Advice for a new Jazz Alto mouthpiece?

Orsha · New Member Joined: 05 Nov 2019 Posts: 1 Location: New York

So I am a lead alto player at my school's jazz band. I have been playing for roughly 3 years now, and have been playing on a Yamaha 4c (currently broken bc of a chip at the tip) with Vandoren 3's (Blue Box) for concert band and Vandoren Java 3's (Green Box) for jazz band. I also play on an Cannonball Alto Sax Big Bell Series. In concert band, I am fine with my current setup, although I have a couple squeaks because of the chip at the tip. I enjoy the warm centered tone, and I blend nicely with my section in concert band. But, I am having a hard time projecting and leading my section with my current mouthpiece in jazz band. The naturally warm and centered tone from the Yamaha 4c is just not cutting it for me, as I want a more edgy and brighter sound in jazz band, especially solos! I have been looking at the Vandoren V16 A5 S+ or A6 S+, but the jump in tip opening size (1.6mm to 1.88mm) might be a bit much for me and hard for me to play, considering my embouchure is still forming as a beginner/intermediate leveled player. Any recommendations for a good mouthpiece?

Thanks

etc-etc · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 6187

Try a Jumbo Java A55 with a 2 (or 2 1/2) Java reed, or A45 if A55 is too big.

THE BD · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 3:40 am Post subject:

As a sax player, I've found that the Meyer 5M or 6M (I prefer the larger tip opening of the 6M) is the go to alto mouthpiece. It's got a small roll over baffle and a large enough chamber to really shape your own sound but still allow you to blend with the jazz band. They're also quite budget friendly and easy to find!
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Martin D Williams

Yeah, I did that!

Mike Prestage · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:15 am Post subject:

Guys, this is a wind up:

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/archive/index.php/t-247962.html

Mike

kehaulani · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:47 am Post subject:

I played Alto professionally for over two decades. I played Lead Alto big band and in pop cover bands, as well as Principal Alto in wind ensembles and other classical settings.

In the jazz/pop settings, I went through a fair amount of mouthpieces and finally settled on a Ponzol Hard Rubber Vintage. It was made to specifically reproduce the classic jazz sounds of the 50s and 60s but with a slight variation on its construction. I found it flexible to crossover from jazz into pop and contemporary.

I used a #6 opening and Rico Royal #3 reeds.

They are not made anymore but they occasionally show up on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=+Ponzol+Hard+Rubber+Vintage+alto+outhpiece.&_sacat=0
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
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Brad361 · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:34 am Post subject:

Mike Prestage · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 1:08 pm Post subject:

I'd be surprised if the person posting here wrote the post on Sax on the Web. It was from 2017 after all. I'm guessing someone's just copied and pasted it here because they get a kick out of wasting people's time.

Mike

etc-etc · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 6187

delano · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:59 pm Post subject:

Very clever OP, great action, though only a few will understand.

Mike Prestage · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:57 am Post subject:

Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

A Runyon single reed bassoon mouthpiece on your TRUMPET.

kehaulani · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:51 am Post subject:

delano · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:01 pm Post subject:

Turkle · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 8:24 pm Post subject: