Finally someone who knows how to explain. I’m a beginner… I don’t know nothing about this stuff, actually just bought my first saxophone . Thank you man for all your advices.
The vandoren v16 6s is actually great I love it. I’m a few years into playing alto sax and need a need mouth piece, this channel is a godsend thank you so much Better Sax!
@@bettersax I’m sorry I didn’t try one of your suggestions instead .. I decided to try that WCW 56 mk II, supposedly Theo Wanne contributed to the design? The mpc was a little excessively dark to the point of even the direct sound being muffled a bit much, and the playability just wasn’t there ! I tried different styles and strength of reeds, and it just wasn’t up to par. My old Cannonball #5 is actually better in both tone and playability for a mid 50’s vibe, and I think that was just a $50 mpc that Sheryl Laukat just gave me to try, oh maybe around 15 yrs ago. That 56 was supposed to give me about the same tone with better playability, but it didn’t work out. Suffice it to say, I’m sending it back .. I’ll take the restocking hit .. All I can do is keep experimenting.
I'm in eighth grade and I recently started playing alto sax in jazz band and I plan to march on alto next year. My band director recommended I get a Meyer 5, so I switched to that and I absolutely love it. It helped my tone quality and I have a wide range of dynamics. It's truly the best decision I've ever made for sax.
Jay M, you are fantastic and a godsend to any saxophonist. I was away from sax & woodwinds for decades and I am grateful for help like this… which we didn’t have access to back in the day.
my first mouthpiece was, in fact, the Yamaha 4C. later, my teacher at the time, suggested a better mouthpiece, so that I would develop my sound more. since then, I have a Meyer 6 medium chamber, which I love. There go 30 years ...
I play a Meyer 6* Medium chamber and have for years and recently bought an Otto Link Super Tone Master 9* and they are night and day from each other - the Otto is dark and full and has an edge if you want it but takes a lot of air and the Meyer 6 is focused and buzzsaw edgy and reaches a much more rock and roll sound!
i really liked the sound of the meyer 5! I played for years without even knowing that mouthpieces even makes a difference. been using like 10 dollar mouthpieces all this time and never really had any complaints!
I've had my Meyer 6 mouthpiece for over 40 years, and it still works for me, never fails. On my Conn 6M, it actually gives it a powerful and flexible tone
I'm playing on a Selmer S80 + given ligature which came with my Seles Axos. Played on the Yamaha 5C with a Bonade inverted lig before that. The S80 has a much darker, complex sound. Took a few practice sessions to adjust, but very comfortable now.
Excellent video. I've just bought an D'addario Select Jazz D6M and played it for the first time for two hours. I always use cork grease but the MP still went on very tight. When I twisted off the MP it removed 1/3rd of the neck cork with it. My previous MP was a Selmer S80 C** and that fitted on pretty tight but the inside of the MP was very smooth so it never damaged the cork. On inspection I found the D'addario MP very rough on the inside and using a piece of very fine Emery paper turned around a 15mm tube I polished the inside until it was smooth and shiney. It's a shame that I didn't inspect the inside of the MP before I played it, because that would have saved my neck-cork. So here's the warning guys: Always check the inside of a new MP before fitting it on your sax!!!
Jeff, thanks for sharing this. Sounds like you found a good fix. A mouthpiece should already be smooth on the inside, and next time, I'd send it back if it was very rough like you say. My D'addario is a tight fit as well. Have fun playing that beast...
I’ve been playing sax for over 7 years now, and I will be studying music education. By far, my Meyer 7 with medium chamber is my favorite mouthpiece. Bigger sound than I’ve gotten out of any of my previous mouthpieces.
Better Sax I played on some cheap Leblancs (nice beater mouthpieces for marching and pep band) and a Brillhart ebolin (still play on that one). I also have a Berg Larsen metal mouthpiece that is okay, but too edgy for my liking. I’m currently looking for a sweeter sounding mouthpiece with more volume for classical purposes as an upgrade from my ebolin.
I began with a Yamaha 4C that came with my sax (yas275), but pretty soon my teacher recommended my Vandoren A35 and holy cow I like it. I’ve actually stuck to it for good seven years now 🎷
As always, great advice....after years of searching for that perfect mouthpiece that never materialize, listen to his advice. I have tried many many mouthpieces and most don't change my sound. The feeling while playing them, however, does. The effort to produce different notes....high, mid or low "feel" different on different pieces. Music is emotional and feeling is everything. Practice, practice so the emotions come out of any mouth piece.
How very true, 'tis the sound and 'passion' for the horn that counts. Without boasting people say I have a very good sound --I'm not a pro. player and play a YAS 62 with a Meyer 6 and D'darrio 2 hard reeds ( when I find a good one ) ....although they are getting much more consistent of late. I'm aged 75 ---loved the horns all my life. Also a keen and busy Bari. player and a YTS 23 tenor. ( I don't talk about my Bari. )
I've been playing for about 6 months, using the Yamaha 4c that came with my sax. A couple of weeks ago I moved up to a Jody Jazz HR 6M and I absolutely love it, although I needed to use a slightly softer reed with the wider tip opening (I'm still at the stage of experimenting with reeds anyway). The JJ cost me £141 (including a nice ligature, cap and pouch) here in the UK, so I guess that might be slightly above the 150 price you set by the time you convert to dollars - it's well worth a try though.
Martin Watkins I’m in your same situation. I have been playing for 6 months using the 4c. Now I want to purchase a real jazz piece. I did some research, and I figured the 6M had a too big of an opening for a beginner, so I thought it would be better to try the 5M, but now you are making me reconsider that thought process. So, the 6 opening is not giving you any real prohibitive problem? And what about the Meyer? I am torn between the JJ HR (5 or 6) and a Meyer (5 or 6): did you try it before choosing the JJ? Thanks in advance for your answer
Francis S. I haven't had any problems with the 6 tip opening - I did drop back half a grade on reed strength, but now I've been playing the new piece for 2 weeks I want to go slightly harder again. Like you, I considered the Meyer 5, but I couldn't try it out. After reading a lot of reviews and talking to one of the staff at sax.co.uk, I went with the JJ. Apparently they are quite similar but I was swayed by the JJ quality control - every mouthpiece is hand finished and play tested before leaving the factory. I have absolutely no regrets about my decision. Good luck with whatever you choose - you will notice the difference from your 4c.
Jody Jazz mouthpieces are great, but as you said, they are out of the price range for this video. I'm planning a video for mouthpieces in the next price range and it will include the JJ HR*
Martin, you can't go wrong with any of those choices. You will just have to try a few different reeds to find what works best for you. 2.5 probably good place to start when you go to a bigger tip opening.
Excellent video, as a sax teacher, I totally agree with your choices. I've been playing 50 years now as of 2022, basically on the same set-up, a hard rubber Meyer 7MM, with Vandoren Java green box 3.5. I love the Meyer mouthpiece. It's the real deal.... the v16 is basically a Meyer copy and the D'Addario is a Meyer copy. Why? Because the design of the Meyer is perfect. It has that New York chamber, round, with hollowed out sidewalls, and roll over baffle and flat table, even side rails and nice thin tip rail. The tone is flexible, can be balls to the walls, one second, and pure for classical, the next second. It has the core for playing lead Alto in a high powered big band , and for bebop solo work in a combo. Think, Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley.
Thanks Grant. Harder to find those perfect Meyers these days though. That's why it's great to have the other modern options that are super consistent and affordable.
I absolutely love my Meyer, and now I feel vindicated! I have a c* too, but very rarely reach for it as I prefer the darker, full tone compared to the brighter, springy tone.
