Working on a mouthpiece

[SaxinNZ]

I am still having problems with playing low notes on my BW Tenor. I know its not the Sax, no complaints there at all, but I think the mouthpiece/reed might be the problem. I have only tried Rico 1 ½ and 2 reeds with it, apart from the free reed that came with it. When playing with the number 2 it is impossible to get down, but the 1 ½ I can just make low C if I run down to it.
I know I am inexperienced as such, but I’m pretty sure its not my embouchure that’s all at sea. I will in the course of time be getting a new MP, but it is difficult at present so I would like to persevere with the one that came with the BW. I know that some of you have said they should be cast aside, but can anyone tell me would it be worth me tinkering with it in the hope of making a half decent temporary MP?
I don’t know for sure, but I feel that the opening is just wrong, maybe a little too restrictive, and I was thinking to face it to a bigger one!

Would like to hear if anyone has tried this, also has anyone had success with their stock BW mouthpiece?

Thanks all….

 

[Taz]

Personally, and this is only my opinion, I would leave the mouthpiece as it is. You say things are difficult at the moment, I don't want to read too much into that, but If you alter the stock piece, you could end up with something that's totally unplayable. No, I'd stick with it until you get something else (Yamaha make good pieces, very playable, good student pieces, just a little...erm..boreing if you know what I mean) Your low notes will come eventually, it just takes time. ;}

 

[kevgermany]

One of the firt things my teacher said was that the low notes on the tenor are hardest. You tend to be too tight with the mouth at first, and every time I start on the low notes he's saying looser.... I also found it helps to take more mouthpiece in for the lower notes. And they need a lot more air.... In advance - otherwise you finger the low note and the sax stops dead.....

 

[SaxinNZ]

You say things are difficult at the moment, I don't want to read too much into that, ...

Well, the biggest problem is that where we live I can’t find anywhere to try out a decent range of MP’s.

The only ones I have found by phoning around are Rico Royal’s, a Yamaha C6, a Bari TS 110 and a Hawk 2 No 7. Anything more than this and I need to get on a Airplane…. seriously! I could just bite the bullet and buy one online I guess, but everyone says I should try before buying. I know I am inexperienced with the Tenor, but I have had Alto’s for some time now, and I guess I’m hoping that I would be able to hear/feel what suited me. Although, maybe a Yamaha would be okay just to get ‘into’ playing the Tenor, until I go abroad and find a decent woodwind store!
What do you think guys?

 

[AlanU]

Is it possible to get a player nearby to blow your saxophone?
If he/she has difficulty it will probably indicate a problem with the instrument.

You don't mention what mouthpiece you currently have.
If its the one that came with the horn, but I'd say go with the Yamaha, but the Rico graftonite is also good. They are consistent and very affordable.
You might just find the problem disappears, and as Taz says the lowest notes will come with time.

 

[SaxinNZ]

Is it possible to get a player nearby to blow your saxophone?
If he/she has difficulty it will probably indicate a problem with the instrument.

You don't mention what mouthpiece you currently have.
If its the one that came with the horn, but I'd say go with the Yamaha, but the Rico graftonite is also good. They are consistent and very affordable.
You might just find the problem disappears, and as Taz says the lowest notes will come with time.

Hi Alan.... no, the instrument is great (took it to the sax tech as soon as it arrived for a check up and such)..... I might just get a Rico or Yamaha to try.... not too much out of pocket if I find I dont like them I guess. As I said, the different reed strength made some difference, so I think I need to experiment a little.

 

[c9off]

I would put a steel rule edge over the table to check if flat, down the middle, across & diagonal, if you can see light, then we can begin the next process...

 

[Morgan Fry]

At this point in your development as a player, you really can't tell whether the problem is you or your equipment. As far as what to upgrade to and when, take your teacher's advice. If you don't have one, get one.

 

[jonf]

If the mouthpiece on your Walstein is anything like the quality of the one I got with my soprano I'd say chuck it and get a better one. Mine was so bad that no-one wouldever be able to play it well. If you get a basic but decent mouthpiece - Yamaha 6 springs to mind - and stick with that for a while.

I wouldn't try working on the Walstein one either, again, assuming it's like the one I had. It was made of a very low quality plastic, and I think that if you tried to do anything with it, your results would not be worthwhile. Mouthpiece modification is a tricky thing, I think.

Having criticised the Walstein mouthpiece I had, I have no real comlaints, as the sax is so good. Most manufacturers supply pretty poor mouthpieces with their saxes, anyway.

 

[Greg Strange]

Give KBB a bell to their Christchurch store or they may be able to source from the Auckland store the mouthpiece you require, you use to be able to get up to 3 mouthpieces at a time, try them out in your own home and send back the mouthpieces you don't want - I personally have a E.Rousseau Studio Jazz SJ4, Otto Link STM 7*, Berg Larsen 100/0 and Meyer 6M mouthpieces for my Walstein tenor - the Meyer is a good all rounder and able to get the low notes out very easily, including sub-tone - the Berg Larsen is good for stripping paint off walls and Lenny Pickett impersonations.
Regards,
Greg Strange.

 

[SaxinNZ]

I would put a steel rule edge over the table to check if flat, down the middle, across & diagonal, if you can see light, then we can begin the next process...

Thanks for the info... tested the table for flatness, is OK. However, i have since bought a Yamaha 6C, just as a reference and for practice. Will let you know how it goes.