[Bill Mecca]

Our very own Tbone has been working on restoring an old Martin Tenor for me, and as a teaser sent me the custom neck he manufactured for the horn. It looks Marvelous and was just the color I had imagined (think back to a 1960's Plymouth Barracuda)

the original neck with be lacquered in the reverse. the entire horn is close to finished and I will post what can only be termed as dramatic before and after pictures.

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

Bill,

I'm glad you're posting photos of this project. I was wondering how it was progressing. Tbone is a great tech (and a pretty nice fella too), and this should be a real player as well as a looker.

BTW, I know someone else who plays a candy purple and gold Martin...a Baritone model!:twisted:

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

Is your project the reason he has not been here lately?

 

[SactoPete]

Bill,

I happen to own a 60's Barracuda, and it pains me to say, the color of your sax isn't even close:

I think you are "Plum Crazy", your color is from the 70s... I've always wondered what it would be like to see a sax "in violet".

(in case that is too much of an inside joke, which it almost certainly is, google "plum crazy in violet", and it will all make sense)

Cool color, dude.

Pete

 

[Othello3]

My uncle once went to a wedding with a suit that color.

He had shoes to match too.

Bill, if you're going to play that in public, you're going to need to buy a really ridiculous suit. It just seems appropriate.

 

[Bill Mecca]

Thanks Pete for correcting the decade (btw nice ride!) (to paraphrase an old Hawaii 5-0 joke ""Plum Crazy, In Violet, what da difference?!)

O3, you mean my wild print shirts won't cut it? :lol:

 

[Swingin' Cat]

SG would be proud. :twisted:

For you kiddies, here's a great history of the Plymouth Barracudas(or, as we called it, the "Banana Cooler"): http://www.allpar.com/model/cuda.html

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

Bill,
BTW, I know someone else who plays a candy purple and gold Martin...a Baritone model!:twisted:

SG would be proud. :twisted:

BINGO! Great minds think alike.

 

[Swingin' Cat]

BINGO! Great minds think alike.

So I've heard. But what's that got to do with us? :? :shock:

 

[Bill Mecca]

OMG!!! I'll have to change the color!!!!!



just kidding.

@ SC, good buddy of mine in HS had a Challenger and Charger, 70's vintage, thanks for that link.

@ Gordon, I know Tbone hasn't been around that much lately, but my horn isn't the reason.

 

[tjontheroad]

Looks real cool Bill. TBone must a twisted sense of humor to send you just the neck like that. I mean... That's like getting a date with a porn star and only her head shows up at your door :twisted:

 

[clarnibass]

How does someone custom manufacture a neck? How do you know what length, shape, diameter, etc. it should have? I'm guessing probably copying from an existing neck of the same model (or a neck that fits the model)? Did tbone actually make it himself, or designed it and let a special metal shop make it, or...?

Thanks!

 

[tbone]

Hey guys. Glad you like it.

Been a little under the weather, that's why I've been MIA but on the mend.

clarnibass, The posts, mounts and octave lever were from a raw parts lot that I bought a couple years ago. The actual neck tube and tenon were made by your's truly. Fashioned a tapered tube out of brass sheet stock. Bent it with home made bending fixtures and turned a tenon on a lathe. Out of thirty five or so tries I only got four "good" finished tenor pipes and this was one of them. Had better luck with alto pipes as the bend isn't as severe. Wasn't cost effective but fun work overall.

All for now, got to get some more rest. Hope to be around more again soon.

tbone

 

[hansmartini]

How about some bending lessons tbone? Nice work (beautiful even). Maybe if I get all these repairs out of the way AND get some fishing in, I'll get a chance to practice more on my lathe.
Hans

 

[Dog Pants]

Tell us more about the horn itself guys.

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

Hey Tbone,
I hope you start to feel better my friend. Take care of yourself!

 

[LBAjazz]

tbone, What did you fill it with to bend it?

 

[Bill Mecca]

DP,

don't you watch reality television? You need to wait for the big reveal... (actually I have to find the before pictures, they resurfaced recently but things have gotten out of hand again)

@TJ, I would guess.. nah I better not, this is a family show..:twisted:

 

[tjontheroad]

@TJ, I would guess.. nah I better not, this is a family show..:twisted:

I can't wait to see to whole fun filled family adventure episode myself Bill. Are you gonna get a matching colored hair style?

Hey Tbone, I gotta an old re-lacqured SML lying around. I'm thinking a full metal jacket theme would be very cool. You game?

I'm just kidding (I think).

 

[clarnibass]

clarnibass, The posts, mounts and octave lever were from a raw parts lot that I bought a couple years ago. The actual neck tube and tenon were made by your's truly. Fashioned a tapered tube out of brass sheet stock. Bent it with home made bending fixtures and turned a tenon on a lathe. Out of thirty five or so tries I only got four "good" finished tenor pipes and this was one of them. Had better luck with alto pipes as the bend isn't as severe. Wasn't cost effective but fun work overall.

Thanks tbone. I'm still wondering, how did you know what length to make the neck, and where to put the octave vent (copy from another Martin maybe)? I'm also interested like others how you bent it (and how you welded the neck tube). By the way, how did you paint it (what colour is it anyway)?