Great training video, as always! I like Ralph Morgan’s mouthpieces in hard rubber, way easy to play! Narrow tip openings best for beginners in my opinion. As a beginner, i was a gear-head and bought a bun CJ with wide tip openings that I couldn’t play for a long while! Wish I’d been a subscriber back then! Excellent work! Rocket 🚀
I purchased a Meyer 6 small chamber alto piece back in 1979 after sitting in a music store and trying every Meyer they had. I knew the owner. Happy sounding, popping fun piece to play. I still have it, but have been playing an 8 on tenor so much it felt small and it was an adjustment. Found a Jody Jazz HR* 7 on EBay. I know that new they are just above this price point, but there are used ones out there that fall below. For $95 including shipping this is the best investment I have made for alto, and I will say, for me. I do have an 8 D'addario select for tenor and it is a great piece too, although it does fit snug on the neck cork. A thing others have commented on.
Yamaha mouthpieces are just fine and I use a 4 or 5C on my curved Soprano. I now play a Vandoren AS 5 + for my Alto but I had used a Wolfe Tayne 7 for about 35 years.
I play a Selmer Super Action 80 Serie II - Paris. It came with a C* that I have never been happy with so it sits in its box. I have been playing a Claude Lakey 5*3 Jazz mouthpiece since the early 90s. It took a little getting use to. I have a Rovner Dark ligature and play Rico Royal 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 and sometimes play a Rico Plasticover 4 when I feel like abusing my lips.
Super video.... I started playing a Lakey 7*3 in the 70's, when Claude made me one of his first ones... I used it with the reeds he designed it for... Plasticover and Hempke... After having my VI Alto returned to "stock", I wanted to return to my purer "Desmondie" sound... Luckily, there is the Vandoren Musician's Advisory Studio L.A... Where, with an appointment, you can try their mouthpieces, ligatures, reeds out... I ended up with the V16A8s and Gold M/O Ligature... I DID notice the difference in sound with the different ligature material (Gold or Brass)... however, their inconsistency in their reed strength sent me back to my "ol' reliable" Orange Box Rico #2's... I also switched from the Vandoren mouthpiece Patch to the Theo Wanne "hard" Bite Pad... was getting marks on my new 10mFan Merlot (Tenor)... and gave them a try... like Theo's better... actually prevents tooth marks... So, you have another convert to UNDER $150 ALTO MOUTHPIECES... and happy that I did...
Pat, thanks for the feedback. I used to go to the Vandoren studio in New York and try out mouthpieces reeds and ligatures. They have always been very supportive and helpful to musicians. Glad you found a setup that works for what you're looking for at the moment.
Been playing alto sax for 3 weeks, have a brand new Buffet crampon, just got a yamaha 5c and rovner dark ligature and wow what a difference! so much easier and greatly improved tone, was supposed to be putting away until my birthday in a month but not a chance! can't keep struggling with the Buffet mouthpiece and ligature anymore 🙉
Since the reed is so important- Maybe you should use the same reed across all mouthpieces you try. For example the blue box 3.5 is way different than a Java red. Also maybe compare same tip sizes.
I read somewhere that Charlie Parker played on whatever mouthpiece was in the case with whatever horn he happened to borrow (his own horn was usually in the pawn shop). I find that when I'm comparing a bunch of mouthpieces I will love the open/bright/edgy/powerful pieces and hate the large chamber, small tip, dark sounding pieces. But if I continue to play the darker piece, I get used to it and learn how to get the sound out of it and frequently find myself wondering why I never played on that piece before. I recently tried the stock Yanagisawa R5 that came with my a880 - it's been sitting in the case for 35 years and I just now discovered what a great mouthpiece it is!
For the whole time ive played (5th grade through now 11th grade) I was never told why to upgrade my mouthpiece. I wasn't even told a mouthpiece makes a difference until 9th grade and that teacher just said "what mouthpiece do you have?" (yamaha 4c). "Oh you should upgrade to a 5c". Needless to say I never did because why should I upgrade to what sounds like the same thing. This makes a lot of sense as to why she wanted me to upgrade. I wish that I had my middle school teacher during high school as well because that teacher was the best. She was fun and always explained things to us in contrast to my high school teacher who just said "you should do this" never "here's why". BTW the middle school teacher was a sax player in college and still plays - in fact I have played with her since leaving the middle school. The high school teacher learned saxophone (after many other woodwinds) only because she needed to be able to teach it.
I have used a Yamaha 4C and Rovner dark ligature for about a month on my alto sax since I started playing. I was doing ok with Legere Signature 2 and Rico 2.0 reeds. I recently upgraded to a Meyer 6M, Rovner Versa X ligature and Legere Signature 2 1/4 and D'addario Select Jazz 2.5 reeds and noticed a near instant improvement in my playing. Maybe I needed stronger reeds and that helped. I found that the 6M has a bit of a projecting sound winch I found I could tame a little by altering how the Rovner Versa X ligature was set up and working on my tone. I always use cork grease but found the 6M mouthpiece a bit tight on the neck and it took a little bit off the cork when I removed it, so need to be careful when putting it on and taking it off the neck. I went for it as I wasn't sure what style I wanted to play but didn't want to be restricted at this stage. I would have got the D'addario Select Jazz as I like the sound of it, but the tight fit and the reports that it takes off the cork, made me stay away from it. Hope they fix that in the future.
I haven't tried a Jody Jazz mpc yet. I have a 55 King Zephyr that I paired with an old Dick Stabile piece to start with, then my tech showed me a King A2 that is amazing. They are both really dark and mellow. I am still trying different pieces for a brighter sound on that horn.
Back when I played tenor sax back in the 70s I had a mouthpiece that was made in Paris France. Sadly I cannot remember the name of it but it was fantastic. I gave $75 for it in 1976 I expect that would be $200 or more today. If anyone knows the name of any sax mouthpiece makers in Paris I would love to know? I just did some checking and I am sure that my mouthpiece was indeed a Vandoran.
@@iRosati no it wasn't a metal one to be honest I don't recall seeing the metal ones till later. At that time wasn't many big music stores in my area. But the one everyone went to was Gorby's in Charleston WV.
I purchased a used Conn 14M Shooting Star back in the 60's. In the case with it was a "R. Malerne, Standard, Paris France" mouthpiece. I assume it is the mouthpiece that came with the sax when it was new. It seems to be a beginner mouthpiece rather than anything special.
@@klink370 I have seen Conn's not to familiar with them. I have only played first a Selmar Eflat alto was switched to a Holton b-flat tenor that was a barely playable school instrument. Then I purchased a pro b-flat tenor King Silver sax now that was a sweet instrument and why I bought a upgrade mouthpiece.
I've been playing saxophones of all shapes and sizes for 42 years now! However, I predominantly play Tenor. I play in both a Funk / R&B group and a Concert Band. Playing Tenor in the Concert Band I've used a Meyer 5M, an original 'Long Shank' Selmer Soloist with a C* tip opening and both Yamaha 4 & 5c's. In the Concert Band, I've settled in on the 5c. Also being medium chambered, dimensionally it is the same as an S80 C*. Except at a fraction of the cost! What a lot of people don't realize is that Yamaha makes mouthpieces with multiple tip openings. They run from the 3c up to a 7c. The 6c is the same as a Selmer C** and the 7c is a Selmer D. At 50 bucks, or less per unit, they are a far more economical way to experiment with different tip openings! The current line of Yamaha mouthpieces were designed concurrently with the famed original Purple Logo 62 series. Dr. Eugene Rousseau was on the design team for the 62 series, and therefore helped with the design of these mouthpieces! So basically a new 'Rousseau' mouthpiece for under 50 bucks? Yeah, that's my goto! 🎷
Absolute beginner here. I bought a Chinese alto sax for about $200 having heard they are pretty good but the mouthpiece supplied are generally hot garbage. I almost got a hernia trying to use the mouthpiece supplied. I bought a Yamaha 4C and some Rico 2.5 reeds off the jungle website and it made a huge difference. The ligature supplied with the horn is fine for now. Would the 5C be better? Oh, who knows... I'm just happy not squeaking or blacking out from hypoxia at this point in my sax adventure!
