aargh.. should I keep my new John Packer Tenor?

[lovefool]

Hi all,
a little advice would be much appreciated.

I've been playing alto for about a year now and really enjoying it. Decided I like the sound of tenor so I rashly bought a John Packer without ever having touched a tenor.

Of course I can get a reasonable sound from it, but only from about E1 (is that the right terminology!?) up to G2 - pretty small range. I can still hit Eb2 ok, but the sound suffers a bit.. Anything below D1 is a real struggle, almost impossible. Tried a couple of different reeds. This is all with the bundled mouthpiece and lig which seem quite poorly made. This is after only 30 mins play though..

So I'm contemplating either .. attempting to return it and hope for a full refund.. I'll lose about ?20-?30 in postage I guess or upgrading to a Yamaha mouthpiece and persevering...

thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Bobby G]

Hi Lovefool. It may be that the tenor needs a bit of a setup, it's worth taking to a tech/repairer to get it checked over. If that is the problem, it shouldn't cost too much.

 

[jadoube]

Hi,

When I first tried a tenor after 2 years on alto I couldn't get below E. The top end was not great but less of a problem than you're finding.

Took a while and a decent quality mouthpiece to make good sounds and many months before I'd built myself up to get to the lower end of the horn. I'm pretty much of a wimp in the puff department.

It takes a while to adjust, you're pushing air a lot further than an alto. So there may be no reason why it can't work for you (subject to a bit of a tweak as Bob says.)

Long notes, possibly a weaker reed, more long notes and patience. Its a sod but I find that's the solution to nearly every problem I have.

 

[Jules]

I'm with these guys- it's not safe to assume your sax has any innate problems- and do bear in mind 'out of the box' mouthpieces can be borderline unplayable.
also- I personally find alto and tenor required embouchures are slighlty more different than you'd expect- lowering your bottom jaw is pretty critical on tenor....
Also- you'd not be the first person to pull several duff reeds in succession out of a box and conclude their new mouthpiece/sax etc was defective! :cry:

 

[sharon]

I agree with everyone. I had the same problem with my Walstein Tenor last September. I'm much better now but still rather hit and miss from low d down. Alto embouchure needs to be tighter I think and I find that if I relax my mouth ie drop my jaw slightly the sound is better. I start of with long notes and scales and by the time I've done a warm up things have improved greatly.

Oh might be worth getting a better mouthpiece though, mines a yamaha 4c and I still play with a 1 1/2 reed wimp that I am

Sharon

 

[jadoube]

I still play with a 1 1/2 reed wimp that I am

Sharon

Wimps of the world unite. Bet there's more of us out there than we think.

 

[lovefool]

yay thanks all, I called them up and they were very understanding. Offered to replace and all.

Now I've played a bit more and .. well some improvement, but just generally falling in love with that rich tenor sound! so will hang on to it for now!..

Thanks all for thoughts.

Keira x

 

[old_git]

Time for the New One and a Half Strength Reed Club?

 

[Bobby G]

Could I be an honorary member, I usually use 2's or sometimes 2.5's if I'm feeling particularly tough, but I am to all intents and purposes a wimp.

 

[jadoube]

I spot a trend.

First, the Walstein was described as - "a pink saxophone".
Now - 'proud to be wimp'.

The sensitive souls of the One and a Half Strength club welcome all.






Mmm, I'll have to change my aggressive sig

 

[jadoube]

old git wrote:
Time for the New One and a Half Strength Reed Club?

Perhaps the pint and a wee half club? 😉

 

[peedee]

Yep, I agree with the aforesaid, keep trying, give the sax a chance. PMP. (practice makes perfect)
re reed strength, I am coming round to the large lay with weak reed method rather than small lay, hard reed. I have a few Rico 1-1/2's left from when I first started, and found they work great with my metal mpc. With harder reeds i was getting squeaks, and couldn't get the low notes, on the metal mpc, but now - rock and roll 🙂