Making Saxophone Necks by Hand in NYC | KB Sax

#bettersax #saxophone #kbnecks
Jay Metcalf meets with Kim Bock of KB Saxophone necks for a look at how he makes his custom necks.
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00:00 Intro
00:59 Making custom saxophone necks
07:47 Selmer Mark VI neck
08:38 Redwood hand hammered copper
09:21 Vanguard hand hammered copper
11:26 Vanguard hand hammered bronze
12:09 Vanguard M61 brass
12:59 Selmer Mark VI neck
13:54 Final thoughts

[@drwallysax]

In a 3D printed world, it’s great to see old world craftsmanship alive and well! Something so cool about hand made equipment, so much character and it’s uniquely YOURS. Love the vid, Jay!

[@bettersax]

Yes!

[@planetb1ue168]

The original traditional arts are extremely difficult to improve upon now a days.

[@TheRift_]

This is pretty fascinating, might get one myself Also happy 94th birthday John Coltrane!!

[@bettersax]

I guess you are already subscribed...

[@jazzman_10]

@@bettersax 😂😂

[@TheRift_]

Better Sax haha, been subscribed since you’ve had 9k subs

[@Sevetamryn]

My highest respect to people who can form metall with Handtools to this perfection.

[@lluma8153]

I ruined the like count and I’m not sorry

[@NickTorrettaMusic]

I've had the fortune to play these necks and they didn't disappoint. Incredible sound and feel difference right off the bat. Truly incredible craftsmanship.

[@hansmathiasthjomoe4817]

With all respect, I simply don’t think that you can hear any difference. May be someone can explain to me what a good neck is, and then I mean in technical terms.

[@NickTorrettaMusic]

@@hansmathiasthjomoe4817 fair enough, I’ve thought the same thing about most fancy ligatures and I realized the difference is often most importantly how the saxophone feels to play. It’s been a few years so you’ll have to forgive me for not remembering specifics but my abiding memory involves resonance and openness. Because the necks were different diameters/materials, they felt much more open to play. It also affects the ease of playing of both ends of the sax range. Easier altissimo/overtones or low register. Also, in person the difference was much easier to notice IMO, it was subtle and probably doesn’t come across super well on KZbin.

[@camp1315]

10/10 would agree that the Vanguard Hand Hammered Bronze sounds nicer than the WO2 Bronze Yanagisawa. Beautiful work!

[@davidsmart8594]

To you...the player. Have you tried the comparison with an audience that can't see which neck you're playing?

[@christiansharpe5420]

I started out as a sax player but became a bassoonist. We spend years searching for the perfect bocal (the neck on the bassoon) to match our instrument and the right bocal makes a world of difference. I'm not surprised that sax players are now exploring this relatively easy way to realize the potential of their instruments. Sounds great!

[@markdoyle9642]

WOW! I am Blown Away by the rich tone differences those custom necks achieve, RESPECT! I'm a Biophysicist following my family Luthier /instrument building in retirement, I I also Volunteer at our local school to teach the Science of Music Innovation. We have mixing boards and oscilloscopes to quantify the tonal differences of all sorts of instruments, ranging from Irish Uillean bagpipes (played with helium), to a 17th century Maggini Violin, and of course guitar physics from the Doyle Les Paul innovation. I played the Baritone and Alto Saxophone in High school, and have restored my 1950's "The Martin" Alto. I will certainly include these videos to recruit students and teach the joy of creating music with hammers metal leather and wood..wind..(Smile).

[@doodlydew]

Just like the boston sax shop reeds, now the poor guy is gonna have orders piling in for weeks! Love the video!

[@mc_steezy897]

This sounded like one of those traveling segments on discovery channel. LOVE IT!!!

[@hartwheeler4591]

I liked the M61 brass you tested best, it was warmer and more expressive to my ear. And on the Yanagisawa I liked the original neck better for much the same reason, the newer neck sounded more pinched and nasal to me.

[@Thedondurrett]

Days of wine and roses. A song I play during nearly every practice session.

[@TomMeyer01]

Wow. KB neck really adds a lot more power and character

[@robstevens9590]

Very interesting. I always heard that after the player, the mouthpiece & the reed, the neck makes a big difference in the sound, but never had a demonstration of this theory. When you tested the different necks the difference was audible (even via the youtube medium)! On the Yani - the KB neck sounds much more alive!

[@bettersax]

glad it was easy for so many to hear the differences.

