jacobeid said:
I really think you'll notice a big difference. Jumps like that from D2 to G1 will be much easier, and your sound will open up A LOT. I use La Voz Mediums or 3S RJS on my morgan jazz 6m with my conn 6m.
I got them today (2H filed) and you were right, its much easier to play and sounds better too. I now think it may be a tad free-blowing... but I am not sure if a reed change is what I need now, or I am curious about the idea of trading for a 6M and then being able to use a 3S or so. But maybe I can get used to this. When I was playing today it felt like I was restraining myself in order to control the soft reed, and I couldn't be loose with my playing and when I tried, I could play fast but it was a little hard to control. But I thinking maybe it is something I can get used to, because the sound is good. I could start a subtone on a low Bb at a pretty low volume.
side note - listening to the low notes on the Martin alto was pretty thrilling... sounded like a tenor down low, complex, deep, lush, but with a sparkle to it. Sometimes I feel like it "growls" by itself, a little, or has a grittiness to the tone, and when I do growl with it this effect is intensified. I also loved the highs, which sound a bit more piercing than the lows, and made for a nice effect when going up and down the scale. I kinda dig this horn, but it's annoying when my fingers can't find the action, because I'm not used to it yet... like when my pinky slips (flies...) off the G#, doh. The side alt. F# sounds fine with the thinner reed, too, (it was very stuffy before.)