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<blockquote data-quote="Tonehole" data-source="post: 628768" data-attributes="member: 9647">Deep dive- If they played them so why not me! Before high-quality microphones and monitors were common in clubs, saxophonists relied on physical resistance to project.<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">The &quot;Volume&quot; Factor: A harder reed allowed a player to push more air without the sound &quot;breaking up&quot; or squeaking.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Mouthpiece Trade-off: Most players used mouthpieces with narrow tip openings (like a 4 or 5). To get a full, professional sound from a narrow opening, you must use a harder reed (3.5 to 5).</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">The &quot;Macho&quot; Era: There was a cultural belief among jazz players that &quot;real&quot; musicians played hard reeds—a trend that eventually shifted in the 1960s as electronics improved.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Charlie Parker played a #4 Rico/ LaVoz</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Coltrane played a #4 Rico in the 50&#039;s</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Stan Getz played a #3.5 - #5 Vandoren</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sonny Rollins played a # 3.5 - #5 LaVoz / Rico</li>
</ul>Modern Setup: Players now often prefer wider tip openings (#7 or #8) paired with softer reeds (#2.5 or #3). This allows for more air volume and flexibility, especially for altissimo notes and &quot;bending&quot; pitches.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Tonehole, post: 628768, member: 9647"] Deep dive- If they played them so why not me! Before high-quality microphones and monitors were common in clubs, saxophonists relied on [B]physical resistance[/B] to project. [LIST] [*][B]The "Volume" Factor:[/B] A harder reed allowed a player to push more air without the sound "breaking up" or squeaking. [*][B]The Mouthpiece Trade-off:[/B] Most players used mouthpieces with [B]narrow tip openings[/B] (like a 4 or 5). To get a full, professional sound from a narrow opening, you [I]must[/I] use a harder reed (3.5 to 5). [*][B]The "Macho" Era:[/B] There was a cultural belief among jazz players that "real" musicians played hard reeds—a trend that eventually shifted in the 1960s as electronics improved. [*]Charlie Parker played a #4 Rico/ LaVoz [*]Coltrane played a #4 Rico in the 50's [*]Stan Getz played a #3.5 - #5 Vandoren [*]Sonny Rollins played a # 3.5 - #5 LaVoz / Rico [/LIST] [B]Modern Setup:[/B] Players now often prefer [B]wider tip openings[/B] (#7 or #8) paired with [B]softer reeds[/B] (#2.5 or #3). This allows for more air volume and flexibility, especially for altissimo notes and "bending" pitches. [/QUOTE]

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