G1 gold-plated neck - worth it??

[sweetsax]

Ok, so this topic was briefly touched on in the accessories section, but I wanted to get some opinions from Yamaha players who’ve spend some good time with their horns by now.

Has anybody out there upgraded to a gold-plated neck on their Yamaha Z tenor? Or has anybody tested the optional Yamaha necks who can offer me their feedback? Do the gold-plated or silver-plated necks give the sound a little more depth and character? And if so, is it enough of a difference to justify the extra cash?

I am an alto player who’s itching to get a new tenor sax as a secondary instrument. I’m leaning toward the Yamaha Z simply because of the attractive price and their reputation for being easy players. But upgrading to these optional necks shoots the price up and starts eating into the value factor. Is it worth it?

BTW, I know it would be ideal to test play all the neck options and draw my own conclusion, but I don’t live anywhere near one of these big instrument outlets so that’s not an option. Even if I find a local “school band store” that has a Z, they certainly won’t have these optional necks. So I want to get the opinions from everybody out there that’s tried them.

Thanks!!

[Gandalfe]

I bet this neck won't make your sax sound better, but it probably looks nice. I don't know how to value something for you. For me, it isn't worth the extra money--I'd rather put the money on more sheet music for my band. The answer to the question, "Is it worth it?" can only be answered by you. I trust that doesn't come across as harsh.

[Rex]

My whole sax is solid gold (imitation). :razz: But seriously, I think you might get more benefit, depending upon your preference, by trying out the custom M1 and F1 necks agains the standard custom G1 that comes with the Z. I think most are liking the G1 as a major improvement -- but you might feel more so if you tried it up against the older M1 and F1 necks for comparisons.