[starboarder]

hi

I have been thinking why is ottolink metal particularlly 7* openning the most known or is go to size openning?? Is there a reason if i am used to this openning to try another openning??? what should i expect to change??? if i stick to the say reed brand/hardness.... Having said that should you change the reed hardness for that matter for a different openning?

Cheers,

From Michael

 

[toughtenor]

with all the exceptions (and there are many) I think a lot of today's players end up in that region of tip opening when seeking the best compromise between flexibility and control. Usually smaller tips require harder reeds. You'll have to find out what suits you best. It's personal. Neither one combination (harder reed smaller tip or softer reed bigger tip) is better then the other per se. If a certain set up is better for you stick with it.

 

[KingFitz]

i am a new tenor sax player. i was given a slightly older sax and mouth piece. it is a 4c. i was wondering if i should change mouthpiece.

 

[spike421]

i am a new tenor sax player. i was given a slightly older sax and mouth piece. it is a 4c. i was wondering if i should change mouthpiece.

No. A 4 tip is a good place to start for a beginner, with a reed strength of 2 to 2 1/2. In time, after you have spent some time with the horn and built some embouchure strength, you might want to consider a more open tip.

 

[bruce bailey]

It is best not to compare numbers unless using the same brand. Here is a starter: http://jodyjazz.com/facing-page/ click on the type of sax you are comparing. Generally, more open, softer reed, more closed, harder reed. Chamber can have an effect on how it plays too.

 

[MojoBari]

A 4C sounds like a Yamaha mouthpiece. As noted, a 4 is not always the same size across brands.

 

[JL]

...I think a lot of today's players end up in that region of tip opening when seeking the best compromise between flexibility and control.

This is true, however there is another factor and that is the design of the mpc, esp the baffle and chamber size. For an Otto Link (or "Link type" of mpc), with a low rollover baffle and relatively large chamber, the 7* tip size is about right in terms of the tonal characteristics (if I can use a term like that), flexibility, etc, although some would opt for a bit smaller tip with the low baffle mpc.

All other things being equal (can't stress that enough!), a smaller tip will brighten the tone and a larger tip will darken the tone. That's a generalization, but I've found it to be true. Once you put a higher baffle in a mpc, you can (and imo, should) increase the tip size to balance out the brighter, edgier tone due to a higher baffle. There are other factors, such as chamber size, but to a certain extent I'd say the higher the baffle, the larger the tip should be (and vice versa).

So, bottom line, for a low baffle piece like an Otto Link a tip size ranging from 6 to 7* is 'about right.' When you get into higher baffles, I'd go up to 8 - 9* (about .115-.125) depending on the height and shape of the baffle. That's assuming you aren't seeking a shrill, thin tone.

p.s. With those tip sizes, I'm talking about tenor, and I assume the OP was also.