Ponzol Tenor Necks

[scale_master]

Has anyone ever tried the Ponzol tenor necks?
I am looking for a neck for a MKVI tenor that gives me better altissimo response.

Thanks,
B.

[Lenny]

I have a Ponzol tenor neck and it improved both the bottom and the top response of my horn but the bottom response was more notable.It was a darker neck than the original. What's missing in your present horns response?
My experience with all of these tenor necks is that everybodies experience is very individual.
At the top end you might have better response from a Gloger or even an Oleg. Do you want a brighter neck or just better top end?

[scale_master]

Lenny,
I am looking for a better response of the altissimo register, not a brighter sound. I am perfeclty happy with the sound.
The thing is that on my SBA tenor, altissimo is extremely easy. If I put the same MP/reed combo on my 120K MKVI though, it's tough to get stable altissimo (I have done the overtone exercise and it works on both horns).
therefore, I was thinking about changing necks...

[MM]

How was the intonation? i just tried a Ponzol neck on my VI alto. The horn felt more even in resistance and the palm key notes responded a bit better, however the intonation was a got deal worse. The low notes got flatter and the palm key notes got sharper, so I sent it back.

[Lenny]

I wish I could help you there, but my altissimo sucks so I have no info for you at all.
Incidently, intonation with the Ponzol has been fine.

[Timo]

just wondering: do you think Ponzol's neck bring "charactersic" tone for the horn ? Or, it only opens up sound ?! Any suggestions ? :lol:

[Lenny]

Tone is such an amorphous concept. In my experience my VI's still sounded like VI's they just had a somewhat darker and more spread tone the the original necks - though not as much as someother necks might bring. They worked better for some people and worse for others.
I may have my Ponzol for sale soon if anyone is interested.

[Dr G]

The thing is that on my SBA tenor, altissimo is extremely easy. If I put the same MP/reed combo on my 120K MKVI though, it's tough to get stable altissimo (I have done the overtone exercise and it works on both horns).
therefore, I was thinking about changing necks...

Why not find the optimum mouthpiece for your VI? Different design horns require different mouthpiece/horn interactions to get similar results. If you were starting fresh with the VI, would you immediately change the neck or would you try different mouthpieces?

[Mike Ruhl]

I agree with the good Dr. G. Your SBA and Mark VI are two different bore/taper designs. I wouldn't expect the same mpc/reed setup to work equally well on both. A new mpc is cheaper than a new neck.

[scale_master]

Thanks for your input. I agree that some mouthpieces play easier altissimo on my MKVI than others. However, no matter what I use, ALL of them give easier altissimo on the SBA (Ponzol M2, Barone, Link).
This brought me to the conclusion that I might want to change the neck. I'll experiment a little more with reeds, and see if I can get this to work....

[Greatscot]

What's My Best Alternative To The Real Thing?Or ,Anybody Want To Part With One?

[Mad Duran]

It's been my experience with necks and the detailed fitting of the neck tenon and possibly some other design changes, different curve, different bore taper, different material, whatever will bring about a change, that is does in fact change things

I have written in the past about my experience with "tweeking" the tenon to improve the response in all registers of the horn. Tweeking the neck was always responsible for changing the timbre of the tone, making it free blowings, faster articulation, alll the "good" things a good fitting neck will change for the better. So just based on that alone, I would say that a neck would be a very good thing for you to try.

Another possiblity is your mouthpiece plays out of tune. Let me clarify that, well I know sometimes if I push my mouthpiece in it will throw the altisimo off. The altisimo needs the tubing (the entire saxophone, neck and mouthpiecel) a certain length. Your ear says one thing and the real pitch of the notes are somewhere else.

These are a coule of things I have found over the years of playing and making small changes that can effect the playability and ease in which the altisimo performs on a consistent level.

There is no one answer, that's the answer, some people spend their life asking others for the answer, they get a lot of answers, but do any of them work. A little vioce always goes off in me, "look to yourself", because you have what it takes....we all do.