Mouthpieces Can you recommend a Alto sax mouthpiece please

[BeBopSop]

Hi,I have been using my Yani 6 ebonite mp, since I bought the yani 901 alto a few months ago, I have got used to it now, but have come to the conclusion it sounds a bit 'unaventfull' a bit 'bland' a bit 'non directional' a 'bit ordenary' No its not me! Well it may be? So anyone recommend a very good quallity Great sounding,mp either metal or hard rubber? what I want it for is to be able to front a small band (mainstream jazz) playing standards and also playing to real book jazz standard play alongs (and recording them) If I could, I would love to try some out but it would mean traveling too far, the only 2 I have tried are a Yam 4c, which closed up too easy when I blew,and I struggled getting the 3 palm key notes. and a Meyer 5m, which didnt seem much different to the Yani.
thanks....

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi John!

When I had a Yani 901 tenor I had the standard Yani 6 HR mouthpiece and my experience was similar to yours - bit too much of a blank canvas so I went on a bit of a journey mouthpiece wise.

On Alto Sax if you are wanting to play jazz standards etc. then the usual way to go would be a mouthpiece of the "Meyer" type, OR something more like the Selmer Soloist (and various better quality clones - such as the Mouthpiece Cafe Espresso).

A popular alternative would be a Vandoren V16, which gets universally good write-ups and which I have played. The smallest they do is an A5 which measures 0.074" which is very close to the Yani HR 6. Assuming that you do not want to get into importing US brands I would happily recommend it. Alternatively Bill Lewington have a Phil Barone Jazz 5M alto mouthpiece on sale for £99 - usually costs £150. I would go for the Barone, personally - awesome hand made piece, which should be a lot more character than the Meyer that you tried.

Hope this helps
Tom

 

[Pete Thomas]

To be taken with a pinch of salt as to how useful this type of thing is for other people, but have you seen/heard my alto mouthpiece comparison page:

http://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-alto-mouthpiece-comparison.html

I just received a few more to add there, including a Vandoren Java & Jumbo.

Sadly there is no PPT for alto yet.

 

[kevgermany]

Sadly there is no PPT for alto yet.

Does that mean you've changed your mind and you're going to do one?

 

[kevgermany]

Hi,I have been using my Yani 6 ebonite mp, since I bought the yani 901 alto a few months ago, I have got used to it now, but have come to the conclusion it sounds a bit 'unaventfull' a bit 'bland' a bit 'non directional' a 'bit ordenary' No its not me! Well it may be? So anyone recommend a very good quallity Great sounding,mp either metal or hard rubber? what I want it for is to be able to front a small band (mainstream jazz) playing standards and also playing to real book jazz standard play alongs (and recording them) If I could, I would love to try some out but it would mean traveling too far, the only 2 I have tried are a Yam 4c, which closed up too easy when I blew,and I struggled getting the 3 palm key notes. and a Meyer 5m, which didnt seem much different to the Yani.
thanks....

I messed around for a while on this. The one I liked most was a White Brilhart Personaline 5s, but it was hard to play. Lovely round warm tone. They're a bit like hens teeth, though. I eventually swapped it for a Meyer aerodynamic which had a lot more edge, but didn't really suit me. Nice to play, though. I tried a couple of soloists, a D tip Pillinger replica and a modern E tip. Both sounded good, played well, but not edgy or with the sweetness of the Brilhart. I found the resistance on all of these too high, but coming from Sop, you probably won't.

I've settled on a Morgan 7L, large chamber. Plays a dream, with a wonderful warm tone and really good lower notes. Sounds more like a tenor now, but that's what I wanted. There's a lot less resistance as well. Not edgy at all...

 

[Jules]

Jody Jazz HRs are good, as are Meyers and Vandoren V16s (or pretty much any Vandoren peice.... though watch out for the screaming heavy rock Jumbo Java, splendid piece but not for everyone).
I'd question not getting on with your Yani- ok, they've not got a lot of 'in built character' but as a blank canvas sort of mouthpiece they're rather good

 

[trimmy]

To be taken with a pinch of salt as to how useful this type of thing is for other people, but have you seen/heard my alto mouthpiece comparison page

Listened to those peices a few times before looking at the info and the 2 that got my attention was D & E but forgive my ignorance but what is a RPC 90 and how readily available are they ?

 

[TomMapfumo]

See here! http://www.saxmpc.com/ Pete used to trumpet them in pre PPT days - there used to be quite a waiting list for them, but not sure of the current position.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Pete Thomas]

Does that mean you've changed your mind and you're going to do one?

