Mouthpieces Otto Link 7 ebonite tone edge vs. tuning - Advice please

[saxyemma87]

Hi guys,

I have recently got both a new saxophone (Bauhaus AS-PD) and an otto link mouthpiece. The sound is immense, but I have noticed since getting the new mouthpiece (however much better the sound!) my tuning is going awol.

Any advice, techniques or exercises I should be doing to get used to the new set up?

Thanks

 

[Nick Wyver]

Get some playalongs. Record yourself and note where your tuning's out. Scales, long notes - the usual stuff.

Odd that a change of mouthpiece would affect the tuning that much. What were you using before?

 

[aldevis]

Hi guys,

I have recently got both a new saxophone (Bauhaus AS-PD) and an otto link mouthpiece. The sound is immense, but I have noticed since getting the new mouthpiece (however much better the sound!) my tuning is going awol.

Any advice, techniques or exercises I should be doing to get used to the new set up?

Thanks

Sharp in the top register, flat in the low?

 

[saxyemma87]

Yes thats exactly whats happening. I think its to do with embouchure - i have a habit of playing tightly. I was playing the bill lewington mouthpiece (Standard) before with an earlham sax

 

[aldevis]

OK, I have a similar instrument (JP) that gives me similar problems. I currently have two REALLY similar mouthpieces: one gives me that problem, one doesn't. I will investigate the reason this week with the mouthpiece maker, feel free to pm me if you want to know more details about the maker (I often sound like I celebrate his pieces too much).

A common proposed solution is "try a small chamber mouthpiece". It didn't work with me.

Something you can try is:
tune the instrument "with itself". That means pull the mouthpiece out if octaves are wide (and the opposite).
Try to play with the mouthpiece in that position, making sure that people (or records) you play with are in tune A=440.
This could fix the embochure, but don't force yourself.

Wait before getting rid of the link. I have one on the other alto that plays great (and always in tune).

 

[Hectic sax]

Hi, presumably you have solved the problem by now. But if you have not or if someone else as the same question, I find that for this combination of sax and mouth piece I get a good tuning from low to high notes with a RICO jazz filed 2H. All best

Hi guys,

I have recently got both a new saxophone (Bauhaus AS-PD) and an otto link mouthpiece. The sound is immense, but I have noticed since getting the new mouthpiece (however much better the sound!) my tuning is going awol.

Any advice, techniques or exercises I should be doing to get used to the new set up?

Thanks