I've not been happy with anything out of Conn-Selmer for the last several years. Ask your repair shop people their opinions, I think you will hear the same. Their student line stuff has been trash for a while.

Last year I asked around several people about what sousaphones to buy. Conn was the general consensus, that's what I went with and I regret it. Several had cosmetic blemishes direct from the factory. It wasn't worth waiting another 6 months for new ones so we took them anyway. One had silver plating start peeling off halfway through marching season. Several had solder joints pop apart. Somehow (I don't understand the physics) concert F is never in tune even when concert Bb is.

Selmer pro saxes are still made in France by Selmer Paris. If I was in the market for a pro saxophone I would consider it, but at this point I think the pro Yamaha instruments are as good or better for a much lower price. For anything else I would not consider a C-S instrument. Yamaha seems to be the go-to unless you have Miraphone money.