1955 Conn 6M “Naked Lady” Alto Saxophone – Fully Overhauled & Repadded
A lovely 1955 C.G. Conn 6M alto saxophone, serial number 535200, featuring the famous “Naked Lady” / Lady Face engraving and classic underslung octave-key neck.
This example has now undergone a complete strip-down, clean and full repad, together with new corks and a complete regulation.
Following the overhaul it is playing extremely freely throughout the range, from low Bb right through to high F#, and has been checked with a leak light with no meaningful leaks.
It has exactly the big, lively and characterful response that makes a well-set-up 6M such an enjoyable vintage alto.
Full overhaul
The saxophone has been completely stripped down and rebuilt, including:
The result is a saxophone that is fully ready to play.
Playing condition
This is a particularly easy-playing example.
The bottom end speaks very freely, including low Bb, and the saxophone remains responsive and stable right through the upper register to F#.
Following regulation and leak testing there are no meaningful leaks, and the horn feels very immediate under the fingers.
A playing video is included so that you can hear the actual instrument rather than simply taking my word for it.
The Conn 6M
The 6M was Conn’s professional alto and became one of the company's best-known saxophones.
This example retains two of the features most strongly associated with the model:
Being a 1955 instrument, this is one of the later Elkhart 6Ms and uses Conn’s later straight/drawn tone holes rather than the rolled tone holes found on the earlier examples. Conn had discontinued rolled tone holes several years previously.
Condition
Cosmetically, this saxophone wears its age honestly.
There is noticeable lacquer wear and loss in places, together with the scratches, marks and patina you would expect from a working instrument now over 70 years old.
The Naked Lady engraving remains clearly visible and attractive, and personally I think the worn finish suits the instrument extremely well.
Please study the photographs carefully, as they give the best indication of cosmetic condition.
My emphasis with this saxophone has been on getting it mechanically right and playing properly, rather than trying to make an old horn look artificially new.
Original Conn case
The saxophone comes with its period Conn hard case, complete with the Conn badge inside.
The case remains usable and can still be locked, but it does show its age.
The latches can be a little awkward to line up and close, and some of the exterior covering is beginning to lift in places.
It is perfectly adequate for keeping the saxophone with its original period case, but anyone intending to transport the instrument regularly may eventually prefer a modern case.
Included
The sale includes:
No mouthpiece, stand, harness or other accessories are included unless specifically stated.
Playing video
If on eBay a playing demonstration is included so you can hear the actual saxophone following its overhaul. If on Reverb please contact me and I will send it to you.
With this particular horn I would strongly recommend watching the video — it is an extremely easy saxophone to play throughout the full register.
Play-testing before purchase is very welcome and encouraged.
About my saxophones
I restore vintage saxophones in my spare time because I enjoy preserving unusual and interesting instruments and bringing them back into playable condition.
My focus is primarily on getting them mechanically sound, properly regulated and enjoyable to play, rather than attempting to make old instruments look artificially new.
Each saxophone is carefully checked, regulated and play-tested before being listed, and I provide detailed photographs and a playing demonstration wherever possible.
This is a great opportunity to own a genuine 1955 Conn 6M Naked Lady alto, complete with its original Conn case, freshly repadded and regulated and now playing beautifully throughout the range.
Collection, inspection and play-testing welcome.
Leak-tested and played in before listing.