[RobCS]

I've had my new YTS-62II for a few months. For the most part, I've been happy with it. But I find that, unlike my Cball Alto, the G at the top of the staff, (G2?) tends to "jump up" to a D if I'm not really careful. I don't seem to have that problem when I'm playing scales and going up to, or down to, the G. But when I play an interval that jumps up or down to the G2, it wants to sound the D. I know that the 62II seems to be really sensitive to my embouchure, especially if I don't keep it really loose. But I was wondering if this was something normal with the YTS-62II, or tenors in general, since I didn't experience it in the past on my alto.
Thanks.

 

[Dave Dolson]

G2 would be the second G (G with the octave key pressed) . . . count up from the bottom notes, etc. So, the D it sounds is a D3, I assume - the D played with the left palm key and which is above the G2 in pitch?

I suspect you have a mechanical problem, but a secondary issue could be your embouchure and the mouthpiece you are using . . . some pieces are just more forgiving than others. Or maybe even the reed.

I'd first look closely at the mechanisms to see if maybe something isn't closing properly - OR staying open when it should be closed. For instance, is the upper octave post that actuates the neck-octave-ring somehow pushing the neck octave open ever so slightly? Is the lower octave vent completely closed? Is the bis Bb closing completely? Is the G# closed properly? Any sort of problem like that could cause your problem. DAVE

 

[RobCS]

Hi Dave. Yes, it is the G with the octave key pressed, and the D is the one above that, the D3. I've looked the sax over and don't seen any apparent leaks. I had the sax gone over by my sax tech after I got it and he adjusted everything, even keeping the sax for several days so that he could play it a little each day to make sure things didn't go out of adjustment. But he didn't mention noticing the problem. Of course, he wasn't playing on the 4C mouthpiece that came with it. So, if that's part of the problem, then he wouldn't have had that issue.

As I mentioned, I don't have much problem when I'm playing a run up, or down, through the G. It generally occurs when I try to jump up or down to the G from an interval above or below. And it doesn't always happen. When I make a conscious effort to relax my embouchure then it generally doesn't happen. I know that embouchure changes and such are the things that help you reach the overtones. I was just surprised that it was so sensitive on this horn, and was wondering if it was typical for the 62II, or tenors in general.

 

[82zguy]

Hi Dave. Yes, it is the G with the octave key pressed, and the D is the one above that, the D3. I've looked the sax over and don't seen any apparent leaks. I had the sax gone over by my sax tech after I got it and he adjusted everything, even keeping the sax for several days so that he could play it a little each day to make sure things didn't go out of adjustment. But he didn't mention noticing the problem. Of course, he wasn't playing on the 4C mouthpiece that came with it. So, if that's part of the problem, then he wouldn't have had that issue.

As I mentioned, I don't have much problem when I'm playing a run up, or down, through the G. It generally occurs when I try to jump up or down to the G from an interval above or below. And it doesn't always happen. When I make a conscious effort to relax my embouchure then it generally doesn't happen. I know that embouchure changes and such are the things that help you reach the overtones. I was just surprised that it was so sensitive on this horn, and was wondering if it was typical for the 62II, or tenors in general.

Oh my gosh! I've had the same problem for 7 years! I first noticed it in 7th grade on a student model selmer i used to play. Then in 9th grade, i got a yts 23 and i had the same problem when i had to slur down from a high d or c to a g. About 2 months ago, i got an 82z and i still have the same problem. after about 30 minutes of playing it goes away. i think its just a problem with tenor saxes maybe, Try and work with it. I've found that if you try and make it jump to the d on purpose, you can get a feel for it, and then adjust your embechure so that it doesnt happen. I guess what I'm trying to say is see if you can adjust your embechure so that it doesnt happen, and then keep doing it. I tend to tighten up around g's

 

[dogbert]

I have the same problem on a YTS-61 (for years). Have the horn checked and everything. It may be an issue with tenor saxes in general but more likely one with my embrochure. It gets better when I play only tenor for some months, so mabe the embrochure is "alto - biased".

 

[swperry1]

I have the same problem on a YTS-61 (for years). Have the horn checked and everything. It may be an issue with tenor saxes in general but more likely one with my embrochure. It gets better when I play only tenor for some months, so mabe the embrochure is "alto - biased".

I don't know about alto/ tenor bias, but it has a lot more to do with you than the horn. I had the same issue on my first horn...frustrated me to no end. When I bought a new horn, it was still there. Then I started reading about voicing intervals and I took a few lessons.
So, your throat shape on high D is like you are singing "ee." When you slur down to G with the octave key, your throat should change to "ahh." It is deeper than that, but I hope the one minute version helps. Steve.

 

[EsbSpecial]

Sounds like you are hopping the overtone - as weird as it sounds, try playing the upper notes with the same thinking as getting crisp low notes on the bari.

 

[RobCS]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I guess some horns are more prone to providing the overtones than others, which is a great thing when you want them, but not when you don't. And maybe the years of playing alto, and the embouchure changes that seemed to be needed to reach the upper notes then has caused me to develop some "bad" habits as far as this tenor goes. (Or maybe it's some latent embouchure habits from my trumpet playing days in high school- 30+ years ago.)

 

[EsbSpecial]

My 61 did the same thing when I switched to the G3 neck. A little bit of face adjustement and the problem has been mitigated.