[Boontigula]

I have a ref 54 tenor on it's way. Alot of players choose to replace the neck with a silver Selmer III or a Gloger. My question is, rather than get another neck (silver neck with a matte finished horn doesn't sound too appealing to me), is there a sax tech who can modify the stock neck with similar results, thanks

 

[HUTMO]

Reference Neck

Just the other day some one posted a comparison of different necks on a Reference horn. The conclusion... the reference necks are pretty good.

HUTMO

 

[Boontigula]

Just the other day some one posted a comparison of different necks on a Reference horn. The conclusion... the reference necks are pretty good.

HUTMO

Okay, thanks. I found the thread.....didn't see that before my post.

 

[heath]

I was the one that posted this. http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=67155

I did indeed come to the conclusion that a good ref neck is a good match for the ref horn. As long as it isn't stuffy. I had a problem with one of my ref 36 necks not matching my 36 very well, found another neck Ref 36 neck and problem is fixed. My ref 54 tenor however plays like it should with a ref 54 neck, as far as response and the all important intonation which selmer dialed in pretty good with the ref 54 neck design.

I came away with the impression that Selmer actually configures their horns to work best with the original neck.

 

[Boontigula]

I was the one that posted this. http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=67155

I did indeed come to the conclusion that a good ref neck is a good match for the ref horn. As long as it isn't stuffy. I had a problem with one of my ref 36 necks not matching my 36 very well, found another neck Ref 36 neck and problem is fixed. My ref 54 tenor however plays like it should with a ref 54 neck, as far as response and the all important intonation which selmer dialed in pretty good with the ref 54 neck design.

I came away with the impression that Selmer actually configures their horns to work best with the original neck.

Thanks for the thread. The info is good to know. I kinda figured that with a horn like that, more than likely Selmer would use a suitable neck. However, alot of players need to check it out for themselves. At any rate, thanks for the info.....glad to hear it.

 

[Grumps]

Alot of players choose to replace the neck with a silver Selmer III or a Gloger.

No, I'd figure in the general scheme of things, very few players do this. The vast majority of players wouldn't even think of switching the neck for a brand new horn.

 

[Dr G]

Alot of players choose to replace the neck with a silver Selmer III or a Gloger.

I always thought that "a lot" was a number greater than 1 or 2. :?

Can you list the first 20 or so players who (permanently) replaced their Ref necks that come to mind?

I would not even venture to say that "a lot" of Mk VI players are using replacement necks (unless the original neck was damaged beyond repair).

 

[Dr G]

is there a sax tech who can modify the stock neck with similar results, thanks

To answer your question, "Yes". If you can articulate what you need to change, Randy Jones at TenorMadness.com has considerable experience with the Ref necks.

Let's start here, what is it that you need to change? What is not working?

You might consider sending him the horn and asking him to rebuild it and set it up. Really.

 

[Boontigula]

Well, the horn isn't brand new and I wasn't dead set on switching the neck it's just that should I feel that the horn is a little stuffy I'd like to know my options. I'm probably getting ahead of myself here as I haven't received the horn yet. Why would I do it? For the same reason that SOME people like
Heath or anyone else might-to maximize the true potential of the horn. Actually, it'll probably have more than enough firepower or so I'm hoping. Thanks for your comments thus far....they're greatly appreciated.

 

[eugesax]

ref 54 neck

Be careful of the neck bending. The Refs have the softest necks I've ever dealt with. I would advise having someone put a brace on asap. Once they bend, it will never be the same.

 

[shmuelyosef]

I came away with the impression that Selmer actually configures their horns to work best with the original neck.

I think that Yamaha, Yanagisawa, and Keilwerth all do this pretty well these days as well, but this is a relatively recent phenomena IMHO. Yet another reason to play a modern horn. It's actually designed to work well and play in tune, unlike pre-1970 saxophones

 

[calisax]

Dude, let your ref 54 have its dignity. Swapping necks? What's the point? Is the ref 54 not a Selmer Paris? I'm sure there's plenty of other changes you can make in your gear alone to find whatever sound you're looking for. Cross-breeding your horn will only cause you heartache and regret in the end.