The Hite Artist and the Claude Lakey are also excellent pieces, and both well under 200 bucks. The Lakey is much brighter than those you reviewed, though. I still have my Lakey, but I lent the Hite to friend, who lent it to a student whose whereabouts are unknown... I am after a darker piece now and I am considering seriously the Jody Jazz HR. By the way, nice review, your channel is awesome!
Thank you for these videos. I played alto sax many eons ago. I picked up a tenor a few years ago and I guess I just don't have the lung capacity or ability to hit some of the low notes. Anyways, I was thinking how fun it would be to pick up the alto again, but was discouraged with how expensive they are. Your video on the cheapest alto sax on Amazon being a really good deal, along with this video has convinced me to spend some money on an alto again, and get back into playing the sax.
I had problems putting enough air through a tenor starting out also. I am an old retread like yourself. For me putting enough air through the alto was effortless so I kept playing that to build up my strength, and would drag out the tenor occasionally. Over time I got so I can handle the tenor. Now the new challenge is an old Martin bari I just got off eBay. It will take time to master just like it did with the tenor. The bari takes a whole different approach to your embouchure to get the low notes and requires a ton of air.
Just got started few days ago.. got a cheap saxophone, and looks like the mouthpiece doesn't has a brand even haha... should I invest in a better beginner mouthpiece like yamaha 4c or 5c? Should I stay with the stock mouthpiece until I have developed my mouth muscles? Congrats for your channel, you're doing an amazing job here.. 👏
wow i have never used a mouthpiece pad! my mind is blown there I just started getting into playing sax again after about 15 years and none of my middleschool or highschool teachers ever mentioned a thing about pads lol. welp amazon here I come lol
Thanx a lot for these videos sir really inspiring. Really enlightened me why I have been sounding to horrible. I just couldn't even stay in tune probably bcoz of the mouthpiece I have been using. I guess as a learner it's quite wise to get a good mouthpiece.
The mouthpiece pads are new to me. I recently picked up the saxophone again after about 20 years. I got the Jean Paul AS-400. Glad I subbed you as there's information I need to be reminded of as well as stuff I didn't know.
Same here, back after 20. I know they had patches back in the day, because I used them for a while and then ditched them. I'm still using my school mouthpiece, which has a huge bite groove in it. I blame my sister, the previous owner, for that since it was already there. ;) There is so, so much stuff I had no clue about. Nobody told me mouthpieces mattered this much. I didn't know altissimo on a sax went way, way past the palm keys. Overtones??? "Saxophone lung"?? I never bothered cleaning or swabbing the body and washed out the mouthpiece when it started to get nasty (what kid has time with five minutes to the next class??), and it all sat in my case undisturbed, day after day. Eeeew. I played for six years and feel like a complete beginner again, lol.
I have been playing for 10 years, since Jr high, and I still consider myself a beginner, because I never knew alot of the stuff you talk about til now.
....on Tenor I've recently switched to D'Addario Select Jazz DM7 but previously had played a metal Otto Link 7* (modified to about a 9 with a baffle) for about 35 years. My bari mouthpiece is a metal Berg Larson 130/0 that I've used for about 40 years! I do find that as I've gotten older (I'm 61) my lung capacity and stamina has diminished ! Things change.
Exellent video and advice. I thought the Yamaha and the Meyer sounded great. I have liked the sound of many Vandorens in the past but the V16 sounded a little choked in this instance. I have a Brillhart 4* ebonite that I got in 1963 that is now on it's third alto which is a Yani A991, a great horn which, it appears, you play as well. Keep up the good work!
funnily enough, i got a Yamaha 5C with my BEGINNER alto sax. My BD pointed out that mine was better than all the others. Everyone else had a 4C. I did not.
I play on a Selmer AS400, but I want a jazz mouthpiece because that's what I play sax for. The mouthpiece I'm think about buying is the Meyer New York hard rubber, just wanted to know what you think of this mouthpiece.
Alto = Cannonball CAM 5 HR and Rico C5 Graftonite Tenor = Otto Link metal STM 7* (circa 2005) and Rico Metalite M7. The old V16 T7 metal tenor was somewhat versatile but too stuffy. I.m considering trying a V16 S+ HR on alto in a #6.
Thanks for a great video. It saved me from spending $ buying and trying different mouthpiece. In addition to years of practice, which hard rubber mouthpiece do you think would get me closest to Gerald Albright's bright, punchy, not buzzy, full bodied sound?
This made me curious as to what mouthpieces I have. I last played in the LSU Jazz band in 86 so I had to dig the horns out of the attic to see. My main mouthpiece was an old Brilhart. The box says Ebolin 111705-3*. 111705 is the serial number, and 3* the facing. I say old, because it was my dad's mouthpiece from late 40s, early 50s. He also had a strange mouthpiece that says 'The Buscher Elkhart Ind. Eb'. The mouthpiece is much shorter than any other mouthpiece I have seen, the reed hangs over the back end, and plays super quiet. It didn't fit well on my sax's neck, and was too quiet for playing with a group. My LSU teacher basically said they were all junk, as was my King Super 20, and my dad's old King Zepher. If it wasn't Selmer it was junk to him. I also have the two King mouthpieces that came with the instruments, and a camouflage colored Selmer C*, which went through several hot washings in the dishwasher. My junior high directer suggested the Selmer, but I replaced it with the Brilhart which i thought had a louder brassier sound. My high school band director gave me a plastic Gigliotti ligature to replace the mental ligature that came with my King. Do you have any opinion on the Brilhart, or know what that Buscher was used for? Last comment: I once played with Ellis Marsalis (piano). It was the high mark of my carrier, and the low mark of his.
Nice! Glad you mentioned the Brilhart. I was interested in hearing anything about it. I have a Selmer Mark VI w. the stock mouthpiece. I have too a metal Otto Link, and a Tenor Berg Larson mouthpiece, but found the metal ones hard to play, as an occasional player. So I bought a Brilhart w. the white bite plate. It was a popular mouthpiece w. jazz pros. Charlie Parker played on a white Brilhart, as well as other brands-of course!
DavyCrockett my Brilhart was a hand me down from my father. He bought it in the 60’s. When I played regularly I was frequently complimented on my sound. But I found it thin in the upper notes, and I could not play altissimo. I bought a used Gaia 2 7, and had immediate improvements with the upper notes, and started hitting all the altissimo notes. I think the Brilhart is too small. It’s a 3. From what I hear small mouthpieces sound thin up high. So I think the size was my problem. That mouthpiece also sounded best when I played everyday. With good chops I got good sound, but with bad chops it isn’t very forgiving.
Interesting! Good to know. Loved Eric Dolphy, Coltrane, and Archie Shepp in the “altissimo” 60s-Pharaoh Sanders too-although that might be considered more squeals (biting on the reed). Classical 🎷 Sigurd Raschèr wrote a book on it (“Top Tones for Saxophone”). Wow, Gaia 2 Gold 7-pricey ($895 CDN). Never heard of this brand. Thanks
Another great informative video. Thank you. I have an Odyssey OSA-130 alto saxophone with the sandard mouthpiece which does not have any identifing marks on it. How will I find out what mouthpiece I have?
