Yamaha 4C, 5C or 6C

losaavedra · Mar 26, 2008

Hi, I will need to get another mouthpiece for my alto shortly (I've got very sharp front teeth and in my early enthusiasm have nearly sawn through the top of the mp that came with it!). I probably need to think about patches too then ... but which of 4C, 5C and 6C would be best to get and (uhm) why? Although I'm really only a 'beginner' I can already find all the notes except for 2 or 3 at the top end of the alt range with what remains of the mp that came with the sax (which is still useable but will be kept as a 'spare'). I can see that the tip openings vary with the Yamahas ... but what is the likely effect (or difficulty) with, say, just going for a 6C straight away. They're all the same price!

Pete Thomas · Mar 26, 2008

With a softish reed you might be fine

Saxlicker · Mar 27, 2008

Controlling intonation and getting the extreme highs and lows may be affected by the larger tip opening.

But IMO a 6C is not as difficult as some other pieces and you should be fine.

losaavedra · Mar 27, 2008

Thanks guys ... a 6C, plus some patches and half dozen plasticised Rico 2s (which will put a stop to me spraying my normal Ricos with clear lacquer!) are on their way from Germany already. Unfortunately I live in the sticks here in Spain and it's a 60 KM round trip to the nearest half-decent music shop ... so the Internet is often the best option! Surprising there aren't more nearer actually as all the parades (Semana Santa & Moors & Christians, etc.) comprise at least 30 marching bands that I estimate altogether contain six or seven hundred people blowing into something or other. I need to check with some of them where they get their accessories! Music is big out here. My own tiddley town has a Jazz Fest on at the moment dedicated to the work of Monk and Coltrane ... concerts, master classes, the works ... all free admission ... I'm really enjoying it!

Saxlicker · Mar 28, 2008

Ref your sharp teeth....

I have used patches that are easy to bite through and/or lose adheasion once saliva has got under them.

I recommend KOLBL BISSPLATCHEN (0.4mm). I know they are available from John Myatt woodwind and brass incase yours do the same and you take me up on this.
Good luck!

losaavedra · Apr 3, 2008

Just thought I'd round off this thread!

The Yam 6C arrived a couple of days ago along with some patches and a few coated Rico 2s. I tried to figure out the physical difference between the 6C and the stock mp that came with my alto ... measuring the tip opening of each yielded 1.8mm on both (assuming that's the distance the lay of the mp falls away from the inside flat surface of a fixed-on reed at the tip). There is a difference inside in that the chamber on the stock mp is fairly straight while the 6C is curved upwards a tiny bit. I put a patch on the 6C straight away ... and having got used to the slightly strange feel of the patch it plays great. It sounds rather more 'mellow' but I'm finding it more controllable too.

The old mp has had a file taken to the chewed up top, followed by a good polish, and its now completely smooth again (albeit with a rather cute upturn on it!). Still plays fine and I've patched that as well ... it remains to be seen how long it takes me to chew the patches off ... too many years of stripping insulation off of wire when doing electrical work ... not to be recommended!

I'm not sure about the coated Ricos ... gave one a quick try ... wasn't enormously impressed ... so switched back to one I'd sprayed up myself which I've been using every day for the last three weeks and I kinda like it.

Thanks for the help guys.

Edited Monday 7th April, rather than keep bumping this thread!

I gave up on the patches ... they have vertical sides and for me seemed to develop squeaks I didn't have before, plus they had a marshmallowish feel which I didn't like too much. So I made a couple out of aluminium sheet (about .8mm thick) bent them carefully to follow the mp contours (tricky accommodating the upturn on the original mp as it currently goes up front to back and down at the sides!). Finally chamfered all the edges down to almost nothing then bonded them on with contact adhesive and a final trickle all round of waterproof pvc glue (goes on white but sets transparently) and hopefully that should prevent the contact adhesive from letting go. I'm pretty pleased with the result ... the old solid feel is back and the addons make my mps pretty chew-proof. Play good too which is what matters most!

That's all ... I'll update this again only if something turns out not to be right about them (or I think of something else!).

losaavedra · Apr 8, 2008

Tuesday 8th April. Sun was shining so I took some pics to finally move on from this thread. Here are the results of the above activities:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/losaavedra/MUSIC/ALTOMPS1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/losaavedra/MUSIC/YAMALTOMP2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/losaavedra/MUSIC/YAMALTOMP1.jpg