[psyguy]

My 82Z tenor plays about 20 cents sharp from top to bottom with all Mpc's I have tried except for the Yamaha Custom 5C (unmodified with small tip opening) that came with the horn in 2003. The 5C is a particularly long shank mpc. Any recommendations for a replacement mpc. I prefer HR over metal but can be pursuaded to consider metal. Thanks.

 

[swperry1]

So...have you been playing sharp since 2003 or using the 5c for 17 years? Perhaps a different neck could help?

 

[10mfan]

My Generation ll 10MFAN Showtime HR and Chameleon mouthpieces have longer shanks. These are powerful mouthpieces so I’m not sure they would fit what you are looking for in terms of sound, but the shanks are extended. Yamahas typically play very in tune so it’s hard to understand.

 

[theneighbordubh]

There are folks that can make shank extensions. Some permanent and some non-marring. I have a removable delrin shank extension on my bari mpc. Many pieces don't necessarily have longer shank sizes because the blanks only come in one size, so it's easier to make an existing one longer.

 

[andre251]

Psyguy, just to be clear...does your horn tune sharp even when the mouthpiece is hanging off the edge of the neck?

 

[milandro]

very very odd, and it may very well be a matter of reeds too soft or too old or your cork may simply be to thin.

Anyway the length is only one of the criteria for intonation, another one is internal volume.

Since it is fair to assume that your horn is working and in tune for most players (ask someone else also to play it) changing it with an extension is probably not a very good idea. I’d try to search what it is that you are doing that other Yamaha players aren’t.

I’ve checked in my mouthpieces drawer and the Yamaha is shorter than the Selmer S80 , so you may try thaat but I still feel that the problem lays elsewhere

 

[pontius]

before going on the mouthpiece chase, I would make absolutely sure that the horn is sealing properly or you might end up just going around in circles. Then I would get another player or two to play on it and see if the horn plays sharp for them as well. Then you can better know what the problem is.

 

[Sigmund451]

Its either you biting or a horn setup problem. I would be hard pressed to claim that any mouthpiece, modern or vintage, could not agree with a Yahama. They are not my favorite horn but they play in tune. I suggest a solution, not a limitation of one or two mouthpieces. Something is wrong.

 

[Dr G]

I recall seeing you mention this before.

2014: https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...or-saxophone-mouthpiece&p=2336019#post2336019

2015: https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...ank-tenor-HR-mouthpiece&p=2410658#post2410658

Have you had anyone else play your horn to see if they get the same result?

Have you ever worked with a teacher to make sure that you have a proper embouchure and concept of playing the horn?

 

[zootspiker]

I know on my vintage Conn 30M chamber size was the difference. Played with a large chamber perfectly in tune. Medium to small chamber half a step sharp. Also I recall reading that our oral cavity makes a big difference. Normal to under bite is good for sax and clarinet. Over bite not so much.

 

[turf3]

A new Yamaha Custom has about the best intonation of any saxophone ever made, both for consistency and for matching A440.

It's you.

 

[datsaxman]

It is you. It was you in the two previous threads. It is still you.

I am not a Yamaha guy, but they are certainly playing in tune for thousands of folks.

Get somebody to swap horns with you and see if the Yamaha is now in tune, and the other is not. Betcha.

 

[turf3]

But why would I fix a faulty embouchure and voicing, when I could just spend money on hardware?

 

[Sigmund451]

Testing..where did my avatar go

 

[Pete Thomas]

Testing..where did my avatar go

I wonder if it is connected to this:

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...Software-Coming-to-Sax-on-the-Web-Forum/page2

 

[datsaxman]

... the death of another thread ...

 

[svCompassRose]

Have you tried not pushing the mouthpiece on so far? If the cork is too small wrap a strip of paper around the cork a couple times and then put the mpc on.

 

[Reet McVouty]

Well, if your horn plays in tune with the 4C then it's not the horn, it's you. That's a fairly closed mouthpiece and if your embouchure works with that you're going to have to make some adjustments to play a more open MP. Also, I would stop looking at a tuner if that's what you're doing. Put on a play-a-long, play with that and listen, use your ears. But my guess is it's your embouchure. Different reeds may help as well.

 

[Obelix]

Suggest to try all the advice above, and if still persisting...
I had that problem long time ago with a B&S tenor. A technician stripped the cork, unsoldered the end ring, then soldered a 6-7mm piece of pipe to the end of the neck. Re-soldered the end ring, and recorked.
The whole thing was done in front of me in a very short amount of time.
Nothing was visible, and after then the horn played in tune well.

Having said this, I also think that Yamaha wouldn't allow this to slip through their QC.

I have a Caravan Soprano mpc which is too short to be sufficiently pushed in to play in tune, hence useless. Other mpcs play in tune, so, better to try other mpcs.

 

[hakukani]

Finger a low b and do the octave overtone b. Then compare it with your x00|000 b. Push in until you can match the pitch.