the mouthpiece is very good, try rico jazz select, all the pros dont necessarily use soft reeds, most players, pro or not use a 2 to 3.5 i use 3/3.5 but all people are different
OR you can leave them clamped on the mouthpiece as I have for the last 50 years. It keeps them conformed to the shape of the table & rails. I leave all my horns set up on stands so I can pick them up any time during the day and play. I just take the reed off, wet it, reinstall, and play.1saxman said:sikorajm; Some pros do use soft reeds - on open mouthpieces. It probably would be hard to find one playing a #2 on a #5 Meyer. I'm wondering about the mouthpiece - is it one you played before and had success with or is it new to you? I think it's probably big enough but wonder if it's a good mouthpiece in the first place. Then there's the reed question - regular Ricos are okay but you may go through quite a few of them looking for a good one. Each reed is an individual even in the high-price category, but you get more good ones per box. A #2.5 Rico can do what you need if you find a good one. You should consider getting a LaVoz Reedguard for four reeds and keep four known good reeds in it. Always take the reed off the mp when you put the sax away or finish a playing session. Put the wet reed in the Reedguard. At least an hour before the next playing session, moisten all the reeds and put them back in the Reedguard. Try them all and settle on one to use. You'll have to wash the reeds periodically - scrub them with hydrogen peroxide on a toothbrush and put them back in the Reedguard. Keep the mouthpiece clean too. You need to be practicing long tones to build your embouchure and your sound. Of course, if the mouthpiece is one of the newer Meyers it might just stink to start with, because mouthpieces are individuals, too, and you sometimes have to try many of the same model. Check out Woodwind & Brasswind and Music 123 on the web - you can try out mouthpieces by mail order. There are so many to pick from that it can get real confusing, but you might try a few Runyon Customs, say #5,6 and 7. Use your same reeds and see if any of the Customs light up your sound.