[David Zamora]

Hello all of you.
I need your advice for selecting my first mouthpiece.
I have been playing Alto form two years. Now I am going to change to Tenor. I have two options: An Armstrong from 1976 and a Pierret Parisian Ambassador from 196?
Getting low tones, from C to Bb going down it is very difficult to me. I have only one old mouthpiece and I think it is a Selmer C* and I have tried to play with 1 1/2 Rico Royal reeds. The Armstrong is most easy to low tones than the Pierret. I do not have problem with high tones.
So, I am going to buy a new mouthpiece and I have several questions.
1. Maybe I am wrong but I think it could be easier to get low tones with a closed mouthpiece. Do am I wrong? If so, what opening could be better to low tones? And what reeds do I need for this opening?
2. I have looking for some mouthpiece makers and I have found the options I wrote below. I wonder if you would mind to give your opinion (I selected the most closed mouthpieces). Please give me your opinion about all topics you think could help me.
Thank you in advance.
A. Otto Link Hard Rubber 4 (www.wwbw.com/Otto-Link-Hard-Rubber-Tenor-Saxophone-Mouthpiece-473313-i1421323.wwbw)
B. Otto Link Hard Rubber RG Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece 118
C. E. Rousseau Classic 3R (www.wwbw.com/E--Rousseau-Classic-Tenor-Saxophone-Mouthpiece-467982-i1419534.wwbw)
D. Claude Lakey Hard Rubber 4*3 (www.wwbw.com/Claude-Lakey-Hard-Rubber-Tenor-Saxophone-Mouthpiece-465066-i1418871.wwbw)
E. Meyer Hard Rubber 5M (www.wwbw.com/Meyer-Hard-Rubber-Tenor-Saxophone-Mouthpiece-483730-i1435528.wwbw)
F. Jewel Custom Jazz (www.wwbw.com/Jewel-Custom-Jazz-Tenor-Saxophone-Mouthpiece-471532-i1429249.wwbw)
G. Runyon Custom Spoiler Series 5 (www.wwbw.com/Runyon-Custom-Spoiler-Series-Tenor-Saxophone-Mouthpiece-472994-i1423254.wwbw)
H. Brilhart Ebolin (www.wwbw.com/Brilhart-Ebolin-Tenor-Sax-Mouthpiece-467379-i1417170.wwbw)

 

[Jazz House]

B is not a closed mouthpiece.

What type of music are you playing?

 

[David Zamora]

I would like to play Jazz. I have only two years learning. I am 47 years old. I think I do not have a very strong air stream. But I love Jazz. Thanks a lot. So I am going to delete B option from my list.

 

[Jazz House]

*From the link in my signature:

Mouthpiece Suggestions to replace current Tenor mouthpiece:

Sound clips and comparisons: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=81124
Bright sound: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=956
For Jazz: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=3047
Lead Tenor: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=6328
For College: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=5801
Big, dark , edgy: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=9703
Classical: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=7294
To Cut through: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=7483
Great Metal pieces: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=8907
Upgrade: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=110774
Smooth Ballads: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=12109
Big, round, good subtone: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=10708
Big, Fat, wide sound: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=11471
Darkest sounding: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=15320
Edgy: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=17523
Jody Jazz vs Phil Barone: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=20887
Full Bottom, Easy Altissimo: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=30819
Under .100 opening: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=28577
Dark, Bright, Cutting, Warm and Funky: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=30098
Versatility: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=41233
Full Fat in the Palm Keys: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=58633
All round Hard Rubber: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=51474
Rock/Funk/Blues: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=47826
Legit: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=52062
Cutting and Great Altissimo: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=50285
Great Metal Jazz: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=63111
Controllable Power and Brightness: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=64600
Like a Sugal: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=44528
For Beginners: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=73253
Fusion: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=89190
Cheap Step-up jazz: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=104178
Florida Links: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=102222
Modern Sounding under $300: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=108022
Caravan and Rascher: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=101784

NOTE- Mouthpiece choice should not be influenced by horn shape, brand or colour, unless there are intonation problems (possibly due to a really modern mouthpiece on a really old horn).

 

[bruce bailey]

Get a Rico Graftonite B5 or Metalite M5. These are really low priced mouthpieces that are very good. I sold a mouthpiece for $550 that I was using and went to the Ricos. Worth a try.

 

[MojoBari]

First, have your tenor sax checked for leaks. Then practice long tones on your Selmer C* until you can play the low notes. If a local music store has some inexpensive mouthpieces to try, go ahead and try them to see if any work better for you than the Selmer. But I think you just need some more practice to build up your embouchure muscles and air support. As they get stronger, work up to harder reeds. When you get to a 2.5-3 reed, think about trying some mouthpieces. You will be a different player then.

 

[JL]

Maybe I am wrong but I think it could be easier to get low tones with a closed mouthpiece. Do am I wrong? If so, what opening could be better to low tones?

i don't agree that low tones are easier on a relatively closed tip mpc. The tip size is another issue and while it's true you should start on a modest tip (not too extreme either way), getting the low notes to speak is much more a matter of your airstream and embouchure than what mpc you are using. Once you get that sorted out (through practice, maybe a teacher), you can start trying some different tip sizes. IMO, there is little correlation of ease of playing low or high notes to tip size. You might find the low notes sound bigger or richer with a given tip size, but they shouldn't be harder or easier to play. That's a technique issue.

 

[JL]

First, have your tenor sax checked for leaks. Then practice long tones on your Selmer C* until you can play the low notes.

+1 on this! Also, loosen up. I'd bet anything you are biting too hard and that will make it nearly impossible to get those low notes.