[@Mellow985]

KB neck surprisingly sounds so much better than the Yanigasawa neck! It's got some sort of spiciness, some sort of sizzle that adds depth to the sound

[@paulthackeray2721]

Wow, I wouldn’t have known that a neck would make so much difference. To me the KB neck sounded so much more ‘rounded’ and less buzzy than the Yani neck. Huge kudos to Kim’s work and well done for a great video Jay.

[@trobson9952]

KB neck sounds better for me. When you speak and emphasize points your voice overdrives and becomes uneven and loud. Vocal consistancy through ranges makes a great sound to all of us animals. Thanks for the video. I stopped playing years ago but I think that I will purchase a kb neck.

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

Just like any hobby the attachments are neverending!

[@MARKLINMAN1]

I have been to Kims shop here in NYC where I live, AWESOME man and a FANTASTIC place, and what’s even better I was there on a Day when Ravi Coltrane was there trying some different necks, he was kind enough to let me get a pic with him. Love going to Kim’s shop.

[@xlomen]

Got one of these for my old SMK6(50 yrs) and it completely changed the responsiveness and feel of the instrument. Enabled me to keep the instrument for a few more years.

[@medsimvallejo]

Love your descriptions!!! I'm a follower now!!! Thanks

[@kessax]

i am thrilled. the KB neck truly sounds rounder and more interesting than the Yanagisawa orginal neck

[@rugsrme]

At first I was expecting this to be some kind of factory. Fascinating! Craftsmen are few and far between.

[@stevecook6766]

Great video Jay, fantastic to see Kim working metal in this way. The different tone they all made to your stock MKv1 neck is astounding.

[@sulaw89]

The Bronze hammered neck makes the tone come alive. More rich sound, wonderful improvement

[@wildman166]

Great projection and killer tone from KB sax neck . Easier is better , thanks for the video Jay !

[@justicer5]

WOW! Great Artisan and master craftsman! Really enjoyed video!

[@alhomicz5644]

This is a fantastic episode! Thanks for the attention to detail you put into it. I’ve been considering one of these for a few years and this video certainly has answered many of my questions and given a amazingly clear closer look at them. Well done. Great work!

[@yvesbajulaz]

i have one... amazing... and Mr KB customer service is stellar

[@ezraschwartz5201]

Thank you for this wonderful visit in the factory, what a treat! Wish it was longer. Blown-away by the No-Testing philosophy!!! 🙏

[@positivelyprogressing]

Kim is so great! I've been playing on the HH copper Redwood model for a while and absolutely love it. Thanks for exposing such a great product and human being. 😁🙌🏼

[@w2tty]

Wow that sounds much better. Amazing difference. Glad you shared the process with us.

[@jrudovsky]

What a true craftsman and genius. I really dig this kind of content man. Thank you

[@kevintownsend3840]

That 3rd Vanguard the brightness of it is incredible, thats the sound i choose for my Yanagisawa Tenors and Alto saxophones

[@brianmatthews232]

Both sounded super!

[@bryndayy]

It felt like the necks really improved your playing. It felt more free and even more sexy. Not only did they just sound better off the bat, but after you had played them for a bit you really opened up more than on the stock necks. Amazing.

[@doyz24]

J'aime vraiment beaucoup ta chaine, j'apprends tellemment... De l'info de qualité, livré sans prétention (et pourtant!). Merci et bisou du Québec!

[@bettersax]

Merci!

[@HonestSaxSound-unEdited-]

Great video! Thanks for show us the work from this good master. All combinations sounds really good, hard to decide without feeling the differences by blowing.

[@xavierperez3368]

More core, power, articulation and clarity of the overtone spectrum on these necks than anything else out there. Kim has spent years testing and learning and we are now all benefiting from his research.

[@xavierperez3368]

I own 2 of them and prefer them to my sba necks.

[@LeLune0504]

I love brass , sounds warmer and thicker.

[@dasteufelhund]

I'm a flutist in the NYC area and even I know Bock is a legend. Respect.

[@frankzona9867]

A KB Neck has been on my MVI upgrade wish list for some time. Now after hearing your demo I'm even more anxious to get one. Thanks Jay.

[@brayanfelix8502]

Man the sound really projects, and has that Sizzle you talked about. Man I Believe It sound like a different Sax.

[@SkylersRants]

Good review. I like how you describe your reaction rather than asking us to "hear" the difference. To me, the important part is how the player has to adjust or not adjust that is important. Most people can force about any sound to a degree, it's the ease of getting the sound by the player that matters. You summed it up right at the end.

