[Reedsplinter]

I'm a tenor player mainly, but I have a Conn 6M alto that I like quite well; I play it with a RPC mouthpiece and it speaks. However, being yet another obsessive sax player -- endlessly and tediously curious about all aspects of the instrument -- there is something that I'd like to hear others' opinions about. This Naked Lady (serial number 334xxx, @1950) has the tuneable neck that Conn used for awhile. That means that the neck has a big heavy object sitting out near the business end. I don't use it for tuning; it seems redundant to me. But surely it changes the mass of the neck, and therefore affects responsiveness. At least that seems logical to me, but I can't prove it. However, if the tuneable neck is less responsive than a "normal" neck would be, then it might be worth it to invest in a new neck. Are there any 6M owners out there who have blazed this trail already? What do you think?

Thanks!

 

[Reedsplinter]

That may well be absolutely true. It may even be the whole truth. I admit that I am prone to distrust that kind of categorical statement, though. I ran into a tenor player at a jam session who had a very pretty tone; to be friendly, I asked him what kind of axe he played (didn't recognize it); he said, "It's not the horn." I said, "What kind of mouthpiece setup do you play," and he said "It's not the mouthpiece." I said, "OK, why don't you just play a stick, then?" Seemed a reasonable question at the time. Which is to say: if it's true that the air column and not the brass produces the tone, then you could make a neck out of anything, and it wouldn't matter, right? Nor would the thickness of the neck wall. But don't the characteristics of the material affect the behavior of the air column? <puts his head quickly in a lead-lined hole and screams like a chicken>

 

[Reedsplinter]

Darn: I was planning to encrust the microtuner with cubic zirconium!

 

[Reedsplinter]

I'm inclined to think you guys are right; I hope you are, because not buying a new neck is the cheapest solution! Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Reedsplinter]

This is exactly what I was looking for: particulars from someone who's spent time with the axe. I appreciate the detailed information, and will approach the horn just as you say. A thousand thanks!

 

[Reedsplinter]

The whole neck? Hmm. I predict it will prevent my octave key from venting properly. . . .

 

[Reedsplinter]

If I cover both ends, will that average out?