You are a great sax player, and I believe you can make everything sound good :-)) I am a beginner, and have Yamaha 4C and 5C. I don't know how to describe, but imho they are sort of flat and soulless. I really don't want to train on them because it kills my enthusiasm. I love the way Vandoren V16 6S (or 6S+ in their new line??) sounds compared to Yamaha 5C. What size Vandoren V16 S+ should I get as a beginner, and also what reed would you recommend with this mouthpiece? Thanks a bunch for your very informative videos :-))
I,ve been playing a Selmer C.two star old mp I think it,s a soloist for classical and everything with a Bari reed have used cane but hav,nt the patient to fiddle around and use Bari all round except clt D
I have never played sax. I am waiting to receive soon my new Allora Chicago jazz tenor sax. First - thanks for these videos they are super. Second, I appreciate your demo with the Yamaha 5C and comments about using the 4C then moving to a 5C, etc. I will probably first try out the mouthpiece that comes with my Allora. Any suggestions for getting another mouthpiece and/or putting the 4C on my horn for a beginning point. I will be taking lessons with an experienced teacher - and of course getting his advice.
Thanks. Use cork grease when putting the mouthpiece on for the first time. Rub it into the cork to get it to penetrate a bit. Your teacher will help you get off on the right foot.
I just have a 4C that came with my used Yamaha YAS-23. I've been trying to get a tone and not scare the hell out of my poor, beleaguered dog (she already had to get used to living with a drummer, lol). At this point, i can honk away using just the mouthpiece with reed and ligature standing in the closet. As i can get maybe two seconds of tone (from zero off the bat, to one second yesterday) makes no sense to use the whole horn. Then have to clean it all up. I got nothing for about 10 minutes, then I used a huge blast and got "C#!" The dog was long gone. lol. Takes more air than you'd think. Works like blowing through a blade of grass. Same idea. And the result is VERY LOUD. Suggest ear plugs (very strongly :). You'll eventually get a ringing in your ears that NEVER goes away if you don't. I'd make friends with rags and the things you pull through the horn and the mouthpiece, too. Since i don't know anything and can't hold a tone long, i used the Legere reed for now, which is plastic and zero prep or maintenance. Jay's Red Java 3 reeds sound the best (in a blind test), but i don't see the maintenance and $ when you're new. I have others that came with. The ReedGeek was just too cool to bypass.
i love my berg Larsen man i had to do it when i went to new york it was my threat that i went to get lol 545$, but the sound inget out of this baby man.... jazz on Baby
Was using Claude Lakey 7*3 with #2 Rico Royal and found the sound unbalanced. Fuzzy low end and bright 2nd/3rd reg. Got Vandoren Jumbo Java A45 and everything is BRIGHT and LOUD. Sounds like Sanborn. Finally got V16 m8 and that was the ticket. I am keeping both Vandorens as they blow exactly the same, but if I need to cut through or just be obnoxious the Jumbo Java will get me there. I think a synthetic reed on that thing could kill someone. I had the Jumbo Java blue from the 80's and the newer (black) ones sound the same. No need to spend crazy $.
I agree with you about getting a better mouthpiece once you have some experience playing sax, and can notice a difference in tone with a better mouthpiece. I have a Selmer C* for my alto. I am very happy with the sound. I also changed the ligature to a Rovner which improved the tone slightly.
I guess everyone's experience with mouthpieces, reeds and ligatures is personal. I switched to Rovner ligatures over 15 years ago with my clarinet, and subsequently also with my saxes. I play mainly jazz, and I like the tone which I get using a Rovner ligature. But then I haven't used a metal ligature of any sort for a long time.
I use different mouthpieces, but I do like my selmer goldentone 3 most of all, so far. I just got a yamaha 4c and havent played it much, but it doesnt pass the suction test. I think its table is too wide.
I loved my Optimum ligature, but they don't last forever; mine cracked. I kept using it until one day I went to the store to compare with an intact one and realized it wasn't as good.
Ironically, those local music stores aren't around much anymore and don't stock Alto mouthpieces because people buy them on Amazon, etc. So if you don't buy locally to save a few bucks now, you won't be able to try locally later (or get pads changed or get repairs etc) so if the savings aren't significant, maybe buy from the local store so they will be open if/when you need them. For me, 10-20% is significant, but not always if the total price is small. Like I would pay $45 in a local for a ligature/mouthpiece/accessory that was $40 on Amazon or $85 on one that costs $75, ESPECIALLY if I looked at in the store. It's kinda not fair for the local store to be the showroom for Amazon. I get it, if money is tight, but most of us can afford it I would guess. I mean, do what you like, but a local store will stock what sells, not what people try out.
If you really love the mouthpiece, and ever do want to upgrade try and find a metal one. Had one for tenor. And by far by mouthpiece I could ever ask for.
Woodwind and Brasswind has (or at least had) a mouthpiece trial arrangement. LIke amazon, you have to pay for the ones you want to try, and send all but the keeper(s) back. At one point I dropped around $2,000 for 7 or 8 pieces and about three weeks later sent back all but one. WWBW is a great place for saxophone stuff :) and I'm good with not supporting the world's first budding trillionaire.
Restarting sax after 40+ years. Got a Yamaha 5C and Hemke #2 reeds and a Van Doren MO ligature. Thank you for your Better Sax videos. Super helpful!
Finally someone who knows how to explain. I’m a beginner… I don’t know nothing about this stuff, actually just bought my first saxophone . Thank you man for all your advices.
Curious how it’s going, Jul? Hope you’re still jamming.
The vandoren v16 6s is actually great I love it. I’m a few years into playing alto sax and need a need mouth piece, this channel is a godsend thank you so much Better Sax!
Thank You! I played on that exact piece for many years
@@bettersax I’m sorry
I didn’t try one of your suggestions instead ..
I decided to try that WCW 56 mk II, supposedly Theo Wanne contributed to the design? The mpc was a little excessively dark to the point of even the direct sound being muffled a bit much, and the playability just wasn’t there ! I tried different styles and strength of reeds, and it just wasn’t up to par. My old Cannonball #5 is actually better in both tone and playability for a mid 50’s vibe, and I think that was just a $50 mpc that Sheryl Laukat just gave me to try, oh maybe around 15 yrs ago. That 56 was supposed to give me about the same tone with better playability, but it didn’t work out. Suffice it to say, I’m sending it back .. I’ll take the restocking hit ..
All I can do is keep experimenting.
@@shipsahoy1793 okay?
I'm in eighth grade and I recently started playing alto sax in jazz band and I plan to march on alto next year. My band director recommended I get a Meyer 5, so I switched to that and I absolutely love it. It helped my tone quality and I have a wide range of dynamics. It's truly the best decision I've ever made for sax.
Well I'm going to invest in the meyer 5 without trying it on, it's a gamble but it's happening
Meyer 5MM .071"
Meyer 6MM .076"
@@grantkoeller8911 use mm
@@PentGroove Millimeter is only used for clarinet mouthpiece tip openings, saxophone tip openings use 1000th of an inch, it's traditional.
@@grantkoeller8911 I've seen only mm measurements when buying mouthpieces so this is new
Jay M, you are fantastic and a godsend to any saxophonist. I was away from sax & woodwinds for decades and I am grateful for help like this… which we didn’t have access to back in the day.
my first mouthpiece was, in fact, the Yamaha 4C. later, my teacher at the time, suggested a better mouthpiece, so that I would develop my sound more. since then, I have a Meyer 6 medium chamber, which I love. There go 30 years ...
I play a Meyer 6* Medium chamber and have for years and recently bought an Otto Link Super Tone Master 9* and they are night and day from each other - the Otto is dark and full and has an edge if you want it but takes a lot of air and the Meyer 6 is focused and buzzsaw edgy and reaches a much more rock and roll sound!
i really liked the sound of the meyer 5! I played for years without even knowing that mouthpieces even makes a difference. been using like 10 dollar mouthpieces all this time and never really had any complaints!
I like the sound of the Meyer vs the D'addario mp .... I've been using a alto Meyer 6M for years and love it ...
Same!:)
Same here! I just got a Meyer 6M and its great!
