[HaydenE]

I've been playing saxophone for roughly 5 years now, and have been using a D'addario Jazz Select 5* for my alto for 2 of those years. I've also been using a 6* Yanagisawa that I'm pretty comfortable with for about 8 months. I usually alternate between these mouthpieces for different sounds, and I don't think that my 5* is performing the way I want it to in terms of tone. I think it's time for me to graduate to a new hard rubber mouthpiece, as my 5* just isn't giving me the sound or projection I'm looking for. I'm planning on saving up for a Gaia 3 hard rubber alto mouthpiece; I want a fat edgy traditional sound for a bebop setting and I'd still like to have the ability to jump into the altissimo range whenever I need to. I've been thinking for a while about what kind of tip opening I should get to achieve this, and I came here for answers. What's different about other tip openings? Which one should I choose? I've heard that a higher tip opening will give you a bigger sound, so I thought I'd get an 8*, but I'm not sure if it's the best choice for my sound or not.

Edit: a friend of mine that made jazz all-state in my area suggested that I try a JodyJazz jet mouthpiece, would this be a better option than the gaia?

 

[Reet McVouty]

I've been playing saxophone for roughly 5 years now, and have been using a D'addario Jazz Select 5* for my alto for 2 of those years. I've also been using a 6* Yanagisawa that I'm pretty comfortable with for about 8 months. I usually alternate between these mouthpieces for different sounds, and I don't think that my 5* is performing the way I want it to in terms of tone. I think it's time for me to graduate to a new hard rubber mouthpiece, as my 5* just isn't giving me the sound or projection I'm looking for. I'm planning on saving up for a Gaia 3 hard rubber alto mouthpiece; I want a fat edgy traditional sound for a bebop setting and I'd still like to have the ability to jump into the altissimo range whenever I need to. I've been thinking for a while about what kind of tip opening I should get to achieve this, and I came here for answers. What's different about other tip openings? Which one should I choose? I've heard that a higher tip opening will give you a bigger sound, so I thought I'd get an 8*, but I'm not sure if it's the best choice for my sound or not.

Edit: a friend of mine that made jazz all-state in my area suggested that I try a JodyJazz jet mouthpiece, would this be a better option than the gaia?

An increased tip opening will not necessarily give you a bigger sound, and to be honest, you really need to explain just what a bigger sound means to you. If you mean you want to project more and have more spread to your sound then that's actually achieved by a combination of things. Horn, mouthpiece and even the neck makes a difference. I think the comfortable range for most players is between 5 & 7.

I have not tried one of these but it's supposed to be a traditional bebop sounding piece. https://www.drakemouthpieces.com/Bebop_Classic_Alto.html
If you call or email them they will school you and discuss tip openings ect ..

 

[Aquarian]

I have been on the mouthpiece wheel of uncertainty lately, luckily mostly using cheaper mouthpieces to test my ideas. What I can say for certain about tip openings is that they need to be matched to the reed. Facing length also plays a factor.

My most open tip is a metalite m5, at .080, but it also has a short facing. It's a bright mouthpiece and getting a full sound out of the bottom is more work. I also have an Otto Link STM (metal) 6*, which is the same .080 but plays the opposite - it's very dark, sounds great and full on the bottom, but can be dull in the middle and is hard to voice at the top (F# is fragile).

The only thing in common between them is that I use 2.5 vandoren reeds on both and wouldn't use anything harder (the metalite actually would need 2s of red box java or blue box).

Honestly? An expensive mouthpiece may be good, or maybe your best mouthpiece is a Rico Metalite, and I am not kidding in any way here. You might like the Select Jazz more as a 6, I have the 6 and it's nice but requires a bit more air than I like (and more than the Otto Link!).

Maybe this advice seems useless, but try different things if you can. If you've got enough change for a Wanne, get a metalite for fun and see what you think. Play every mouthpiece you own and think about what you like, what you don't like, what reed works, etc. The Select Jazz 5 is an excellent mouthpiece, but maybe you need something different. It depends on what sound you like, your embouchure, your reeds, and so on. Charlie Parker used at least one mouthpiece with an .060 opening, you can literally buy a reproduction of it.

 

[AddictedToSax]

Bigger isn';t necessarily better. If there';s shop near you that carries a selection of pieces you can try go there and sample the wares. If a 5 plays well for you then fine. From what I read here many of the greats in jazz played smaller opening tips than what';s popular today and they did fine.

 

[lostcircuits]

Ditto on the opening. But regardless, a Meyer 6M is something you should at least take a look at. The sound IS in the MPC but it is just as much in the reed.

 

[Jazz House]

I've been playing saxophone for roughly 5 years now, and have been using a D'addario Jazz Select 5* for my alto for 2 of those years. I've also been using a 6* Yanagisawa that I'm pretty comfortable with for about 8 months. I usually alternate between these mouthpieces for different sounds, and I don't think that my 5* is performing the way I want it to in terms of tone. I think it's time for me to graduate to a new hard rubber mouthpiece, as my 5* just isn't giving me the sound or projection I'm looking for. I'm planning on saving up for a Gaia 3 hard rubber alto mouthpiece; I want a fat edgy traditional sound for a bebop setting and I'd still like to have the ability to jump into the altissimo range whenever I need to. I've been thinking for a while about what kind of tip opening I should get to achieve this, and I came here for answers. What's different about other tip openings? Which one should I choose? I've heard that a higher tip opening will give you a bigger sound, so I thought I'd get an 8*, but I'm not sure if it's the best choice for my sound or not.

Edit: a friend of mine that made jazz all-state in my area suggested that I try a JodyJazz jet mouthpiece, would this be a better option than the gaia?

If you like the Jazz Select mouthpiece in the 5* but want a bit more projection, why not give it a go in a 6*. These are fine mouthpieces, so I don't really personally see wanting a bigger sound as a reason for a change here, but if you like the fundamental sound quality of the model, maybe a slightly more open one might suit you. Usually, having a bigger tip opening can give you access to a louder sound, but it takes more effort to blow into and often comes at the expense of your intonation unless you're careful. In general, most people don't really favour big tip openings on alto for some reason, but you might like them. Usually, I would recommend a Meyer type piece (Vandoren V16, Jody HR*, Jazz Select, etc) for most applications unless you really think you need the high baffle or gaping chamber or whatever. The simple medium chamber and rollover baffle combo on alto can do pretty much anything.

A fat, edgy, traditional sound for a bebop setting with the ability to jump into altissimo as needed.... Hmm... This sounds to me like it can be achieved on a standard Meyer-style piece provided you do the work (overtones, long notes, listening) and you get the right reeds. Don't underestimate the effect of having the right cut of reed. This is way cheaper to play around with than new mouthpieces and might have a huge impact. Also, if you really have a sound in your head, your body will eventually work out how to produce if if you work on your sound daily. I would say that I don't usually struggle to get into the altissimo with any of my usual alto mouthpieces (Yamaha 7C for teaching in small rooms and Meyer 7M for everything else). I think it's a lot more about technique and experience than about gear. Another thing - don't overlook the effect of articulation and phrasing choices. So much of our impression of someone's sound comes from this too!

The Jet is a well made mouthpiece, but it is a bit of a screamer, so I'm not sure if I'd really recommend this one for bebop. For sure it could be made to work, but it's a slightly unconventional starting point. I can't really comment much on the Gaia 3, but I'm sure it's a good piece. Never played one...