Mouthpieces What mouthpiece?

P

Pegwill

Member
54
I Guys
I have the opportunity to have a new mouthpiece. I have a BW bronze alto with a Yamaha 5c. After doing loads of research it would appear to come down to two. A Meyer rubber 5m or a Jody Jazz HR* 5m. I would like to get that jazz sound (along with the rest of the world) but I also would like to be able to get a modern sound as well. I will not be able to try before buying so I'm hoping to get this right first time as they say.So any advice would be very welcome.

Regards

Bill
 
Hi Bill,

The yam 5C (assuming they are consistently well made) is a great mouthpiece IMO.
To better it with versatility that gets modern through to jazz or whatever, will take a pinch of luck along with the reputation and price if you cannot try models out for suitability first!

I have migrated away from yam pieces on alto and found vandoren Java A45 to be a great next step without breaking the bank.
I also have collected RPC and Gwind meyer copy along the way.
I think if you go the Meyer route, choose larger than a 5 to be as open tipped as the yamaha. Possibly a 7M would equate on modern Meyers but at least go for a 6.

Here is a sample of me on the Gwind meyer copy (mine is an 8NYMC)
will you by Saxlicker
 
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Hi Bill!

1. You could try some "Jazz" reeds - Marca Jazz are an excellent choice, and there are others that you might look into.

2. Depends what you mean by "Jazz sound" but Vandoren V16 HR, Ponzol Vintage HR, & LeBayle Jazz HR would be ones to try IMO, and are generally thought to be better made than the current crop of Meyers. A Jody Jazz should be good, also.

3. For a more Jazzy sound it might also be worth trying a slightly larger tip opening when you do any trials.

4. My own experience is that a Java is more a modern sound than a jazz sound, but these things are obviously subjective.

Good luck with your search!
Kind regards
Tom😎
 
Hi Guys

I have decided to go with vandoren Java A45 as it does appear to be what I'm looking for. Does it need a special ligature or will one that comes with the Yamha 5c (which is quite a basic model) suffice? I notice that the recommend ligature is Vandorian Optimum, but it seems a lot of money when taking into account all the dicussions in the forum , do ligatures make a difference or not?

Also, can I use a mouthpiece patch, and does anybody know what size, as I have found I have quite badly bitten in the 5c one, its the tension and concentration. I have stopped doing it now, but i would like to put a patch to protect the mouthpiece.

Regards
Bill
 
Hi Bill!

May be an idea to get a new Ligature - many think they make a difference, but opinions differ as to why (is it the ligature per se, or is it because it holds the reed better?). I certainly can tell the differences quite acutely. There are lots out there but key thing is not to spend too much - Rovner are popular, as are BG. Having 5 different ones which I use on my alto MPC's I would rate them as follows:

1. Francois Louis Basic.
2. Selmer 2 screw metal/Rovner EVO-5 (easier to set up than the Selmer).
3. Rovner Light.
4. Rovner Dark.

All work well, but prefer the sound of the Francois Louis Basic.

Patches also very good idea. I prefer the 0.8mm Clear Plastic ones, and find the 0.3mm black/clear & 0.8mm black a little too insubstantial. I am not a grinder but they do ensure that your MPC remains in pristine condition.
I used to have a Vandoren Optimum on Tenor, but could not rate it more highly than a Rovner EVO-5, and my trusty FL Basic. I think that it is a little overrated, but looks pretty. I am not sure that Vandoren Ligs are particularly noted in reviews.

I hope that you enjoy your Java A45. I have a Java T55, which I find suits Rock/Funk particularly.
Kind regards
Tom😎
 
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I have just noticed that www.sax.co.uk have Rico Alto H ligatures on special offer at £13, reduced from £25 and would recommend them very highly _ I would have got one previously but they were hard to find. Howarth have EVO-5 ligs at less than £20, and you should not have to pay more than £25 or so for a decent ligature.

Tom.
 
Pegwill said:
Hi Guys

I have decided to go with vandoren Java A45 as it does appear to be what I'm looking for. Does it need a special ligature or will one that comes with the Yamha 5c (which is quite a basic model) suffice? I notice that the recommend ligature is Vandorian Optimum, but it seems a lot of money when taking into account all the dicussions in the forum , do ligatures make a difference or not?

Also, can I use a mouthpiece patch, and does anybody know what size, as I have found I have quite badly bitten in the 5c one, its the tension and concentration. I have stopped doing it now, but i would like to put a patch to protect the mouthpiece.

Regards
Bill
Click to expand...

I think that is a good decision Bill.
Regards the ligature, these things work well enough with a 2 screw metal type lig. The one from the Yam will fit just fine if I remember right and that is what is important. A different ligature will change things a bit in your head but I don't think the output will give you any more quality that a 3rd party will hear.
What it may do, is influence the way you control things and at the same time tell you its brighter or darker, mellower e.t.c. than the last ligature. All in all I would save your money at this point.

Regarding the patches...Oh yes! now a similar thing will happen in your head. Play the mouthpiece without a patch and then put one on. It will feel different and sound different initially then you'll forget.
But not forgetting that the value here is obviously that it will stop bite marks in the beak.
So it's worth it and just for the record, the reeds direct 'transparent patches are excellent. Thin, comfortable and I doubt you'll bite through them and they do not come unstuck.
I only ever change mine for hygiene reasons.

See here
http://www.tinyurls.co.uk/N2367
 
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Pegwill said:
I notice that the recommend ligature is Vandorian Optimum, but it seems a lot of money when taking into account all the dicussions in the forum , do ligatures make a difference or not?
Click to expand...

I bought a Vandoren Optimum ligature when I got my BL3 (a baritone mouthpiece). It comes with three different plates that are meant to be suitable for various types of music. I frankly notice any difference between them. This ligature is quite expensive, and I now doubt that is worth the money. Before you buy it, look at other options.
 
Just out of curiosity, do Yamaha mouthpieces come with Ligatures...? I can only find Yamaha 2 screw Alto sax ones costing from £20 upwards (3 options listed on the Yamaha website - Nickel, Silver and Gold Plate). When Woodwind and Brass advertise their Bauhaus Walstein packages they usually advertise a Yamaha Mouthpiece AND a Rovner Ligature.....

What Ligature do you currently use, Bill? My general beef with 2 screw metal ligatures is that they can easily lose their shape, are not always well made (like the one that came with my Barone Jazz Tenor), and can be a bit of a faff to put on, compared to one screw options.

Kind regards
Tom😎
 
TomMapfumo said:
Just out of curiosity, do Yamaha mouthpieces come with Ligatures...?
Kind regards
Tom😎
Click to expand...

No they don't.
Unless you bought a Yamaha sax, then you got the complete kit.

I really like the selmer 2 screw metal ligs for quality but I think they have gone over to a one screw version now.
You usually need to bend a 2 screw lig to the mould to the shape of your reed and mouthpiece set up. Not ideal if you are swapping mouthpieces regularly but on one set up, the thing falls into place every time you fit a reed.
 
Hi Tom
I bought the sax and mouthpiece from Studio Saxophones. It is two screw type as you suggest, I've looked over it but it has no markings. I thought it was the one that came with the Yam 5c. I just assumed this, not knowing any different. If the Yam 5c doesn't ususally come with a ligature then perhaps it's the standard one supplied with the BW originally as part of the standard package.

Regards

Bill
 

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