large gap &soft reed Vs. small gap & harder reed.

[Captain Beeflat]

Given that the same ease of blowing can be achieved using a large tip opening with a soft reed or a small opening with a harder reed, what are the advantages of each route? Thanks in anticipation.

[Bill Mecca]

soft reed/open tip is more flexible, easier to bend notes, etc, by the same token it can be harder ton control and needs a mature embouchure.

on the flip side, the harder reed/closed tip is easier to control and not as flexible.

simplistic, but that is the basics.

[disgruntleddave]

harder reed + small tip opening is generally darker tone, softer with big tip opening is generally a brighter, edgier tone.

harder reed + small tip is usually less projective in the upper range and harder for altissimo, but fuller on the bottom end. reverse that for softer reed.

[Captain Beeflat]

Gentlemen, my thanks

[MrMoose]

If the above is true, (and so far that is what I have found) is it good advise for a new player (3 months) to forget going above a 2 1/2 strength reed, and instead get a bigger opening on a new mouthpiece?

I do want more projection on the higher notes, and I want to get to the altissmo notes as soon as I can too. So I can't see why I would bother to get stiffer reeds.........except to strength train my embouchure even more.

MrMoose

[Dave Dolson]

MrMoose; I think there is more to it than merely opening the piece and playing softer reeds. True, the open piece/soft reeds set-up is what I use on all horns, but I've been playing for MANY years and have pretty much settled on the type of music, my sound, my embouchure, horns, and set-ups.

I think three months of playing is probably not enough time to make drastic changes, although there is certainly no law against it. If you can afford the cost of buying various mouthpieces and boxes of reeds, it won't hurt to experiment, but keep in mind that as you gain experience and develop your embouchure, you will most likely move away from what you bought to do this experiment.

As to projecting better and playing altissimo, that should come with practice, not necessarily an equipment change. DAVE

[MrMoose]

Cool. Thanks Dave. I think I will get a slightly better mouthpiece ( I have a plastic student Bundy that came with the sax) and play around with reeds for a while (I can afford that) till I find what I like right now, then I will just play and play.

MrMoose

[frasermanx]

I find that I can't keep a #2 working for long, #2.5 ok but #3 is best .. I mean to say that the reeds get waterlogged too easily unless they are harder like a #3 ... then use a medium tip .. like #6 gap

[Dave Dolson]

Frasermanx: I don't know what you are doing, but I use #2 almost exclusively (on sop and alto) and mine last for months. DAVE

[Mark5047]

So there goes my whole 'workin up to a 5 hardness' theory..
Just kidding.
I have been playing softer reeds and as I was developing better control I was going up in tip openings more than going up in reed strength. It sounds warmer to me that way and SURE is a lot easier to play.
Maybe we should start a 10 step program for that - Hi my name is Mark and I use soft reeds.......