Neck fitting example

What a little more than half a day of neck fitting a 10M can look like. The left most picture is after everything was cleaned and the initial expansion was done and the first lapping step was done and then the lapping compound cleaned away. You can see the (typical) low spots below and around the neck screw slot in the dull metal.

This is typically caused by overtightening of the neck screw, a problem that typically starts with a loose neck, possibly from a slight pulldown or just time or a bad fit from the factory. The top of the receiver gets tightened too much and ovals out and creates a bulge beneath the slot, and it gets worse over time. In the case of the 10M, I think sometimes this is also caused by the metal end plug tap tap tapping away at the receiver as the horn jostles in its case, and that receiver on the 10M is underbuilt already.

Assuming everything is concentric as you can get it (sometimes some light dentwork or slight manipulation of the receiver or neck tenon is required), you expand and lap and expand and lap and expand and lap, going slowly until everything is concentric, smooth, airtight, and the neck can lock with 1/8 of a turn or less. A quarter turn past first resistance is a LOT, and more than that starts the leaking/deformation process over again. There are 5 photos here, but there were way more than 5 rounds of expansion and lapping.

The neck joint being both physically correct, contacting all the way around and smooth and even, as well as the joint being airtight whether the neck screw is tightened or not, makes an enormous difference in how the saxophone plays. I have become convinced over time that when people talk about “great” or “special” horns, they are mostly talking about ones where the neck seals properly.

I have been really concentrating on saxophone neck fitting for about 12 years now, and I feel like I am starting to get a feel for it. I believe the keys to good neck fitting work are to go slow, get a feel for the metal and your tools, don’t stop before its truly done, yes it takes a while, realize that physical fit and airtightness are two separate things and you need them both, and avoid using the shrinker if at all possible.