I've had my Meyer 6 mouthpiece for over 40 years, and it still works for me, never fails. On my Conn 6M, it actually gives it a powerful and flexible tone
I'm playing on a Selmer S80 + given ligature which came with my Seles Axos. Played on the Yamaha 5C with a Bonade inverted lig before that. The S80 has a much darker, complex sound. Took a few practice sessions to adjust, but very comfortable now.
Excellent video. I've just bought an D'addario Select Jazz D6M and played it for the first time for two hours. I always use cork grease but the MP still went on very tight. When I twisted off the MP it removed 1/3rd of the neck cork with it. My previous MP was a Selmer S80 C** and that fitted on pretty tight but the inside of the MP was very smooth so it never damaged the cork. On inspection I found the D'addario MP very rough on the inside and using a piece of very fine Emery paper turned around a 15mm tube I polished the inside until it was smooth and shiney. It's a shame that I didn't inspect the inside of the MP before I played it, because that would have saved my neck-cork. So here's the warning guys: Always check the inside of a new MP before fitting it on your sax!!!
Jeff, thanks for sharing this. Sounds like you found a good fix. A mouthpiece should already be smooth on the inside, and next time, I'd send it back if it was very rough like you say. My D'addario is a tight fit as well. Have fun playing that beast...
How cool it must for having the best sax teacher and its your favourite RUclipsr
1. yamaha 5c
2.Meyer 5
3.Vandoren v16 s6
4. dadario jazz
I’ve been playing sax for over 7 years now, and I will be studying music education. By far, my Meyer 7 with medium chamber is my favorite mouthpiece. Bigger sound than I’ve gotten out of any of my previous mouthpieces.
What were you playing on before?
Better Sax I played on some cheap Leblancs (nice beater mouthpieces for marching and pep band) and a Brillhart ebolin (still play on that one). I also have a Berg Larsen metal mouthpiece that is okay, but too edgy for my liking. I’m currently looking for a sweeter sounding mouthpiece with more volume for classical purposes as an upgrade from my ebolin.
I began with a Yamaha 4C that came with my sax (yas275), but pretty soon my teacher recommended my Vandoren A35 and holy cow I like it. I’ve actually stuck to it for good seven years now 🎷
As always, great advice....after years of searching for that perfect mouthpiece that never materialize, listen to his advice. I have tried many many mouthpieces and most don't change my sound. The feeling while playing them, however, does. The effort to produce different notes....high, mid or low "feel" different on different pieces. Music is emotional and feeling is everything. Practice, practice so the emotions come out of any mouth piece.
I've just upgraded to the Select Jazz. I like a closed face so went for the 5. This thing is powerful! My Aristocrat Series 1 sounds amazing.
Facing
How very true, 'tis the sound and 'passion' for the horn that counts. Without boasting people say I have a very good sound --I'm not a pro. player and play a YAS 62 with a Meyer 6 and D'darrio 2 hard reeds ( when I find a good one ) ....although they are getting much more consistent of late.
I'm aged 75 ---loved the horns all my life. Also a keen and busy Bari. player and a YTS 23 tenor. ( I don't talk about my Bari. )
I've been playing for about 6 months, using the Yamaha 4c that came with my sax. A couple of weeks ago I moved up to a Jody Jazz HR 6M and I absolutely love it, although I needed to use a slightly softer reed with the wider tip opening (I'm still at the stage of experimenting with reeds anyway). The JJ cost me £141 (including a nice ligature, cap and pouch) here in the UK, so I guess that might be slightly above the 150 price you set by the time you convert to dollars - it's well worth a try though.
Martin Watkins I’m in your same situation. I have been playing for 6 months using the 4c. Now I want to purchase a real jazz piece.
I did some research, and I figured the 6M had a too big of an opening for a beginner, so I thought it would be better to try the 5M, but now you are making me reconsider that thought process. So, the 6 opening is not giving you any real prohibitive problem?
And what about the Meyer? I am torn between the JJ HR (5 or 6) and a Meyer (5 or 6): did you try it before choosing the JJ? Thanks in advance for your answer
Francis S. I haven't had any problems with the 6 tip opening - I did drop back half a grade on reed strength, but now I've been playing the new piece for 2 weeks I want to go slightly harder again. Like you, I considered the Meyer 5, but I couldn't try it out. After reading a lot of reviews and talking to one of the staff at sax.co.uk, I went with the JJ. Apparently they are quite similar but I was swayed by the JJ quality control - every mouthpiece is hand finished and play tested before leaving the factory. I have absolutely no regrets about my decision. Good luck with whatever you choose - you will notice the difference from your 4c.
Jody Jazz mouthpieces are great, but as you said, they are out of the price range for this video. I'm planning a video for mouthpieces in the next price range and it will include the JJ HR*
Martin, you can't go wrong with any of those choices. You will just have to try a few different reeds to find what works best for you. 2.5 probably good place to start when you go to a bigger tip opening.
Better Sax This is awesome! Keep up the good content!
Excellent video, as a sax teacher, I totally agree with your choices. I've been playing 50 years now as of 2022, basically on the same set-up, a hard rubber Meyer 7MM, with Vandoren Java green box 3.5. I love the Meyer mouthpiece. It's the real deal.... the v16 is basically a Meyer copy and the D'Addario is a Meyer copy. Why? Because the design of the Meyer is perfect. It has that New York chamber, round, with hollowed out sidewalls, and roll over baffle and flat table, even side rails and nice thin tip rail. The tone is flexible, can be balls to the walls, one second, and pure for classical, the next second. It has the core for playing lead Alto in a high powered big band , and for bebop solo work in a combo. Think, Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley.
Thanks Grant. Harder to find those perfect Meyers these days though. That's why it's great to have the other modern options that are super consistent and affordable.
I tell students to get 3 from Woodwind, (wwbw.com) and keep the best one. They are still making great Meyer's, you just have to test them......
That's good advice...
I absolutely love my Meyer, and now I feel vindicated! I have a c* too, but very rarely reach for it as I prefer the darker, full tone compared to the brighter, springy tone.
Great training video, as always! I like Ralph Morgan’s mouthpieces in hard rubber, way easy to play! Narrow tip openings best for beginners in my opinion. As a beginner, i was a gear-head and bought a bun CJ with wide tip openings that I couldn’t play for a long while! Wish I’d been a subscriber back then! Excellent work! Rocket 🚀
Thanks Rocket! I had a Morgan Excalibur 7 on tenor that I played for a long time and then sold. Wish I kept it.
I purchased a Meyer 6 small chamber alto piece back in 1979 after sitting in a music store and trying every Meyer they had. I knew the owner. Happy sounding, popping fun piece to play. I still have it, but have been playing an 8 on tenor so much it felt small and it was an adjustment. Found a Jody Jazz HR* 7 on EBay. I know that new they are just above this price point, but there are used ones out there that fall below. For $95 including shipping this is the best investment I have made for alto, and I will say, for me. I do have an 8 D'addario select for tenor and it is a great piece too, although it does fit snug on the neck cork. A thing others have commented on.
Yamaha mouthpieces are just fine and I use a 4 or 5C on my curved Soprano. I now play a Vandoren AS 5 + for my Alto but I had used a Wolfe Tayne 7 for about 35 years.
I play a Selmer Super Action 80 Serie II - Paris. It came with a C* that I have never been happy with so it sits in its box. I have been playing a Claude Lakey 5*3 Jazz mouthpiece since the early 90s. It took a little getting use to. I have a Rovner Dark ligature and play Rico Royal 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 and sometimes play a Rico Plasticover 4 when I feel like abusing my lips.
I have a vandoren v16 s6. 2.5 vandoren zz reed , love it . Glad to see vandoren in your testing, also Vandoren ligature optima
Vandoren Jumbo Java A45 was my choice after Yamaha 4C. Very good mouthpiece with bridge.
with a wedge, for rock or smooth jazz,
A45 I got mine, very good sound
Super video....
