During the pandemic, which currently is still on, I bought myself a Gloger neck for my ugly old 1941 Conn 10M. I purchased it from JW Sax in Boston and had Kim at KB Sax in Long Island City install it properly (expand the tenon.)
Kim as you may know makes fine necks for saxophones as well.
So, first of all, why buy a new neck? Doesn't the original work? Didn't all of those players back in the day just practice and get what they wanted out of their equipment?
Well, yes. Of course they did. And I find myself agreeing with a lot of that wholeheartedly. Today we live in a world of hype, everything is pornified and there's more ways to empty your wallet and avoid doing the hard work of making good music showing up every day. It is what it is.
So what was I trying to solve with this purchase?
First I was simply curious. I've spent a good deal of time with Kim at KB Sax, even rebuilt a Selmer amp for him once with the Varitone unit. I've tried a bunch of his necks and, well, they're problem solvers if used rightly. I played a couple of Tenor Madness horns there and found them typical of horns today: tanky and a bit, um neutral (bland, dull as dishwater....)..... But with some of his necks, changed everything. More color, excitement. The difference in not even considering making a purchase and possibly making that purchase.
I prefer old American made horns myself. My favorites are the Art Deco Buescher Aristocrat and the early model Conn 10M. Some days it's Buescher, others it's Conn, but I overall prefer the richness of the Buescher over the size of the Conn.
So I bought this neck to get the Conn to sound more like the Buescher. I can say that was largely achieved. I used it on some blues gigs with a Berg Bronze piece I recently acquired (selling! UGLY sound....).
What did it do for the Conn? Better tuning first of all. They have a tendency to play sharp. In fact both horns do. I'm used to them but anything to make life easier I'll gladly take.
I did a recording session this September and could not get what I wanted out of the Conn. I switched to the Buescher and voila. Heaven. But then I put this Gloger neck on the Buescher.... totally different horn.
First off, everything speaks easier. No, it's more "free blowing", which is something I don't care for. It still has that good Buescher 'back pressure" or resistance. But the notes speak more clearly. Pitch is better, there's just more horn there. It's now my current setup.
I've switched from my expensive old Otto Link STM 7 to a New Vintage Slant #6. I have yet to get a more enjoyable setup than this.
As for the Conn, since I switched mouthpieces I'm happy with the original neck. It's currently my second tenor and I'm happy with that as well.
So like anything, try it and see for yourself. Mileage varies. I'm not one to believe hype myself but I am one to keep and open mind and try new things. Would my old heroes buy one? I imagine they would. Like my teacher, he never stopped experimenting, trying new sounds, finding new ways to play over a tune. I see it as one thing altogether.
I also like pretty things. This neck is a work of art.... So if you are curious and can swing the price, give it a go. I should leave off with, no it didn't turn either horn into a Selmer which is something I wouldn't have wanted. It just brings out the best qualities of what is already there. That's what I was after and I think it was a success.
J
