[supersonic]

Many Mouthpieces like AIZEN / Mouthpiecafe / and others are only offered up to

.082 ....Tenor mpcs are mostly available up to .125

is there a good reason why most alto players play .070 - .080

and not .090 - or .095

I jused to play .100 on alto now I am on .090

 

[Honeyboy]

Probably because they fit the #2.5 reeds the best.:bluewink: Actually I used to play a Berg 100/1 alto and my mouth would get real tired after one set, even with a softer reed. I think due to the facing length, there may be an optimal opening range for MOST people.

 

[Sigmund451]

It costs a lot of money to have blanks made in different configurations.

Generally the same blank can cover the range from a Meyer 5-7.

When you start to push far beyond that you are looking at running out of material at the beak or having to alter the table to tip angle.

In the end it takes more money or more time to make these. The return is limited since most players do not play that large of a tip.

You dont find many makers selling Tenor pieces in .120-.130 for the same reasons.

Im sure it can be frustrating but its just not cost effective for a business.

You are best to go though independent makers for custom tips.

 

[NissanVintageSax]

I bought my .085 Alto piece through Aaron Drake. It's a Drake Contemporary, and it plays very well with a Med BARI* reed! Not badly priced either, and he'll make them in any tip size you like.

 

[bruce bailey]

I think .078" is about the max for most alto mouthpieces. Heed Phil's advice....sounds like a good baseline.

 

[Sigmund451]

I sell a lot of .081 pieces but more .076's.

It takes some serious chops for much larger unless the baffle is high.

I also think that a lot of players prefer the speed and articulation of more modest tips.

Personally, I like .076 and .080. I dont play enough alto to go higher and really dont feel the need. I also dont play high baffle pieces.

 

[NissanVintageSax]

I was starting to need to stiff of a reed than I preferred on Alto with the smaller tips, so, for me, stepping up to .080 for general use, and .085 for everything else just made sense. I have the best Alto tone I've ever had now! The .080 is a Drake Custom piece, in a hybrid Jazz/Classical style (straight no baffle piece, with just a slight rollover at the tip, and curved sidewalls). The .085 as mentioned, is the Contemporary high baffle piece (Med chamber, very high baffle, straight side walls).

 

[JackLi]

Most people don't play tip openings that huge on MeYer styled mouthpiece. Most people stay within 0.075-0.085 at most.

 

[bruce bailey]

I have used .075 on alto for the past 44 years and it seems to work on most brands for me. I can go down to about .070 however. On tenor, I like about .095-.098 but my .085 Brilhart is great. I had been at about .053 on soprano but in the past 3 years down to .047 which is strange as I have played a lot of soprano even though I am an alto guy.