G2 neck

[EP]

Hey folks,

This is my first posting so I'll keep it brief. I live in and play in Japan and just blew a no-lacquer 82Z tenor with a no-lacquer G2 neck. I had scolded the Yamaha rep. at my local music shop here in Kyoto about the G1's, and he made sure to get me a new one for me to demo. Well, it was the 5th G1 I tried and it was sharp up top as well. Two days ago I got a call from the shop saying the rep. had just sent over another neck to try. It was better, but looks like a prototype, as there was no Yamaha marking on it other than G2 stamped on the front, as well as an empty space that looked like the place for a logo.

That's it.

EP

[Dirty Dave]

Did it play different (other than intonation) from the G1?

[woodwindmaster06]

Where there other changes that you noticed in sound quality other than intonation?

[psyguy]

Interesting-

I have an 82Z tenor and Yamaha in Michigan sent me the revised G1 NECK (note- the revised G1 neck has G1 stamped on it NOT G2), which fixed the upper reg problem.

[EP]

Well, I didn't find the sound to be that much different from the G1, but did notice a difference when I fitted an Oleg neck that they had for sale at the shop; nicer intonation, balance and sound (I had fitted the same neck to other Z's and noticed the same improvements, which varied by horn-a bit disturbing for a Yamaha). The Oleg didn't suit my MK VI at all, BTW. I mentioned (half-jokingly) to the music store manager that he tell the rep. to have his boys simply copy the Oleg and get on with things :wink: , but his response was that pride would most likely prevent Yamaha from taking such a course! There seems to me to be a bit of a cloak and dagger feeling to the Z tenors (IMHO), as the same Yamaha rep. also confirmed to me that they rushed to tenor into production because they wanted to get the altos to market.

[DezzaG]

Did you notice the G1 revised neck says G1 but in a much smaller font, thats what I noticed first of all with my students replacement neck, so much better with this neck now!

[EP]

Hi DezzaG,

To be honest, I didn't even look at the markings on the first neck (a bit like a child noticing the wrapping on his Christmas present?!). That I even noticed the G2 mark on the latest neck was a fluke. All I was really thinking was 'please play in tune.' If they are in fact using a smaller font for the 'new' G1, that would certainly make things easier for everybody! BTW, did Yamaha replace the necks for your students for free? How is the sound now? I haven't heard of them doing that over here, as apparently Yamaha sorts out problems from the U.S. side first (deeper musician pool, perhaps?), then takes care of the rest of the world (including Japan).

[DezzaG]

Yes, I emailed yamaha Australia and they fixed it straight away, had to post them the old necks back when the new ones arrived. I'm sure Yamaha would sort out any problems there as well!

[EP]

As there seem to be few people who have had experience with the G2 neck, I'll just update this from time to time with whatever info. I happen upon. Was in my local music store the other day and the word from the Yamaha rep. on the G2 was that while the tuning problems were improved, consensus was that the sound suffered.

[psyguy]

EP-

I have an 82Z tenor with a revised G1 neck . By the way, there is no such thing as a G2 neck...at any rate, the revised g1 neck has fixed any pitch problems and the sax sounds sensational and intonation is fine. I have a private mentor with a vintage 1950's Mark VI and he thinks the 82Z is a great horn.

[EP]

Hi psyguy,

Glad to hear you are happy with your Z. I too really like the sound of it and was considering trading in my late model (played to near-death) MK VI for it. Over here in Japan, however, you are not allowed to return an instrument after purchase as you are in the U.S., and as the no-lacquer version I wanted was special order, there was no way to try it out before buying it. The G2 neck is, from what I can tell, a prototype Yamaha appears to be working on but does indeed exist; at least in prototype form. Of course if they choose to do nothing further with it I will look pretty darn foolish, but such is life!