I started playing a Lakey 7*3 in the 70's, when Claude made me one of his first ones... I used it with the reeds he designed it for... Plasticover and Hempke...
After having my VI Alto returned to "stock", I wanted to return to my purer "Desmondie" sound...
Luckily, there is the Vandoren Musician's Advisory Studio L.A... Where, with an appointment, you can try their mouthpieces, ligatures, reeds out...
I ended up with the V16A8s and Gold M/O Ligature... I DID notice the difference in sound with the different ligature material (Gold or Brass)... however, their inconsistency in their reed strength sent me back to my "ol' reliable" Orange Box Rico #2's...
I also switched from the Vandoren mouthpiece Patch to the Theo Wanne "hard" Bite Pad... was getting marks on my new 10mFan Merlot (Tenor)... and gave them a try... like Theo's better... actually prevents tooth marks...
So, you have another convert to UNDER $150 ALTO MOUTHPIECES... and happy that I did...
Pat, thanks for the feedback. I used to go to the Vandoren studio in New York and try out mouthpieces reeds and ligatures. They have always been very supportive and helpful to musicians. Glad you found a setup that works for what you're looking for at the moment.
Been playing alto sax for 3 weeks, have a brand new Buffet crampon, just got a yamaha 5c and rovner dark ligature and wow what a difference! so much easier and greatly improved tone, was supposed to be putting away until my birthday in a month but not a chance! can't keep struggling with the Buffet mouthpiece and ligature anymore 🙉
I am a newbie and have just got one Yamaha 4C mouthpiece. I love it.
Since the reed is so important- Maybe you should use the same reed across all mouthpieces you try. For example the blue box 3.5 is way different than a Java red. Also maybe compare same tip sizes.
I read somewhere that Charlie Parker played on whatever mouthpiece was in the case with whatever horn he happened to borrow (his own horn was usually in the pawn shop). I find that when I'm comparing a bunch of mouthpieces I will love the open/bright/edgy/powerful pieces and hate the large chamber, small tip, dark sounding pieces. But if I continue to play the darker piece, I get used to it and learn how to get the sound out of it and frequently find myself wondering why I never played on that piece before. I recently tried the stock Yanagisawa R5 that came with my a880 - it's been sitting in the case for 35 years and I just now discovered what a great mouthpiece it is!
The D'addario mouthpieces are amazing. both alto and tenor. Also great value.
Andrea, I'm liking the tenor one quite a lot too.
For the whole time ive played (5th grade through now 11th grade) I was never told why to upgrade my mouthpiece. I wasn't even told a mouthpiece makes a difference until 9th grade and that teacher just said "what mouthpiece do you have?" (yamaha 4c). "Oh you should upgrade to a 5c". Needless to say I never did because why should I upgrade to what sounds like the same thing. This makes a lot of sense as to why she wanted me to upgrade. I wish that I had my middle school teacher during high school as well because that teacher was the best. She was fun and always explained things to us in contrast to my high school teacher who just said "you should do this" never "here's why". BTW the middle school teacher was a sax player in college and still plays - in fact I have played with her since leaving the middle school. The high school teacher learned saxophone (after many other woodwinds) only because she needed to be able to teach it.
Mouthpiece patch= an absolute must!
I have used a Yamaha 4C and Rovner dark ligature for about a month on my alto sax since I started playing. I was doing ok with Legere Signature 2 and Rico 2.0 reeds. I recently upgraded to a Meyer 6M, Rovner Versa X ligature and Legere Signature 2 1/4 and D'addario Select Jazz 2.5 reeds and noticed a near instant improvement in my playing. Maybe I needed stronger reeds and that helped.
I found that the 6M has a bit of a projecting sound winch I found I could tame a little by altering how the Rovner Versa X ligature was set up and working on my tone. I always use cork grease but found the 6M mouthpiece a bit tight on the neck and it took a little bit off the cork when I removed it, so need to be careful when putting it on and taking it off the neck. I went for it as I wasn't sure what style I wanted to play but didn't want to be restricted at this stage.
I would have got the D'addario Select Jazz as I like the sound of it, but the tight fit and the reports that it takes off the cork, made me stay away from it. Hope they fix that in the future.
Thanks for sharing this.
I play a 53 King Zephyr alto with a Jody jazz Jet 7 with vandoren java #3, it's a good mouthpiece
Cool setup...
I haven't tried a Jody Jazz mpc yet. I have a 55 King Zephyr that I paired with an old Dick Stabile piece to start with, then my tech showed me a King A2 that is amazing. They are both really dark and mellow. I am still trying different pieces for a brighter sound on that horn.
Back when I played tenor sax back in the 70s I had a mouthpiece that was made in Paris France. Sadly I cannot remember the name of it but it was fantastic. I gave $75 for it in 1976 I expect that would be $200 or more today. If anyone knows the name of any sax mouthpiece makers in Paris I would love to know?
I just did some checking and I am sure that my mouthpiece was indeed a Vandoran.
was it a metal mouth piece?
@@iRosati no it wasn't a metal one to be honest I don't recall seeing the metal ones till later. At that time wasn't many big music stores in my area. But the one everyone went to was Gorby's in Charleston WV.
I purchased a used Conn 14M Shooting Star back in the 60's. In the case with it was a "R. Malerne, Standard, Paris France" mouthpiece. I assume it is the mouthpiece that came with the sax when it was new. It seems to be a beginner mouthpiece rather than anything special.
@@klink370 I have seen Conn's not to familiar with them. I have only played first a Selmar Eflat alto was switched to a Holton b-flat tenor that was a barely playable school instrument. Then I purchased a pro b-flat tenor King Silver sax now that was a sweet instrument and why I bought a upgrade mouthpiece.
I've been playing saxophones of all shapes and sizes for 42 years now! However, I predominantly play Tenor. I play in both a Funk / R&B group and a Concert Band. Playing Tenor in the Concert Band I've used a Meyer 5M, an original 'Long Shank' Selmer Soloist with a C* tip opening and both Yamaha 4 & 5c's.
In the Concert Band, I've settled in on the 5c. Also being medium chambered, dimensionally it is the same as an S80 C*. Except at a fraction of the cost! What a lot of people don't realize is that Yamaha makes mouthpieces with multiple tip openings. They run from the 3c up to a 7c. The 6c is the same as a Selmer C** and the 7c is a Selmer D. At 50 bucks, or less per unit, they are a far more economical way to experiment with different tip openings!
The current line of Yamaha mouthpieces were designed concurrently with the famed original Purple Logo 62 series. Dr. Eugene Rousseau was on the design team for the 62 series, and therefore helped with the design of these mouthpieces! So basically a new 'Rousseau' mouthpiece for under 50 bucks? Yeah, that's my goto! 🎷
Absolute beginner here. I bought a Chinese alto sax for about $200 having heard they are pretty good but the mouthpiece supplied are generally hot garbage. I almost got a hernia trying to use the mouthpiece supplied. I bought a Yamaha 4C and some Rico 2.5 reeds off the jungle website and it made a huge difference. The ligature supplied with the horn is fine for now. Would the 5C be better? Oh, who knows... I'm just happy not squeaking or blacking out from hypoxia at this point in my sax adventure!
The Hite Artist and the Claude Lakey are also excellent pieces, and both well under 200 bucks. The Lakey is much brighter than those you reviewed, though. I still have my Lakey, but I lent the Hite to friend, who lent it to a student whose whereabouts are unknown... I am after a darker piece now and I am considering seriously the Jody Jazz HR. By the way, nice review, your channel is awesome!
Thank you for these videos. I played alto sax many eons ago. I picked up a tenor a few years ago and I guess I just don't have the lung capacity or ability to hit some of the low notes. Anyways, I was thinking how fun it would be to pick up the alto again, but was discouraged with how expensive they are. Your video on the cheapest alto sax on Amazon being a really good deal, along with this video has convinced me to spend some money on an alto again, and get back into playing the sax.
