[hoopjaw]

Hello everyone, I just googled "New York Meyer" today to once again be depressed at the price tag, but I saw today that they are doing a new run of New York Meyer mouthpieces. Has anyone tried them out? I have a Meyer 5 that I play on now but it is just a cheap one that I bought when I was in middle school. I've been playing tenor mostly lately but I want to come back to my alto and buy a new mouthpiece that is more free and brighter, if that makes sense. I play on a V16 T10 on my tenor so its far brighter than the Meyer on my alto and I am dissatisfied with how restrictive my old Meyer is.

Bottom line: is the new New York Meyer different than the previous iteration of Meyers and worth the $200+ price tag?

 

[turf3]

I don't know, I'm playing a Meyer 7 on alto that I bought before all these "tribute" pieces started coming out, and I think it plays just fine. Definitely not restrictive. I very much doubt there's anything much wrong with your existing piece that a few dozen hours in the shed wouldn't fix.

 

[hoopjaw]

I don't know, I'm playing a Meyer 7 on alto that I bought before all these "tribute" pieces started coming out, and I think it plays just fine. Definitely not restrictive. I very much doubt there's anything much wrong with your existing piece that a few dozen hours in the shed wouldn't fix.

I mean, all I'm saying is that the 5 facing I have now is much more restrictive than the V16 that I've been playing on tenor. The tenor is around the same tip opening as a Otto Link 9. and the meyer is a little more open than a C*. Even if I don't go for the new New York Meyer, I'm still going to buy a new mouthpiece with a larger tip opening because it will be similar to the tenor mouthpiece I'm used to.

 

[turf3]

Well, I prefer more open pieces myself, as see my Meyer 7. If you're primarily a tenor player you may find pieces toward the "open" end of the alto spectrum feel better to you.

Maybe someone else can chime in on whether the "New York" model of current Meyer has demonstrably better QC than the run of the mill current production Meyer.

 

[jman1977]

This could be helpful:

https://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2019...rsary-model-alto-saxophone-mouthpiece-review/

In addition to the review itself, you can also browse the 41 comments to see what others say about the mouthpiece.

 

[turf3]

Well, Neff certainly seems to have liked them.

I'd be real careful about making sure not to get one of the defective ones ("duckbill").

 

[J-Moen]

Well, Neff certainly seems to have liked them.

I'd be real careful about making sure not to get one of the defective ones ("duckbill").

Couldn't agree more!

If you want to buy one, I suggest Kessler Music, he ensures it's the proper beak!

 

[jamiejazz]

I bought a new NY 5m and it's ok. I have a bunch of Meyers and I normally play a NYUSA. The new piece is ok, better than the normal current Meyers.
I wouldn't say it plays like a vintage Meyer, but it's nice.

 

[mmichel]

Meyers are good mouthpieces, but they are dark-ish by nature (at least the medium-chamber models), and the tip openings are often inaccurate on current models.

You seem to (1) want a brighter mouthpiece and (2) play on a very open mouthpiece (0.120") on tenor.

If you like your tenor V16, why not try one on alto? Maybe an A7 S+ chamber? It's considerably less expensive and Vandoren mouthpieces tend to be more consistent.

Personally, I prefer the darker sound of a Meyer, but it doesn't sound like you're happy with yours.

 

[A Greene]

I had the first Duck-Billed version and traded them with Babbit for the regular version. I thought they played ok but ended up selling both and use a Stock Meyer. If you want a really good Meyer. Phil-Tone Meyers floating around are great. There was also a Limited New York version that’s are really good.

 

[Benjamin Allen]

They're really well made mouthpieces as far as internal geometry, facing length, and facing curve. The side rails and tip rail are good enough for what they are (that being a mouthpiece crafted without any intent of having perfect side rails and tips rails like boutique and CNC mouthpieces.) I bought mine for about $150.00 new, which I thought was an incredibly fair price at the time. If they cost $200.00 now, then you might be being overcharged, and I would check kesslermusic for their price. I also happen to think Babbitt does an overall great job with their mouthpieces. It's when people start comparing CNC'd pieces with Babbitt's pieces that they're not making a fair comparison. As for how they play, I think they're great. Good luck in your quest.
Best,
Ben

 

[Aquarian]

It seems to me that if you're looking for something new, it's a good idea to get an idea of what's possible. I think going from a Meyer to a better Meyer or a design based on a Meyer makes sense if you're already mostly happy with the sound. In that case, I do think trying the various "Meyer-a-likes" is not a bad idea, like the D'Addario Select Jazz or the above mentioned Vandoren V16. I know the select jazz is fairly bright as I have one and if I push it in that direction it can compete with a Metalite without having the shrill edge. If you know you like it more open, go more open for sure. On the Vandoren, I know Grace Kelly plays a V16 A8 s+. There is more than just Meyer in that design space.

That said, if you want bright, I guess it depends on what type of bright, but getting away from the Meyer style opens other possible routes like Jody Jazz Jet. There's no reason to hold to the Meyer unless you already like it and just want a slight change. It's your sound to choose. I have a metalite that I play when I am not feeling the (extremely beautiful) sound of my Orion (which took over from my Select Jazz as my main piece). I recently got an M7 of the metalite and for me that's a way to play with the bright sound cheaply when I need to hear something really different.

 

[MojoBari]

Well, Neff certainly seems to have liked them.

I'd be real careful about making sure not to get one of the defective ones ("duckbill").

I have a client who likes the duckbill ones. He likes real open tips. If you have one contact me.

I can custom make them but buying is cheaper.

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

I tried the new NY model. It played nice but I stuck with my oldish Meyer G. The G has a smaller chamber and more brights. Just personal preference.

 

[KenJarczyk]

It seems the “Holy Grail” of Alto mouthpieces would be the pre- JJ Babbitt company Meyer pieces made in New York. Probably the best authority on NY Meyers was the late Ralph Morgan. His father had the specification charts from Meyer, and was on the manufacturing team there. Ralph really studied the physics of mouthpieces. Of all the brands out there, I have found that Morgan Mouthpieces come the very closest to vintage Meyers. A real vintage Meyer - if a seller knows what he has - will now sell used for close to a thousand dollars or more. And who knows the history of “techs” filing, sanding, modifying these. A Morgan Medium 6 Alto piece is as close to a perfect & untampered vintage NY Meyer 5 that everyone will kill for! Need a bit more edge? The Morgan Excalibur 6M gets it.

Now - also new in town - the Retro-Revival New York Medium Chamber mouthpiece is shaking the woods! Very, very precise clone of those vintage Meyers!

My favorite Alto piece is a modified Morgan Excalibur 6M - modified by Ralph himself about 20 years back. After hours of trial and discussion, he basically made me an exact NY Meyer 5 in the Excalibur blank. Ralph told me - “Give me a couple months, and you’ll be happy.” It is a perfect piece for me.

So, out of true curiosity, I did order a Retro-Revival NY Medium-Chamber 7. It is very close to perfect, just a wee bit more open than I’ve been used to. But I like it!

 

[sinkdraiN]

I have a client who likes the duckbill ones. He likes real open tips. If you have one contact me.

I can custom make them but buying is cheaper.

Man, 10+ years ago I sent a "current" meyer to Mojo to make it ny meyer-ish. After all these years it's still my main alto mouthpiece!