Here are some “before” photos:
And here are some “after” photos (yes its the same horn):
SOLD
This is a Conn 6M Transitional alto saxophone in original silver plate with original case and mouthpiece in excellent physical condition with serial number 252xxx dating it to mid 1932. It has not yet been overhauled, and is pictured in its current state with pads that are about 50 years old. The tarnish will clean completely off during the overhaul, and this horn is going to look close to new. There are no dents or dings, and the horn appears to have been played very little. After the overhaul, it will provide years of dependable service and with proper care it will be around making music a hundred years from now, and probably a hundred years after that.
This is probably the cleanest Conn transitional 6M I have seen.
The neck on this one has the microtuner (which will itself be overhauled as part of the overhaul of the saxopohone) and bears the STD’D. stamp, which as far as I know is the earliest variation of the later STD’D M and STD’D N necks, commonly called “Metro” and “National” necks, which were the precursor to the VIII stamp seen on regular 6Ms.
This saxophone has the 6M style pinky cluster, left hand bell keys, the first version of the “Naked Lady” engraving (later on the engraving would stay the same design but become slightly larger), underslung double socket neck, and fully 6M style keywork (no forked Eb). Indeed this is one of the earliest Conn 6M Transitionals to have *all* of the features that made it into the eventual 6M model, and even a few extras like the swivel thumbhook that didn’t. Basically, if you are looking for a transitional Conn alto, this vintage is the cream of the crop.
I have written extensively about the Conn Transitional altos (see my article here and my video here), and I am myself a big fan of them. They have perhaps the most comfortable keywork of any saxophone, with an ergonomic design that is more “modern” than modern horns. The 6M was one of the first saxophones with keywork designed specifically for speed and fluidity, they are extremely comfortable under the fingers. In fact, Charlie Parker played one for a significant part of his career- probably because at the time no other keywork came close to making it easy to do what he did!
Intonation is very good on these horns, and the tone is full, broad, rich, and colorful. They can be used for jazz or classical, though most folks who own them (but not all!) use them for jazz.
As mentioned earlier, this saxophone has not yet been overhauled. If you reserve it before I have done one, you can have it overhauled to your personal specifications.
SOLD