I had problems putting enough air through a tenor starting out also. I am an old retread like yourself. For me putting enough air through the alto was effortless so I kept playing that to build up my strength, and would drag out the tenor occasionally. Over time I got so I can handle the tenor. Now the new challenge is an old Martin bari I just got off eBay. It will take time to master just like it did with the tenor. The bari takes a whole different approach to your embouchure to get the low notes and requires a ton of air.
Mine: Claude Lakey CLA613 Hard Rubber Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece 6x3, the reed is Marca American vintage.
Claude Lakey are plastic....
Nop hard rubber!
Claude Lakey Mouthpieces have always been made from plastic
My lakey mouthpiece sounds pretty dang good and loud for less than $100 without a ligature. Super bright too
I am thinking to select jazz mouthpiece cuz I have the cheap for 10 years I played selmer for a long time its about time for something good thank you
Im playing on a C* mouthpiece and I like the Vandoren V16 S6 The best
Just got started few days ago.. got a cheap saxophone, and looks like the mouthpiece doesn't has a brand even haha... should I invest in a better beginner mouthpiece like yamaha 4c or 5c? Should I stay with the stock mouthpiece until I have developed my mouth muscles? Congrats for your channel, you're doing an amazing job here.. 👏
I would buy a beginner mouthpiece tbh
wow i have never used a mouthpiece pad! my mind is blown there I just started getting into playing sax again after about 15 years and none of my middleschool or highschool teachers ever mentioned a thing about pads lol. welp amazon here I come lol
I would rather go for the Meyer M6M. Its a tried and true for jazz and has good range of tone and dynamics
I wish I hadn't wasted all that time and money buying $30 mouthpieces, and just bought the 6M to start with.
Thanx a lot for these videos sir really inspiring. Really enlightened me why I have been sounding to horrible. I just couldn't even stay in tune probably bcoz of the mouthpiece I have been using.
I guess as a learner it's quite wise to get a good mouthpiece.
I just got a Vandoren V16 6M and It's wonderful
I am a advanced student and I use a v16 a5medium chamber
I’m playing on a meyer 5 rubber bought it from my local shop for 148 with tax Amazon was 150 proving its Cheaper to buy local
The mouthpiece pads are new to me. I recently picked up the saxophone again after about 20 years. I got the Jean Paul AS-400. Glad I subbed you as there's information I need to be reminded of as well as stuff I didn't know.
Same here, back after 20. I know they had patches back in the day, because I used them for a while and then ditched them. I'm still using my school mouthpiece, which has a huge bite groove in it. I blame my sister, the previous owner, for that since it was already there. ;)
There is so, so much stuff I had no clue about. Nobody told me mouthpieces mattered this much. I didn't know altissimo on a sax went way, way past the palm keys. Overtones??? "Saxophone lung"?? I never bothered cleaning or swabbing the body and washed out the mouthpiece when it started to get nasty (what kid has time with five minutes to the next class??), and it all sat in my case undisturbed, day after day. Eeeew. I played for six years and feel like a complete beginner again, lol.
Selmer D and Meyer 6M. The thin tip rail on the Meyer makes for incisive attacks. The Selmer seems to reinforce altissimo playing better.
I have been playing for 10 years, since Jr high, and I still consider myself a beginner, because I never knew alot of the stuff you talk about til now.
Same here only I've been playing for almost 7 years since I was 8 years old
I can find Jody jazz anywhere in 6* so i learned that. I played on c* for years but they aren’t wide enough to get consistent altissimo for me.
I just bought a meyer 5 as my 1st jazz mouthpiece I already had the
C star soloist
I play on a v16 medium a7, sounds great
....on Tenor I've recently switched to D'Addario Select Jazz DM7 but previously had played a metal Otto Link 7* (modified to about a 9 with a baffle) for about 35 years. My bari mouthpiece is a metal Berg Larson 130/0 that I've used for about 40 years! I do find that as I've gotten older (I'm 61) my lung capacity and stamina has diminished ! Things change.
I wanna sound like Danny Janklow lol. He has a bright tone but it's very clean. He uses a V16 A5 S+.
Vandoren is the best (to my taste) by far!
Exellent video and advice. I thought the Yamaha and the Meyer sounded great. I have liked the sound of many Vandorens in the past but the V16 sounded a little choked in this instance. I have a Brillhart 4* ebonite that I got in 1963 that is now on it's third alto which is a Yani A991, a great horn which, it appears, you play as well. Keep up the good work!
The Yamaha 5C has a super small tip opening, even though it's called a "5"
The tip measures 1.70mm which is
.066" thousands of an inch
funnily enough, i got a Yamaha 5C with my BEGINNER alto sax. My BD pointed out that mine was better than all the others. Everyone else had a 4C. I did not.
Great video Jay. Thanks for sharing this. Now I have tons of options.
I play on a Selmer AS400, but I want a jazz mouthpiece because that's what I play sax for. The mouthpiece I'm think about buying is the Meyer New York hard rubber, just wanted to know what you think of this mouthpiece.
Alto = Cannonball CAM 5 HR and Rico C5 Graftonite
Tenor = Otto Link metal STM 7* (circa 2005) and Rico Metalite M7.
The old V16 T7 metal tenor was somewhat versatile but too stuffy.
I.m considering trying a V16 S+ HR on alto in a #6.
Thanks for a great video. It saved me from spending $ buying and trying different mouthpiece. In addition to years of practice, which hard rubber mouthpiece do you think would get me closest to Gerald Albright's bright, punchy, not buzzy, full bodied sound?
Thanks Deryck! The Vandoren V16 with a small chamber is a good place to start.
Btw, Guitar Center in Chicago now has some small sax items, like reeds, cleaning brushes, a cheap sax and so on. No stands. :)
Excellent. I am playing a Claude Leaky 5*3, I don't know what that's mean but ia that only one I had ever use and I see no reason to chance it.
I played on a Selmer C double star since 9th grade
I recomend the Barkley mouthpieces from Brazil. My favorite its the hard rubber ZZ Vintage.
This made me curious as to what mouthpieces I have. I last played in the LSU Jazz band in 86 so I had to dig the horns out of the attic to see. My main mouthpiece was an old Brilhart. The box says Ebolin 111705-3*. 111705 is the serial number, and 3* the facing. I say old, because it was my dad's mouthpiece from late 40s, early 50s. He also had a strange mouthpiece that says 'The Buscher Elkhart Ind. Eb'. The mouthpiece is much shorter than any other mouthpiece I have seen, the reed hangs over the back end, and plays super quiet. It didn't fit well on my sax's neck, and was too quiet for playing with a group. My LSU teacher basically said they were all junk, as was my King Super 20, and my dad's old King Zepher. If it wasn't Selmer it was junk to him. I also have the two King mouthpieces that came with the instruments, and a camouflage colored Selmer C*, which went through several hot washings in the dishwasher. My junior high directer suggested the Selmer, but I replaced it with the Brilhart which i thought had a louder brassier sound. My high school band director gave me a plastic Gigliotti ligature to replace the mental ligature that came with my King. Do you have any opinion on the Brilhart, or know what that Buscher was used for? Last comment: I once played with Ellis Marsalis (piano). It was the high mark of my carrier, and the low mark of his.
Nice! Glad you mentioned the Brilhart. I was interested in hearing anything about it. I have a Selmer Mark VI w. the stock mouthpiece. I have too a metal Otto Link, and a Tenor Berg Larson mouthpiece, but found the metal ones hard to play, as an occasional player. So I bought a Brilhart w. the white bite plate. It was a popular mouthpiece w. jazz pros. Charlie Parker played on a white Brilhart, as well as other brands-of course!
