Buescher TT Alto - which necks do I have ??

[masonmjs]

Hi folks,

Help needed on the subject of necks for the above alto horns.

I have a series 2 TT alto, serial number 165xxx, and a series IV TT alto, serial number 232xxx and they each came with different necks (??). Both horns (and necks) are silver-plated.

The series 2 horn came with a longer neck than the one which came with the series IV (which may or may not be original). The octave keys on each neck look identical and both necks will fit either sax.

I have been to the Vintage Saxophone Gallery which describes 4 different necks but it implies that the neck on the TT should be the same throughout the series 1 - 4.

Can anyone help out here, I would like to know if the neck which came with the series IV is original (it has more wear on the silver plate than the rest of the sax) or is maybe from another horn.

There are no markings or numbers on either neck that I can see.

Thanks
Mike

[saintsday]

Look at the band on the neck just above the tenon where if faces you when playing (behind the octave bail.) It may have a star or stars rather than a number.

[masonmjs]

Hi Saintsday,

There is nothing on either neck, no numbers no stars !! (which is adding to the confusion)

[Grumps]

Pictures would help greatly. I'm not sure if the early TT necks were marked at all, but the later ones usually were. Taking that into consideration, along with increased length, the neck you've got with the later horn just might not be original. However, I have a late TT that plays much more easily in tune with a later Aristocrat neck, and it's not like such a switch is a big secret. So the original neck may have been swapped out at some point. That's really all that's important with these rather plentiful vintage horns; not whether or not they're original, but do they play in tune.

[masonmjs]

Yes, point taken grumps, I actually think my series IIa with it's original neck plays in tune better than the series IV with the 'suspect' replacement neck.

However, I tested both on the tuner and they both appear to be OK, but with different mouthpieces, what's good on one is not on the other (probably fairly obvious given the difference in the length of the necks which is about 1/2 inch).