Necks are a wear point. Tips can get out of round from the stress of putting on and taking off mouthpieces. Sometimes necks get pulled down. Or damaged from a fall. There is the occasional microphone pick-up that needs to be removed. The tenon can get distorted and not seal properly. I've even had to replace the last inch of an alto neck. Regardless, a damaged neck is bad news for your sound.
The neck is the most important part of the saxophone. It’s right there at the beginning of the instrument and its role in delivering air to the rest of the horn cannot be underestimated. Each one has its own unique shape, taper, dimensions and angles. And each brand has a different approach. The only way to know what’s correct is to measure good samples – there is no book that lists all the data. Over the last two decades I have measured countless necks and have created my own library. It’s the basis for my restoration process. I never guess.
I’ve restored thousands of necks for shops and individuals. To help get the job done, I have created custom sleeves that are tapered to match factory specs perfectly. I have a set of 100 shaping balls that I use just for necks. I make things round. I replace rings. I replace tenon/receiver sets. I get the angles right. Every nuance. Every time.