[@leopdion5976]

I’m impressed how much of a difference it made.

[@Islendingar]

I love the sound of both of them .... I’d use a Redwood for a big band situation where you’re competing with the brass and it’s all about the big open sound of the sax .... the Vanguards I’d use for solo performances and have a couple for different styles ... the second Vanguard you played was a stunning neck ! The very focused sound was just brilliant !! The next one was dark and very “jazzy” for a highly responsive sound .... the last one was such a wonderful sound but very focused and really easy blowing .... I’ve not played them but would love to own just one of them .... one day perhaps ....

[@fineyeken3091]

Great video Jay. People just dont know half of the process which would have included; annealing, cooling, brazzing (soldering),annealing again to take the stresses out of the piece and allowing the hand tapping, the heat monitoring and the precision manufacturing of all the parts, and this is all before the assembly and testing. Engineering meets the arts. As for sound, I would be as well buying one to hang on my wall to admire whilst listening to Jay.

[@123thehulla123]

this wass a very cool experience just to watch .. thank you

[@osothesaxoman]

Thanks for the video!!! that was an amazing change!!! beautiful

[@leewaggers4733]

Another fantastic video, highly informative and very well made.

[@jimb4547]

Excellent thorough review! Thank you.

[@YoungWilliamO]

Jay and KB . . . from what I can tell, two true masters of their craft who are willing to spread their knowledge and joy about the sax and music to the world. You guys are great thanks for sharing as always!

[@YoungWilliamO]

Jay - FWIW . . . the M61 Brass was the best by far to my ears.

[@andylandestoy]

Redwood sounds amazing

[@k9m42]

KB sounded richer and more focused at the same time. Normally I don't hear these slight differences so I was surprised that I did on these necks.

[@JeremyLCrabtree]

I bought a B-991 from Kim a couple years ago. He was wonderful to deal with and the horn arrived in amazing condition - perfect adjustment and smooth action.

[@danielfeaster6621]

The KB Hammered Bronze neck sounded really great on every note. Keep the KB!

[@frankneugebauer6159]

I like the sound of the KB sax neck!!

[@medicussapiens]

Great improvement with the Vanguard Hand Hammered Bronze neck! Full round tone. Again, a great video. Thanks, Jay.

[@krishnakumarvallabhaneni6977]

Beautiful... Appreciate your introduction

[@johnstoneb]

Wow!!! Such an incredible difference. I will be ordering one immediately!!!

[@andreasgilgenberg5588]

Thanks for this great video! love the KB more

[@avihay89]

Wow! How long have I been waiting for this video.. Thank you so much!

[@francistaylor5097]

Wow! What amazing craftsmanship. Superb video, Jay. I personally liked the sound of the M61 brass; so powerful and rounded.

[@davidsmart8594]

The sound comes from the internal dimensions of the neck (99%) and the material (1%).

[@shieldp1]

KB is my favorite

[@nathanmartin546]

That tune always reminds me of an old boots Randolph recording my dad loved. You are right about sounding like your self on different gear. If you feel the improvement, that is enough. And yes the KIm B is CRAZY good on tenor.

[@mannyleigh2571]

Great video, I could definitely hear the difference!

[@teamopichon]

I agree the KB hand hammered neck sounds a bit better. Good review and happy you are sounding better and better each times. Greetings from Mexico

[@josealarcon1599]

Great video... I loved the arrangement of that amasin tune you play to compare the different necks...

[@uteboy86]

The vanguard hand hammered copper sounded amazing

[@DanielBaldwinSax]

Love the video! Super informative and the production quality is incredible

[@bettersax]

Thanks Daniel

[@TheCoffree]

This is so interesting! Thank you!

[@merlesparkman5841]

That KB is a keeper!

[@kpoudavoff]

Great video Jay! Need to try these one day!

[@leycroftcoman5487]

Comparison of intomation on a tuner would be interesting . Great video and love K.B. playing as well as Jay .

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Wow, great video Jay and really interesting. I like the idea of updating your sound / setup by updating the neck. Very cool. BTW I like the sound of the new neck on your Yani.

[@Shihan-4708]

I prefer the KB neck. Gives a more breadth of sound

[@T.H.W.O.T.H]

The M61 Vanguard was the one for me. Seemed to have a more balanced mix of high and low harmonics at the front of the note with a nice amount of weight behind. Then again, it's as much about how it feels on the player's end of the mouthpiece as much as the sound in front of the bell.

