacturers of the era, Conn's models were distinctly good quality. Most owners today keep their models for that reason. Communication from owners, comparing their Conn models to their counterparts, is consistently positive.

MODEL INFORMATION
Known Models
Model Numbering

Model numbering was not always consistent, as can be seen in the below examples.  The first set of three letters is the series. Examples are CSB or CSE. CSB stands for C-Series Bass, and CSE stands for C-Series Electric.  The second set of letters and numbers are the body style and color--with some degree of overlap or inconsistency.

EXAMPLES:

-2V = BODY STYLE #2, "VIOLIN" COLOR

-4M = BODY STYLE #4, "METALLIC" PAINT;

-7M = BODY STYLE #7, "MAHOGANY"

-7N = BODY STYLE #7, "NATURAL" FINISH

CSB-1.JPG
CSB-7_edited.jpg
CSE-5.jpg
CSE-4.JPG
CSE-1.jpg
CSE-2.JPG
CSE-4.JPG
CSE-4.JPG
CSD-7_edited.jpg
CSE-Unknown_edited.jpg

The below content is free to download for personal use only. It is not acceptable to download for the purpose of reselling for a fee or to make a profit. 

Downloadable Content

Click on any of the pictures in this section to view or save the associated content.

Picture1.jpg
Conn Electric Guitars Catalog 1980
Conn Electrics Ad 1980.jpg

Conn 1980's Magazine Ad

CONN ELECTRIC GUITARS

Unofficial Web Site 2007-2024 ©

This is the Conn Electric Guitars unofficial web site. Conn entered the booming guitar market in 1971, and had their own brand of mid- to high-quality acoustic guitars. They were manufactured under contract by Japan manufacturer Tokai Gakki in Hamamatsu, Japan. Later, in about 1974 Conn ventured to expand manufacturing to Korea, but this was suspended by 1976. The last acoustic guitars were made in 1978. But in 1979 Conn launched their first electric guitars to capture part of the booming electric guitar market. But other manufacturers had already established a reputation in that market, and although Conn's instruments were high quality and at an affordable price, Conn suspended sales of electrics by late 1980. Remaining inventory was sold off and no others were made. Conn Electrics, known as the 'C-Series' are available in the used guitar market and feedback from owners is all positive.

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