1953 Pan American Alto
$650.00
This 1953 Conn is an absolute gem. Tucked away in a closet for decades, the body remains in pristine condition—completely free of dents or scratches. It’s a soulful, character-rich player that comes with its original case, neck, mouthpiece, and ligature. As a special bonus, it includes the original complimentary care guide and a vintage thank-you letter from Conn to the first owner.
1 in stock
Description
Pan American alto saxophones are vintage American-made instruments manufactured by C.G. Conn in Elkhart, Indiana, primarily between the 1920s and 1950s. Often considered a “student” or intermediate-level “stencil” line of Conn, they are renowned for offering similar build quality and sound to professional Conn models (like the 6M or 10M) at a lower cost.
Key Characteristics and Features:
- Manufacturer: Produced by C.G. Conn, often based on older, durable Conn designs.
- Tone: Known for a full, loud, and classic American vintage sound.
- Design: Generally, they lack features found on higher-end Conn models, such as rolled tone holes or “nail file” G# keys. Earlier models may have different keywork layouts, such as opposing bell keys (B and Bb on opposite sides).
- Durability: Renowned for their rugged construction, making them durable “workhorse” horns.
- Value: Often dubbed the “poor man’s” Conn, they offer excellent vintage value but may require a significant financial investment to fully overhaul, especially for older models from the 1920s.
- Models: Later models, such as those from the 1950s, are sometimes referred to as 60M.
Pan American saxophones are highly rated by collectors and players looking for a vintage sound without the price tag of a top-tier professional horn.
Condition
We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect.
- Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 10 Perfect, no dents or deep scratches
- Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 9 Some lacquer pitting
- Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 None noted
- Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 9.5 Minimal wear on case
- Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10
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