[CreamySaxSolo]

I have just purchased an early 40's Alto King Zephyr and I love it's sound, but Is it normal on a King Zephyr for the Neck Serial number to be a little crooked? As in, the numbers not perfectly straight or aligned? The last few digits on my Zephyr neck are a little slanted and that gives my sax instructor reason to believe the neck was scammed.
Also, is it normal for the double socket neck to be tight when getting it onto the body?
Thanks,
-T

 

[Pete Thomas]

The last few digits on my Zephyr neck are a little slanted and that gives my sax instructor reason to believe the neck was scammed.

How can a neck get scammed?

 

[Sax Magic]

He means a replacement neck, not the right kind, with a faked serial number. Not a likely prospect. And these numbers were hammered into the brass by hand, so it would be easy for the tech to get them out of alignment.

 

[JayeLID]

How can a neck get scammed?

Alto necks, particularly...can be so gullible ![rolleyes]

I agree w/SM...post a pic of the neck if you want. Zeph double-socket necks were very, very unique...the tenon, the key. Not easy to make a phony....

Regarding snugness....you could bring it to a tech and have them take a look. Not quite as easy a scenario as a standard neck tenon/receiver because of the double-socket design, however....but certainly it can be tweaked by a decent tech with the right tools.

 

[Pete Thomas]

[ Zeph double-socket necks were very, very unique...the tenon, the key. Not easy to make a phony....

I agree, that sounds highly unlikely.

 

[Honeyboy]

I just checked out my '37 version of a King Zephyr alto. ( It took me awhile to find the number- it's located on the neck hidden behind the octave key ring, kind of out of sight). The last number on mine is slightly higher than the previous number. My neck is nice and snug but not too tight. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Martin Williams]

Aye, my alto neck has always been snug, and though I've never paid much attention to the serial number, mine is straight.

Honestly though, seems you have nothing to worry about

 

[robbieg]

It's probably a case where they stamped the first set of numbers in a large batch, and later stamped the last numbers as the horns were being made. I would think this would be especially common with the neck serials as you would stamp them as you matched them to the body they are supposed to be on.

 

[jayhay]

I have a Zephyr Bari with the same trouble. I'm sure it's not "scammed". Your instructor is probably trying to make himself feel better because you have a great vintage horn and he doesn't!