[wayne011]

Good afternoon everyone. I'm a long time lurker and first time poster on this forum so please bear with me. Mods, if this is posted incorrectly or in the wrong place, please move it to the appropriate place.

Recently, I've purchased a Noblet tenor that, according to this forum and DoctorSax's information, is dated around 1961-1963. I've been reading about these wonderful Beaugnier-made instruments ever since purchased mine and I have a few questions about the necks on these saxes. The neck that came with mine is the squat looking neck. While it plays fine, it is a bit stuffy for me. I own a Selmer Mark VI from 1975 (that needs an overhaul) and I put the neck on it and the Noblet really opens up and sings. The stock neck makes playing the lower notes past D difficult at lower volumes but the Selmer neck does not even come close to the octave mechanism for it to open or close properly. Are there any modifications I can make to the saxophone to make it reach the Selmer neck or is there anything I can do to alleviate the issue with the lower notes?

Thank yall for your time!

 

[Hassles]

You can always adjust or modify your octave mechanism. The adjustment would be either simple, temporary and reversible or more long term eg: not reversible. Time to discuss your issues with your technician. Occasionally necks are offered for sale, more common in fact than saxophones offered for sale without necks.

 

[whaler]

A little piece of plastic tubing or a straw could extend it enough.

 

[turf3]

If you want to use the Selmer neck (or buy one for this sax) on a permanent basis just have your repair person solder an extension onto the prong that actuates the key. I wouldn't alter a Selmer neck to fit on a Noblet just because of market value concerns.

Selmer Mark 6 necks, and necks made for the Selmer Mark 6, are readily available though not cheap.

I'd do a real careful intonation check up and down the horn with both necks.

 

[JayeLID]

I'd do a real careful intonation check up and down the horn with both necks.

Yes this was my first reaction to the OP.

Did you really, carefully test the intonation up and down all registers ? Because I'd actually be surprised if a VI neck worked well in that regard. It may 'open up' the tone and make the horn more free-blowing.....but does it really maintain the intonation up and down within agreeable variances ?

If so, then yes, all you gotta do is extend the octave stem on the Beaugnier. Find a brass tube which fits snugly over it and either soft solder it on or use JB Weld or the like. You (or a tech) may also have to adjust the spring tensions of either the neck key or the octave mechanism to make sure going from body pip open to neck pip open works smoothly.

IF the VI neck really 'works', you could also go buy an Eastern Music Power SBA-style neck and see if that works. They are cheap, and this way you wouldn't have to use your VI neck on the Beaugnier....you could keep it with your VI.

 

[wayne011]

Actually, both necks play sharp in all registers. I’ve gone through it and from what I’ve found, there are some leaks in the lower stack. That shouldn’t cause the whole horn to play sharp though. The only mouthpieces that are friendly with it are large chamber mouthpieces and a Vandoren V16 T6.