[smoothjazztenor]

Hi

Anybody with experiences of playing a Series III neck on a Mark VI...Tenor?

What finishes did you try?

Adrian

 

[Swampcabbage]

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=68025

For me, I haven't found anything that beats the original neck. But, that's for me.

 

[wersax]

I'm sure you can get it to fit by taking it to a repair shop; they can expand or contract the tenon as needed. MK VI necks don't have a standard tenon size as the new necks do. BTW, I tried a Ref 36 neck on my VI a couple of years ago and it did nothing for me. But the III neck is supposedly louder and brighter, right?

 

[smoothjazztenor]

Read somewhere that the Series 3 necks have the same angles as the VI necks...and that they were made to play like the VI.

I'm looking for improved response and a bigger/fatter tone.

It shd be the material (silver) which makes the diff.

Adrian

 

[wersax]

You may want to try a neck with a different angle, not the same as a MK VI. For example, MK VII and Ponzol necks have a "higher" angle, (than a MK Vi neck), and, if you find one that works for you, can make the horn more free blowing, (with less resistance).

 

[SuperAction80]

The III's are close (but not exact) copies of the later VI necks I've tried. I'm not sure how they compare to the earlier ones. When I went to upgrade the neck on my S80, my first choice was a VI neck. The current offerings from Ebay were in the $400-$600 range. I then tried the III neck as they were supposedly very similiar to a late VI neck and were only $275 out of woodwind and brasswind. The III's neck is close to that of the VI, so close in fact that I could not justify spending the extra money. Besides I like keeping a surplus of money for reeds, XLR's, tuner batteries, and all of those other things that you need at the worst times.

 

[heath]

The III neck is a higher arch neck then what is on my VI.

I have a brass III neck and have put the neck on my VI. Totally takes away the character of the horn. The VI has or at least my VI does a deep sound and color that is there with the original neck. I've never had any desire to swap my VI neck out for another neck and I've tried and owned a lot of necks. I've got a Ref 36, 54, III neck and had a Barone and Ponzol. Nothing works like the stock necks on a VI and I've found the same to be true for my Ref horns as well they work best with the stock.

Materials might affect the sound, but most of us think it's due to the way the necks are made. I personally attribute the sound difference of solid sterling silver to the much smoother bore of these very premium priced necks.

 

[SuperAction80]

Heath, what year is your VI? I'm asking because the 3 necks I tried on my horn were supposedly leftover old stock from the late VI early VII era as they did NOT have an engraved serial number. There was another complete VI available for my test (late 50's if I remember correctly), but this neck would have required a major tenon adjustment on my horn as the neck was too big to fit into the S80's socket. The earlier neck had the lower arch that you described as well. I guess it's true what they say. No two VI's were alike.

 

[bfoster64]

Read somewhere that the Series 3 necks have the same angles as the VI necks...and that they were made to play like the VI.

I'm looking for improved response and a bigger/fatter tone.

It shd be the material (silver) which makes the diff.

Adrian

I always thought it was the Ref 54 necks that had a similar angle and curve to the Mk VI necks. The Series 3 necks look different.

You might want to try a Barone neck on your VI. I bought mine from a guy who had it on his VI and I thought it made the horn play bigger. It made an even bigger difference on my SDA.

 

[crescent]

The serial number necks were associated with horns, I believe.

The later VI necks look different and do not have numbers and are worth a lot less on the open market compared to the SN necks.

I would be careful about trying newer necks on the VI. They may work but you may spend a lot of money finding one that floats your boat.

What vintage is your VI? Another VI neck is worth a try and will hold its resale value. If you have the dollars you can try earlier VI necks and preVI necks.

Final thought. Go to your favorite tech and have him refit the neck. Some neck issues are just due to fit. A better fit may be all you need!