straight or curved neck?

[gibson4news]

Are they interchangable? If so, what sound differences can I expect? And is the cork the same size to accomodate the mouthpiece? Any reason to go one over the other? Thanks
John Gibson

[Dave Dolson]

John: Of what are you asking? This is a C-Mel etc. thread. Are you asking about the alto-style necks on Conn C-Mels vs. the tenor-style necks on Bueschers? DAVE

[Roger Aldridge]

John,

While this is not an exact statement (one can find unusual things regarding saxophone models and serial numbers), generally speaking, pre-1920 Conn c-melodies were made with a curved or tenor-style neck whereas Conn c-mels made in and after 1920 had a "straight" or alto-style neck. One of the features of the straight Conn neck was the micro-tuner which enabled one to fine tune your horn by turning a dial rather than moving the mouthpiece by hand. It's important to know that only Conn, as I best understand, had a straight c-melody neck. All other makes -- Buescher, Selmer, Martin, King, Holton, etc -- used a curved c-melody neck.

I've heard of some guys experimenting with curved and straight necks on their Conn c-melodies. I don't remember any of them reporting a significant tonal difference between the necks. If there was a difference it was probably subtle -- certainly not as much of a difference as one can get by trying different c-melody mouthpieces. ANYWAY, I'd be concerned about the possible affect that using a different neck might have on your c-melody's intonation.

It's my opinion that the differences one finds between a Conn c-melody and a Buescher or a Martin or a Selmer have more to do with the design and overall playing characterists of the horn itself rather than just the style of the c-melody neck. I find similiar differences between a Conn alto or tenor and a Buescher alto or tenor. You see?

When it comes to vintage horns it makes sense to me to use the horn's original neck.

Roger

[bruce bailey]

About 6 months ago we discussed the straight neck Buescher that was on ebay and it appears that they also made one. I think the worst thing about a Conn straight neck horn is the playing position. I just never could get a comfortable angle as the horn had to be too far away.

[Roger Aldridge]

Bruce,

Yes, I remember that thread. I suspect that it comes under the "unusual things" catagory that we stumble upon from time to time...rather than the vast majority of c-melodies that Buescher produced. Has anyone reported finding other examples of a straight neck Buescher c-melody besides that one on ebay? It's possible that it was a custom order type of horn.

In a similar "unusual things" manner, Conn made a small number of curved neck c-melodies around 1919 with a micro-tuner. Now, that's a strange looking horn!

Roger

[mosplace]

In a similar "unusual things" manner, Conn made a small number of curved neck c-melodies around 1919 with a micro-tuner. Now, that's a strange looking horn!

Yes, Kohlert in Germany/Europe did that, too. I'm not sure if only on the c-melody or also on the tenor saxophones.

By the way, my Vito C-Melody has a straight neck, too.

[Dave Dolson]

Yes, I too recall that straight-neck Buescher discussion.

I find all C-Mels uncomfortable.

But the original poster has not answered the first question . . . about what kind of horn was he asking? DAVE

[Roger Aldridge]

The thing that I find most awkward about c-melodies is the placement of the neckstrap ring. When one takes their hands away from the horn it will swing around and mouthpiece bangs you in the chops. I wish the ring would have been placed with a similar center of gravity as a tenor or alto.

[David Spiegelthal]

I'm with you on that, Roger! About the first thing I did to the King C-Melody I recently acquired was to solder on a second neckstrap ring, about four inches below the original one.
The main problem is the angle of the (tenor-shaped) neck on my King, at the mouthpiece end it's actually sub-horizontal by a very slight amount, so you have to hold the horn to the side and tilted way back (as described above). But the revised strap hook location helps some.

[mosplace]

I agree totaly with you. I had my old Holton in a simple way modified.

As you can see on the picture, you need only materia, that costs a few cents and everthing can be removed without anything left.

You can vary the angle and the location of the ring.

http://de.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mosplace2003/detail?.dir=50b3&.dnm=3743.jpg&.src=ph

[Viking]

I agree totaly with you. I had my old Holton in a simple way modified.

As you can see on the picture, you need only materia, that costs a few cents and everthing can be removed without anything left.

You can vary the angle and the location of the ring.

http://de.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mosplace2003/detail?.dir=50b3&.dnm=3743.jpg&.src=ph
mosplace

Any chance of a bigger image so I can see better exactly what you have done to make the modification?

Many thanks

[mosplace]

No, sorry. No better pictures. You could try to load the picture down and zoom it in a little bit. I could try to describe the things in English and hope you can understand what I mean. :?

I have 2 srews that didn't have the normal srecwhead but a ring (eye-bolt,is that the correct word for it?).

Than I bought a sleeve that has a thread inside of it. You just have to srew the two srews from each side into the sleeve. Than you need a bolt, a nut and and a whasher to attach one of the ring-screws to the normal saxophone strap ring.

Now you can change the angle and the lenght of this little helper.Just turn the lower screw further in or out, whatever you need. But make sure that it is still far enough in the sleeve!

Oh boy, I hope you could understand what I meant. It's already kind of hard to descirbe in German, but in English it is a realy challange :D .

[bruce bailey]

Well here is another confuser - Tonight on ebay there was a York C Melody with a straight neck. it appears to be a Buescher and the neck length is about that of a Conn without the microtuner. SO, here is another thing to drag out!!!!

[knighttrain]

I have a York C Mel with a straight neck. Doesn't look like a Buescher.