Conn 6M Alto Transitional 261xxx Silver

Description

This horn is a very clean, original silver Conn transitional alto in the primo serial range for 6M style transitionals. It has the M stamped neck (which may be the precursor of the VIII). There is no damage to mention, save a slightly flat bow guard. The silver is almost all present, with wear only on the keyguards and touch points, and a couple of little spots on the neck. The neck is in excellent condition and is not pulled down. Keywork is all nice and tight and moves smoothly and freely. No repairs save a resoldered keycage leg on the low Eb (which is both very common and very minor).

These horns are perhaps the most desirable Conn altos for tone, with a bigger and even warmer sound than the later 6M’s but with the fast 6M keywork that everybody loves. This horn can easily fill a room, but it also has a straight-ahead and somewhat focused sound that allows you to keep it under control quite well if you want to. The intonation is good as well. There’s a reason why people love these transitional altos so much – because they’re great! If you’re looking for a great lead alto for jazz or big band, it would be hard to do better than this! I have sold a handful of these in the past year, and each one has been just great.

I am really picky about pad work, and I’m happy to report that this horn has a fresh overhaul done by Mike Hollis of Volkwein Music in Pittsburg. Mike did a great job on this horn, and it shows. You can tell that he has a good eye for detail because not that many people can do the kind of snappy pad work on rolled tone holes that this horn exhibits. All pads, corks and felts are new, and the horn is newly hand polished. The resonators are the correct flat metal ones for a Conn of this era. If you’re looking for a sweet 6M or transitional in top playing condition, in rare and beautiful (and durable) silver plate, look no further! This is a turn-key purchase for a beautiful and top-quality alto sax.