DavyCrockett my Brilhart was a hand me down from my father. He bought it in the 60’s. When I played regularly I was frequently complimented on my sound. But I found it thin in the upper notes, and I could not play altissimo. I bought a used Gaia 2 7, and had immediate improvements with the upper notes, and started hitting all the altissimo notes. I think the Brilhart is too small. It’s a 3. From what I hear small mouthpieces sound thin up high. So I think the size was my problem. That mouthpiece also sounded best when I played everyday. With good chops I got good sound, but with bad chops it isn’t very forgiving.
Interesting! Good to know. Loved Eric Dolphy, Coltrane, and Archie Shepp in the “altissimo” 60s-Pharaoh Sanders too-although that might be considered more squeals (biting on the reed). Classical 🎷 Sigurd Raschèr wrote a book on it (“Top Tones for Saxophone”). Wow, Gaia 2 Gold 7-pricey ($895 CDN). Never heard of this brand. Thanks
DavyCrockett I bought my Gaia 2 used, and saved about $200 USD.
Another great informative video. Thank you.
I have an Odyssey OSA-130 alto saxophone with the sandard mouthpiece which does not have any identifing marks on it. How will I find out what mouthpiece I have?
For the director, it makes the most sense to me (my ears) to exclusively go with the C*
You are a great sax player, and I believe you can make everything sound good :-)) I am a beginner, and have Yamaha 4C and 5C. I don't know how to describe, but imho they are sort of flat and soulless. I really don't want to train on them because it kills my enthusiasm. I love the way Vandoren V16 6S (or 6S+ in their new line??) sounds compared to Yamaha 5C. What size Vandoren V16 S+ should I get as a beginner, and also what reed would you recommend with this mouthpiece? Thanks a bunch for your very informative videos :-))
I,ve been playing a Selmer C.two star old mp I think it,s a soloist for classical and everything with a Bari reed have used cane but hav,nt the patient to fiddle around and use Bari all round except clt D
You should make one for bari, I play on a Selmer c* for classical and a Vandoren v16 b7 for jazz
I have never played sax. I am waiting to receive soon my new Allora Chicago jazz tenor sax. First - thanks for these videos they are super. Second, I appreciate your demo with the Yamaha 5C and comments about using the 4C then moving to a 5C, etc. I will probably first try out the mouthpiece that comes with my Allora. Any suggestions for getting another mouthpiece and/or putting the 4C on my horn for a beginning point. I will be taking lessons with an experienced teacher - and of course getting his advice.
Thanks. Use cork grease when putting the mouthpiece on for the first time. Rub it into the cork to get it to penetrate a bit. Your teacher will help you get off on the right foot.
I just have a 4C that came with my used Yamaha YAS-23. I've been trying to get a tone and not scare the hell out of my poor, beleaguered dog (she already had to get used to living with a drummer, lol). At this point, i can honk away using just the mouthpiece with reed and ligature standing in the closet. As i can get maybe two seconds of tone (from zero off the bat, to one second yesterday) makes no sense to use the whole horn. Then have to clean it all up.
I got nothing for about 10 minutes, then I used a huge blast and got "C#!" The dog was long gone. lol.
Takes more air than you'd think. Works like blowing through a blade of grass. Same idea.
And the result is VERY LOUD. Suggest ear plugs (very strongly :). You'll eventually get a ringing in your ears that NEVER goes away if you don't.
I'd make friends with rags and the things you pull through the horn and the mouthpiece, too.
Since i don't know anything and can't hold a tone long, i used the Legere reed for now, which is plastic and zero prep or maintenance. Jay's Red Java 3 reeds sound the best (in a blind test), but i don't see the maintenance and $ when you're new.
I have others that came with. The ReedGeek was just too cool to bypass.
How do you feel about the Selmer Paris S 80 ? What do you think about it ?
I still play with my stock Mouthpiece😂 Well...I started like 5 weeks ago so that should be oke.
I played with my plastic stock mouthpiece for like 3 to 4 years
i love my berg Larsen man i had to do it when i went to new york it was my threat that i went to get lol 545$, but the sound inget out of this baby man.... jazz on Baby
r/ihadastroke
Was using Claude Lakey 7*3 with #2 Rico Royal and found the sound unbalanced. Fuzzy low end and bright 2nd/3rd reg. Got Vandoren Jumbo Java A45 and everything is BRIGHT and LOUD. Sounds like Sanborn. Finally got V16 m8 and that was the ticket. I am keeping both Vandorens as they blow exactly the same, but if I need to cut through or just be obnoxious the Jumbo Java will get me there. I think a synthetic reed on that thing could kill someone. I had the Jumbo Java blue from the 80's and the newer (black) ones sound the same. No need to spend crazy $.
btw I play a high end Mark VI as well as a low end original Bundy (Buescher.) Same effect on both.
I agree with you about getting a better mouthpiece once you have some experience playing sax, and can notice a difference in tone with a better mouthpiece. I have a Selmer C* for my alto. I am very happy with the sound. I also changed the ligature to a Rovner which improved the tone slightly.
metal brass 2 screw ligatures are louder and perfect for jazz, Rovner style ligatures with one screw, work great for classical...
I guess everyone's experience with mouthpieces, reeds and ligatures is personal. I switched to Rovner ligatures over 15 years ago with my clarinet, and subsequently also with my saxes. I play mainly jazz, and I like the tone which I get using a Rovner ligature. But then I haven't used a metal ligature of any sort for a long time.
Great vid, really helped me understand more about my future as a sax player and the sound I want to create! Tenor for the next vid !!!
fix
I use different mouthpieces, but I do like my selmer goldentone 3 most of all, so far. I just got a yamaha 4c and havent played it much, but it doesnt pass the suction test. I think its table is too wide.
I loved my Optimum ligature, but they don't last forever; mine cracked. I kept using it until one day I went to the store to compare with an intact one and realized it wasn't as good.
Hmm D'addario Select Jazz or Vandoren V16S+?
You should review the new Dickerson Resonator Ligature for Alto sax on Reverb & ebay - very unique
Very good análisis of the mouthpieces.
What is the best for beginner total beginner is it in a four or is it a five
Rico graftonites are bright and loud. You'll need some luck if you decide to get one cause they can come with a wonky facing
Ironically, those local music stores aren't around much anymore and don't stock Alto mouthpieces because people buy them on Amazon, etc. So if you don't buy locally to save a few bucks now, you won't be able to try locally later (or get pads changed or get repairs etc) so if the savings aren't significant, maybe buy from the local store so they will be open if/when you need them.
For me, 10-20% is significant, but not always if the total price is small. Like I would pay $45 in a local for a ligature/mouthpiece/accessory that was $40 on Amazon or $85 on one that costs $75, ESPECIALLY if I looked at in the store. It's kinda not fair for the local store to be the showroom for Amazon. I get it, if money is tight, but most of us can afford it I would guess.
I mean, do what you like, but a local store will stock what sells, not what people try out.
Hi jay,Is the Meyer 5 for jazz and what brand reed works best for it
I use a Selmer c*
If you really love the mouthpiece, and ever do want to upgrade try and find a metal one. Had one for tenor. And by far by mouthpiece I could ever ask for.
Will moving from my stock Yamaha 4C to a 6C be much of a difference in resistance?
Great video , which mouthpiece and reed would you recommend with a Yanigasawa Saxophone AWO1
Woodwind and Brasswind has (or at least had) a mouthpiece trial arrangement. LIke amazon, you have to pay for the ones you want to try, and send all but the keeper(s) back. At one point I dropped around $2,000 for 7 or 8 pieces and about three weeks later sent back all but one. WWBW is a great place for saxophone stuff :) and I'm good with not supporting the world's first budding trillionaire.
Can you do a video on mouthpiece pads? I want to know if they're worth buying
Ditto. I've started clarinet 30 years ago and I've never used one, and am about to start sax.