[Wildboy1983]

I recently swapped out my Amazon cheapo sax to a Yanigasawa aw01 and I absolutely love it. It's like night and day. It feels almost invisible compared to the leaky thing I had before.

Anyway the new sax came with a stock Yani mouthpiece which I was expecting to be an upgrade from the Yamaha 4c I have been using. Upon trying out the Yani I found it to be very stable and direct and jabs the notes like a sword. It's probably perfect for a newbie like myself but I found it to be pretty one dimensional and ended up shifting back to my 4c instead. The 4c sounds a little less refined but has more texture in my opinion.

Now I know that some advice will be to tell me that I already have two good mouthpieces and I shouldn't be tarting around at an early stage but curiosity is getting the best of me and besides it's my birthday tomorrow so I'm looking to treat myself.

I have read that the Meyer 5m is a good mp but I don't know how different it would be from the Yani? Should I be looking at Otto link for something more interesting or something else?

 

[Hassles]

Mouthpieces "often" need to be learnt - Yanagisawa mouthpieces are not bad at all - they may not be want you want or need but seeing how you have it I would suggest learning it.

 

[saxcop]

I think the Yani mpc is better than a Meyer. I don't think they would be much different and I have both. I'd probably try one of these. This website is a great resource if you haven't seen it.

https://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2014/09/daddario-select-jazz-alto-saxophone-mouthpiece/

 

[Lambros]

Good luck to you and enjoy the new horn! Yanagisawa mouthpieces are excellent, as well.

 

[LostConn]

First, congratulations on your new AWO1. Yanagisawas are great horns.

As to your mouthpiece GAS: A mouthpiece with the face of a Hindu god engraved on it would be "interesting," but that doesn't mean it would be good for you to play on. A request for "What mouthpiece should I try?" advice should always include this information: (a) The type(s) of music you play or want to play; (b) The specific reason(s) you find your current mouthpiece(s) inadequate or unsatisfactory; and, for inexperienced players, (c) How long you have been playing, and how far you have progressed to date.

I thought that a 5 was Yanagisawa's standard facing on all the stock HR mouthpieces supplied with Yany saxes. If you have a 6, that means you already have a second piece that should provide a clear contrast, at least in terms of tip opening, to your Yamaha 4C.

 

[Lambros]

I thought that a 5 was Yanagisawa's standard facing on all the stock HR mouthpieces supplied with Yany saxes. If you have a 6, that means you already have a second piece that should provide a clear contrast, at least in terms of tip opening, to your Yamaha 4C.

If's actually better to have the 6 Yanagisawa; a very reliable chart has it measured out to .085. That's a reasonable opening especially a quality HR piece that is very well made and finished.

 

[Dr G]

If's actually better to have the 6 Yanagisawa; a very reliable chart has it measured out to .085. That's a reasonable opening especially a quality HR piece that is very well made and finished.

Hmmm, yeah, I just looked at that chart as well. It's weird that the metal tip openings are on a different scale than the HR. 0.085 is more open than I would recommend for most intermediate alto players. A Meyer 5, in contrast, is around 0.070".

 

[Lambros]

George I assumed tenor, the alto is .072.

 

[Dr G]

George I assumed tenor, the alto is .072.

Thanks for the correction, Lambros. I was looking at the alto chart at TheoWanne, and found different info:

https://33ixja257n934eggmj1qe0no-wp...2016/01/Theo-Wanne-Tip-Opening-Chart-ALTO.pdf

I agree with you that ~0.070" (if that's what the Yanagisawa alto metal 6 measures) is a reasonable size tip opening.

 

[Lambros]

I’m referring to Aizen’s chart; amazingly enough the Yanagisawa 6 for both HR and metal are at .072 while the rest don’t measure up that way; the metal being a bit more open than the HR with the other sizes.

 

[Wildboy1983]

Thanks for all the input. I have come around to keeping the Yani 6 based on all your comments. At least that will give me time to research another mouthpiece that is a better fit for my future tone whatever that may come to be.

 

[Stretch]

Going to a more open tip as from 4C to a 6 opening takes some adjustment. A little more resistance there. You might consider using a slightly softer reed. A Yani 6 is a reasonable tip opening for someone that has been playing awhile, it's especially a good match for your new horn.

 

[Wildboy1983]

I'm finding the tip opening is giving me more volume with the Yani 6 but I am not otherwise struggling with keeping enough air going through. Are there any other considerations I should think about that might be of detriment to going to a larger opening that I should look out for?

 

[Lambros]

Are there any other considerations I should think about that might be of detriment to going to a larger opening that I should look out for?

Happy birthday! Focus in your sound and what going from .063 to .072 means to you; it's roughly 1/00 of an inch which is somewhat marginal but definitely noticed as you continue to play both pieces. Don't be in a rush and enjoy what you're hearing and you may want to record your playing and/or have a seasoned player hear you as well.