One day I might

See here! http://www.saxmpc.com/ Pete used to trumpet them in pre PPT days - there used to be quite a waiting list for them, but not sure of the current position.

I still use an RPC on alto, not on tenor or baritone any more for obvious reasons.

 

[jazzdoh]

+1 on RPC for alto
i use a 80B and a90R on alto

 

[jonf]

But if you want one be prepared for a very long wait. Takes ages to get them made, and they're a scarce commodity on the second hand market.

 

[jazzdoh]

But if you want one be prepared for a very long wait. Takes ages to get them made, and they're a scarce commodity on the second hand market.

The waiting time used to be months but i think Ron has got it down to a few weeks now.
I got my 2 secondhand but you are right they are scarce and secondhand prices are not far off what Ron charges new.
Having bought or tried a lot of alto pieces over 20 years these RPC's are for me the best and most suited pieces.
GAS problem sorted[at least for alto]

Brian

 

[BeBopSop]

Thanks to you all for suggestions I am making a shortlist (of safe bets) I have to accept if I order mail order, when it arrives, if I dont get on with it I cant send it back,unless you know any retailer that lets you try on aproval?

 

[TomMapfumo]

Howarth's of London http://www.howarth.uk.com/ are worth contacting - I have used them when I was choosing mouthpieces for both soprano and tenor in previous years - primarily charged postage - though took credit/debit card details when on loan.

 

[BeBopSop]

Re: Can you recommend a Alto sax mouthpiece please

To be taken with a pinch of salt as to how useful this type of thing is for other people, but have you seen/heard my alto mouthpiece comparison page:

http://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxoph...omparison.html

I just received a few more to add there, including a Vandoren Java & Jumbo.

I can hear a clear differnce with some and others sound samey.......in my current situation it would be interesting to hear you test the Yani HR 6 ? I have a feeling that quite a few of these would sound the same as my mp, but I think some others sound more 'edgy'
thanks ...

 

[TomMapfumo]

Mouthpiece "J" is the Yanagisawa HR 6. You may need to scroll down if you haven't found it so far! I would say that the mouthpieces all feature Pete's trademark sound, so telling them apart can be quite difficult to the untrained ear.

 

[BeBopSop]

ThanksTom, I didnt notice it there, Pete does make it sound very good.

 

[TomMapfumo]

...Pete does make it sound very good.

The real skill is producing the sound in the first place. The Yani is a fairly neutral, warm mouthpiece so does not colour the sound particularly or give it edge etc. It did take me a couple of years before I had started to produce my own particular sound, and not just get the right notes, timing etc. We also find reeds that we feel really comfortable playing. My major switch was to choose a mouthpiece (changed from my Selmer Super Session E) which allowed a tad more brightness to come through (V16 HR7 etc.)

A better challenge might be to work at getting a good tone with the Yani, and experiment with a few different reeds (RJS 2S, Marca Jazz, Alexandra Superials etc.)

 

[BeBopSop]

Re reeds,thats exactly what the chap at Howarths said today! So I will try some different ones, thanks Tom.......

 

[BeBopSop]

The real skill is producing the sound in the first place. The Yani is a fairly neutral, warm mouthpiece so does not colour the sound particularly or give it edge etc. It did take me a couple of years before I had started to produce my own particular sound, and not just get the right notes, timing etc. We also find reeds that we feel really comfortable playing. My major switch was to choose a mouthpiece (changed from my Selmer Super Session E) which allowed a tad more brightness to come through (V16 HR7 etc.)

A better challenge might be to work at getting a good tone with the Yani, and experiment with a few different reeds (RJS 2S, Marca Jazz, Alexandra Superials etc.)

Just an update, I bought a Jody jazz Hr 6 off ebay for £56.00 in almost new condition, I listened to Petes MP soundclips and found there was quite a diffence between the Jody jazz and the Yani, so thought it was worth getting, I have just given it a blast and I am going to use it as my favorite, it has a more brighter open sound, easier to blow through, (it makes the Yani feel like blowing into a straw..)The Yani sounds more mellow and rounded, the Jody seems to have more tonal character, and is brighter, but not harsh.So I am pleased with this one (for a while lol) I am using a Rico select jazz 2M reed (it came 2nd hand with the sax) I thought before the Jody arrived it might be harder to blow as the opening is a bit wider than the Yani, but no!
Thanks to all who helped me once again...