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Every single custom KB saxophone neck is handcrafted by Kim Bock. He playtests and fine-tunes each KB neck to consistently meet his standard – a high standard that encompasses thoughtful feedback and years of experience from many top sax players.
This standard is what separates the handcrafted KB sax necks from other saxophone necks.
The KB saxophone necks were developed with extensive ‘on-the-road’ play testing by some of the world’s foremost top sax players including Ravi Coltrane, Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Lovano and more.
Their generous input and feedback helped shape and create what the KB sax necks are today.
Our unique ‘mirror-twin’ build process allow KB saxophone necks to have consistent wall thickness throughout. It significantly improves the sound, response, intonation and projection.
Our signature KB hand hammered copper and hand hammered bronze necks offer far more than just their stunning visuals.
Handcraftsmanship balanced with modern technology is how KB saxophone necks are made. They have a high level of consistency, precision and quality control.
Countless players have switched from their original necks and consider the KB neck one of their best upgrades.
Precision fit to your saxophone to an accuracy of 0.001″ using our proprietary gauges that come in 42 different sizes.
Using the precise measurement, each tenon is then custom made and fitted to your KB saxophone neck.
Bright, highly resonant, and free blowing. Delivers a quick response with a buzzy, spread tone that evokes the early Selmer Mark VI. The “sizzle” comes alive effortlessly.
Full-bodied sound with a focused midrange core and strong projection. Tonal character and resistance are similar to a late-period Selmer Super Balanced Action (circa serial #48,000–54,000).
While the inner dimensions are nearly identical on the Canyon and Vanguard models, and they share the unique qualities of all KB sax necks – evenness of tone, improved intonation & excellent response and projection, they differ by having different weight and thickness of certain parts like the tenon and the end-ring.
The shaping of the tip – the very beginning of the neck and the choice and treatment of the metal for the neck tube is also different. These differences are ways of tuning the necks and all add up to the different response and sound of the different models.
An analogy when comparing the two neck models would be that the Canyon is closer to a 5-digit Mark VI, while the Vanguard plays more like a late Super Balanced Action.
The Canyon was developed to offer a neck with some of the characteristics that we as players love about the best Mark VI saxophones! It has a similar buzz and colorful expressiveness of an early Mark VI, combined with the focus and projection of the “Brecker-range” horns (serials 80-90K).
We are offering the Canyon in the M61 brass alloy as we find that this particular metal with its unique temperature treatment and specific hardness captures the essence of the Canyon model. The resonant and vibrant sound is instantly activated and with its brighter sound it has excellent projection.
The Vanguard has been developed to have the core focus situated in the high mid-tone area, resulting in a slender, highly centered tone with a very resonant sound quality and powerful projection. It has a positive push-back, is quick responding with a large dynamic range and retains the same precise intonation as all KB Sax necks.
The Vanguard neck is close in sound and tonal response to the later Selmer Super Balanced Action but with the added benefit of excellent intonation, easier produced and more stable altissimo range and a very consistent sound quality from top to bottom.
The Vanguard hand hammered copper alto sax neck, with its slightly increased complexity in timbre, is an excellent choice.
The lacquer of our KB Sax necks is similar in color to the vintage Selmer saxophones from the 1950’s. We also offer a lighter tint lacquer finish to match modern Selmer, Yamaha and other brands.
Adds just a touch of brightness and focus to the sound.
There is no nickel used in the silver and gold plating process for our necks.
Our raw finish tends to play a little more spread and open than the lacquered or plated neck.
With the brushed raw finish, the neck will over time take on the natural patina of the given metal. It will lose its shiny appearance and transition to a darker look, similar to a vintage saxophone, where the lacquer has been worn off. With the brushed raw finish, it is not uncommon that, as the neck patinas-in, fine silvery lines and spots – evidence of the silver soldering process, may begin to appear. You can easily bring the neck back to its original appearance by polishing it with a soft cloth and a gentle polish compound.