Playing the saxophone At what point...

[JazzMatt]

When, you're going up the mouthpiece size scale, did you decide enough is enough and you settled on 'the piece' with which you spend the rest of your life?

At the moment, on my alto, I'm playing a Meyer M5M with a LaVoz Med reed and like my sound, but also realise it's a pretty closed piece in the grand scheme of things (and compared to some of the opening sizes being discussed), although I'm only 11 months into my sax journey.

Just interested in everyone's viewpoint (I'm also not wanting to run before I can walk and realise the current set up is perfect for me at the moment).

 

[Dibbs]

When you finally realise there's no holy grail

Or maybe never. I've a friend who played on the same alto mouthpiece for about 40 years except for a couple of years when it went temporarily missing.* Last time I saw him he was playing something different.

*It turned up stuck inside his tenor which he very rarely played.

 

[nigeld]

My teacher plays classical sax quartet and big band lead alto solos on the same, fairly closed, mouthpiece.

 

[kevgermany]

Change if there's something lacking. Many people never go larger than a 5. However if you're compelled.... Then there's no stopping some people.

 

[Taz]

I've quite liked my sound for about 8 years after a lucky eBay purchase. I wanted a Runyon Quantum. I'd read up about them, liked the reviews so I bought a plastic one. It was a little too open for me so the low notes weren't great but I kept it for about three years and then changed it for a metal version that had a slightly smaller opening. I love it and I doubt I'll ever change it.
I received a lovely compliment when busking a while back, another sax player came up and said, "I knew it was you when I heard you from around the corner!" Fantastic, that means that I sound like "ME"

 

[Jazzaferri]

I was playing a 10Mfan Boss 8 on tenor until Pete sent me a PPT Hooligan 11* as a lark. It was love at first ...errrr..well sight doesn't quite do it but you know what I mean. Your best opening is going to come down to your embouchure, how you play, what you play and how much you play.

My experience leads me to think that larger tip openings tend to give me a richer more balanced sound throughout all the registers regardless of where I am in the sound palette. I have noticed that new to me sax playing band directors and section mates always ask me what I am playing so that tells me something is working.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Mouthpieces are like shoes. A good fit is essential. Great big shoes are for the circus.

 

[kevgermany]

Great big shoes are for the circus.

Some of us have big feet.

My tutor plays a Berg with a huge tip on very hard reeds. Sounds incredible on it. Not many people can handle a setup like that.

 

[Jazzaferri]

I like my clown shoes. There are even other people who seem to like the noises I make with them.

 

[brianr]

(I'm also not wanting to run before I can walk and realise the current set up is perfect for me at the moment).

This is the best phrase in your post.

If a mouthpiece works for you, stick with it. If you are happy with it, stick with it.

there are no rules about what type of mouthpiece you should have, but as a generalisation, many beginners get on to a wide mouthpiece far too soon.

Their muscle support/embouchure just isnt ready for it, and it can give problems.

I did this myself. And faffed about with mouthpieces for far too long . I wasted/lost time on this faffing about when I should have just practiced.

Then two teachers told me, in seperate conversations, basically told me the same thing.

It was.... "buy a Meyer 5 and stick with."
I bought one and played it for 10 years solid, without changing. It was the best advice I got.

The Meyer 5 is not just a beginners mouthpiece. It is a fantastic mouthpiece that is played by a huge number of alto players, including some of the best there has ever been.

Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley.... both Meyer 5

Dont think of the Meyer 5 as a beginner mouthpiece. It can take you as far as you want to go, and it would be hugely to your advantage to stick with this for an extended time. Instead of your embouchure having to adapt every so often to a different set up, you just get on with learning on a good set up.

Good luck

 

[brianr]

I have noticed that new to me sax playing band directors and section mates always ask me what I am playing so that tells me something is working.

Thats great to hear.
What it tells me is that YOU have a good sound.
That YOU have put the work in to obtain that sound. That YOU have a good concept of a sound

For example. I get that stuff too. I play an Otto Link 6. too close? Not for me.

 

[Jazzaferri]

Please keep in mind there are Meyer 5s and there are Meyer 5's Not all play as well as many of the early ones.

My range on tenor goes as high as I play on alto. I didn't like the sound I got up really high 9B4 sax and up) until I got into the really large opening. Someone else playing the same notes might find exactly the opposite and like it best on a medium tip.

As I have stated above, one's embouchure; diaphragm strength; mouth and tongue dimensions; sound concept; as well as some other factors I may not be aware of contribute to what works for an individual. Paul Horn had such an iconic sound that a number of US mpce makers have designed mpces to help customers emulate that particular vibe.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[baritonesax]

I think you stop mouthpiece searching when you become crashingly, stupefyingly bored with it. When you shake your head sadly at the wasted money, thought and effort that went into it. When the realisation strikes you that mouthpiece changes make (mainly) tiny incremental changes apparent only to yourself - and even then after a few days or weeks of playing the new thing you end up sounding just like you did previously.

But until you get to that point - go for it! There's a whole wide world of interesting flavours out there😉

 

[trimmy]

I did this myself. And faffed about with mouthpieces for far too long . I wasted/lost time on this faffing about when I should have just practiced.

I started on a bog standard mpc that came with the sax, practiced practiced practiced getting a nice tone then faffed around with mpcs, big mistake !!
I reckon i wasted a good 8months of real practice, probably longer.
Stick with what you've got until you know you're ready to try some other mpcs

 

[thomsax]

I use tenor mouthpieces from 0.110"-0.130" with Plasticcover reeds 3½-4. When I'm playing a lot I use wide openings and hard reeds. If I'm playing two set in I can change mouthpiece, so the second set is on a narrow tip opening. But always the same mpc brand and design. For 10 years ago I used differnt mouthpieces depending on what kind of music I played. That's not case anymore. Today I'm looking for a #12 (0.150") mouthpiece. Loud Rock & Roll Saxophone is the thing!

 

[Jeanette]

I think you stop mouthpiece searching when you become crashingly, stupefyingly bored with it. When you shake your head sadly at the wasted money, thought and effort that went into it. When the realisation strikes you that mouthpiece changes make (mainly) tiny incremental changes apparent only to yourself - and even then after a few days or weeks of playing the new thing you end up sounding just like you did previously.

But until you get to that point - go for it! There's a whole wide world of interesting flavours out there😉

Spot on. It is fun for a while trying something new and all part of the journey.......🙂

Jx

 

[JazzMatt]

Some really interesting answers there, very informative.

As I said, I'm still developing my chops so I'm in no rush to change my mouthpiece, it was more a generic question for the future (a good way into the future), and I do like the sound I'm making (currently 😱 ) and that practice, practice, practice is the way forward and I'm dedicated in my regime of practicing. I started out on a Yamaha 4c on 1.5 Rico reeds, went to 2, then Vandoren ZZ 2.5 pretty quickly but found the mouthpiece very restrictive, went up to a Yamaha 5c in June and loved it and the sound it generated (surprisingly mellow for a plazzy m/p) and got the Meyer M5M as a late birthday present and just seemed to find the groove in it very quickly.

My partner is learning clarinet (for the same length of time i've been on sax) and only now is she seeing the benefit of practicing, daily, concentrated and has improved more in the last couple of weeks than she previously managed in a few months.

A well meaning relative bought me a Vandoren V16 A5M mouthpiece for Christmas but it's still boxed up as I don't want any bad ju-ju from mixing my mouthpieces at this early juncture and may even sell it as it's around the same tip opening as I've got and can't see myself using it anytime soon (I do admit for having a quick bash on it (with a patch) on xmas day when the gifter was there).