[@bettersax]

I really liked the M61

[@andybrookes5947]

The KB sounds so much richer than your selmer neck. Great vlog 👌🏻

[@chrishiggins8387]

Great video Jay!

[@menilmontant100]

I feel that.....before all of these new necks.....Coltrane,Getz,Gordon, Brecker,Hawkins,Webster,Young, Cárter, Parker,Desmond,Sims,Konitz, Hodges,Henderson.....all of them... sounded.....marvelous...!!! I believe that all of these variations on the same...including these new necks.....,is a way to pursue the eternal sax business

[@garyhonor4220]

Ordered a bronze tenor neck after seeing this video. Looking forward to it!

[@marquinhosax]

I loved, thank you 🤜🏽🤛🏼

[@WinstonCorneilius]

Crazy, I haven’t played in 35 years but you can hear the difference

[@MrCparking]

Wow, your Yanagisawa is so much more with this new neck... It has been 2 years since I acquired a KB Sax Redwood wrought copper neck for what was a very, very rough vintage tenor I was getting restored at the time. Kim's neck helped transform a dodgy intonation horn into an astonishingly great professional player! Not only were intonation tendencies corrected but the tone and altissimo just opened up making the horn a real joy to play. I'd like to point out that the remote purchase process was a breeze. After a quick discussion about the horn and my setup, Kim recommended two necks, 3 days later I had the tenon measurement tools in hand and by week 3 the mail delivered the 2 pre-fitted necks for evaluation.

[@eduardowilkinson3668]

Yes the second one, impressive

[@think2023]

Big improvement! Richer....and more stable...especially on higher pitches.

[@scamphoney]

Vanguard Bronze without a doubt, beautiful sound.

[@Whol3NothaL3v3l]

Gorgeous

[@isramint]

Buying rn

[@LeWim]

Great Video, great work! This Video just shows the amazing mastermind development of a very important part of the sax, yet a very "underrated" part. The Vanguard necks absolutely work for you, Jay. I do think, that every sax player has to evaluate the progress he or she would make by upgrading - especially in this price range - but the difference is there. It is custom, it is cool, it is KB. Amazing work over there in NYC! Thanks for the Introduction to this stunning brand. Video quality reached a very high level, looking forward to be one out of 200k subscribers ;) Greetings from germany

[@bettersax]

Thank you!

[@brucecopithorne8870]

As a brass TW01 owner I really appreciated hearing the subtle but notable differences with your bronze TW02. No doubt, the KB necks are a vast improvement and add some nice responsive, open and varied character between the redwood and the vanguard. What I find interesting is the tone of your KB necked TWO2 is closer to my brass TWO1! I wish you could compare the brass and bronze Yany models side by side.

[@MrHilight2012]

Both sound great but I really like the KB neck.

[@evanlebras6513]

That vanguard m61 brass was a beast! So interesting to hear the differences between these thanks Jay

[@maf9314]

The Yani with KB neck!!!

[@maf9314]

Hi the yani with KB is really so much better, it opens the sound up in all directions, and it adds so much more colour to it. That sizzle is there, the depth, projection.... amazing

[@JamesTippins]

Thanks Jay. The sound on the KB with your Yani was free... I love it. I play a SA80ii Tenor and everything else is Yani in my study. I want a Tenor, but I've played the Selmer for 28 years, so it's hard to change. But I want to try one of these necks.

[@mirelizsax5897]

I definitely prefer the sweet sound coming out of the KB SAX neck

[@BillGati]

Kim Bock has dedicated his career to making awesome saxophone necks that improve the sound of the original necks. He can also adjust your original neck to make it sound better. I have many saxophones that he restored for me, and they all play amazingly well.

[@alsiemens2186]

Your Yani sounds richer to me with the KB neck. Your Mk VI with the original neck has that true Selmer sound, but the Vanguard M61 in brass takes it up a notch.

[@bettersax]

yeah I almost ordered the M61 neck but didn't want a dark neck on my already dark WO2 horn

[@NoisyTJR]

wow the GB necks really made an improvement

[@crustybaker2633]

Yani sounds more melodic and smooth to me and thats my favorite. The KB had a buzzing sound.

[@lj3musicjulien855]

The Vanguard Hand Hammer Bronze Neck has a clearer sound. The original neck had a heavier , or darker sound. I can play either necks .