Posted by Mark Heter on March 19, 2004 at 23:30:12:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Bass Nudity posted by more important info on March 19, 2004 at 21:54:12:
Conn "naked ladies" take different forms on the older instruments. Back in the late 1960s I had a Conn sousaphone with one that was winking at you from the back of the bell. Just a hint of cleavage, but the wink was very flirty. In those days I spent very little time looking at the back of the bell....too busy playing the tunes.
There are some examples (mostly on cornets) of what I call "Friday afternoon" engraving jobs, where the bizarre depictions on the horn in the engraving seem to indicate the engraving staff came back from a liquid lunch. Naked hula girls, monkeys crawling all over the horn, swaying palm trees, etc. Probably considered "X-rated" in their day! Same of these were done as "presentation" horns - given to bandmasters by their bands, etc. I suppose there "special orders", too.
The naked lady seems to be exclusive to Conn; I know of none on Kings or other horns.