 

[DougR]

Well, the horn isn't brand .... it's just that should I feel that the horn is a little stuffy I'd like to know my options.
I'm probably getting ahead of myself here as I haven't received the horn yet. ....

This is reasonable, your top call and first option is to take it to you pet technician - who will, as always, ensure that it is leak-free and working as it should.

Then you go play it - and form your own opinion.

 

[milandro]

Well, " some" players choose to buy an after market neck, since almost all the neck makers (ask Karsten Gloger...) or sellers (Phil Barone for one) are keeping very busy with this activity (ask them there's always a waiting list) . The reasons, however irrational, to do so, need not to be the loss or the damaging of the original neck, on the contrary a few horns are, nowadays, provided with an alternative neck from the factory, a sure sign of a market requirement which might or might not be based on serious thinking but it is there and it is a fact.

 

[heath]

Well the B&S medussa came with three necks for the alto and tenor. It was a cool idea and those were good horns....the tenor anyway.

Honestly not every stock neck works every time. I do however think that you can find another stock neck that might work better by sifting through several until you land on the one you like. So you buy a ref 54 and might want to try some more Ref 54 necks if the one you have is playing stuffy. I did that with my 36 and it allowed me to keep the sound of the 36 like it should be, but play a little more like I wanted.

I did however swap my II neck on my alto for a III neck, I won't go back to playing a II neck on that horn as I tried gobs of necks and the III lines up like I wanted. And success is seen by the fact that I never think of gear improvements on this horn. The II neck that I had sounded like it was stuffed up with toilet paper. I'm not a believer in the macho attitude that I could have made that stock II neck work.....sent the II neck back to the guy that sold the horn to me and he refunded me $200.

 

[Dr G]

Well, the horn isn't brand new and I wasn't dead set on switching the neck it's just that should I feel that the horn is a little stuffy I'd like to know my options.

Before you start swapping necks - and even after - make sure that the tenon fit is good. It should be snug enough that little pressure is required on the thumb screw for it to be tight in the socket. A poorly fitted tenon is like using a bad reed.

BTW, just because a tech has tenon expanding tools does NOT ensure that he/she knows how to do the job well. I learned THAT one the hard way.

 

[Dr G]

Be careful of the neck bending. The Refs have the softest necks I've ever dealt with. I would advise having someone put a brace on asap. Once they bend, it will never be the same.

I would advise not using the horn for a walking cane! Don't lean on the horn and don't lift it by the neck. I guess these thing should come with an instruction booklet, eh?

If pulldown is an issue, the problem lies with the player.

 

[Grumps]

So you buy a ref 54 and might want to try some more Ref 54 necks if the one you have is playing stuffy.

Wouldn't a better idea be not to buy the sax if it plays stuffy?

 

[heath]

Wouldn't a better idea be not to buy the sax if it plays stuffy?

Yeah you should try before you buy, but an awful lot of net business is done these days without the option for return. Some really good deals are made this way and some really bad deals to.

 

[Grumps]

I just think this whole neck switch thing plays into the obsessive/compulsiveness of GAS; and folks are wasting a lot of time and money searching for some ideal combo. Now I do have a horn where I switched the neck. It's a 1928 Buescher True Tone. I'd read that later Aristocrat necks clean up intonation at certain documented trouble spots; and lo and behold, it did. Now this is an old horn that truly did benefit from the updated neck, but we're now talking about horns still on the market. Furthermore, but for those wishing a better neck angle, the discussion these days isn't about whether or not a replacement neck is going to fix specific, objective issues... but how it's going to feel or blow; thin, thick, fat, free, resistant, what have you... Mostly all subjective stuff that's going to vary from player to player. Here's a case now... and I'm sorry Boontigula... where the horn hasn't even been played yet, and there's already a plan to go neck shopping. Now of course, I'm sure there's a better neck out there for each and every horn made... but you just have to ask yourself, why are you looking for it? At some point these quests have to become counter-productive.