[JohnMarkPainter]

I have played a 5RV for a good while.
I mostly use Mitchell Lurie 3 reeds and have a few 2 1/2 on hand
The tones I am generally going for are smooth old school jazz and the occasional dixieland tone (I grew up listening to Pete Fountain with my Dad
I can get plenty of edge with the 5RV (hard for me to not do the 'throat' thing when I play).

Anyway...I play the 5RV fine but the back pressure can be a bit annoying and I have been meaning to try something different.
I am a trumpet player and most often have a need to EXHALE more than I need to inhale when playing (working on that)

I just bought a Kurtzweil Custom/Charles Bay.

Here is the description:
This is an interesting, unbranded blank that I picked up from Charlie Bay's estate. It features a relatively short window, an ever so slight A- Frame throat and a high, almost roll-over baffle. Since the interior sets itself up well for a lot of projection, I set it up for a doubler or jazz player by leaving the tip fairly open for increased flexibility and comfort yet making the facing curve long. This will feel more like home for a saxophone players used to taking in more mouthpiece but also offers better reed response and a more classical "clarinet" sound when needed.

QUESTION:
I have 2 1/2 and 3 Mitchell Lurie and Van Doren 2 1/2
What should I expect in regards to reed response?
I am guessing I will prefer the 2 1/2 with the bigger tip.

 

[Dr G]

Ask the maker for recommendations based on their experience, and the geometry (lay length and curve) of this mouthpiece.

The tip opening is not the only metric for determining reed strength - just as your other discussions on reeds have learned.

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

I did. He is being helpful and even offered to adjust it after I play it.
I let him know that I don't know enough to make specific requests.
My first quest was just a more open mouthpiece

He said depending on my reed selection, this mouthpiece should blow back about the same as my 6* sax mouthpieces.

It's just that I am spoiled from being able to drive 2 miles and buy reeds...right now I have to mail order.

 

[Dr G]

I did. He is being helpful and even offered to adjust it after I play it.
I let him know that I don't know enough to make specific requests.
My first quest was just a more open mouthpiece

He said depending on my reed selection, this mouthpiece should blow back about the same as my 6* sax mouthpieces.

It's just that I am spoiled from being able to drive 2 miles and buy reeds...right now I have to mail order.

Cool. So what reeds did he suggest?

I ask because various techs have their own preferences for the reeds they use to set up and test a mouthpiece.

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

Interesting....
He said the tip is more open but it balances out with the length so I should start out with what I am using on the 5RV.
Sounds like I might have made a good choice.

Cool. So what reeds did he suggest?

I ask because various techs have their own preferences for the reeds they use to set up and test a mouthpiece.

 

[Dr G]

Interesting....
He said the tip is more open but it balances out with the length so I should start out with what I am using on the 5RV.
Sounds like I might have made a good choice.

Yes, that is something that gets lost in the whole tip opening discussion. Many/most mouthpieces have longer lays with more open mouthpieces. Just when that happens can vary. For instance, one might use the same lay length for tip openings from 5 to 7, then increase the lay length at 7* - and that length may apply for all tip openings from 7* to 9. So, if you don't know when those compensatory changes occur, the mouthpiece will feel more resistant with increasing tip opening, then all of a sudden, the next step in tip opening that happens to have the change in lay length, the mouthpiece gets easy to play!

And then, just to keep it interesting, some techs will change the type of facing curve as well. Francois Louis is a good example of that: http://francois-louis.com/mouthpieces/saxophone-tenor-mouthpiece

Bottom line: Don't bounce around mouthpieces. Find one that works and commit. When you finally exhaust all that it can do for you, and have a better idea of what it fails to deliver, talk to a good tech and get something dialed in for you.

 

[JohnMarkPainter]

So...I really like this mouthpiece.
Works great with my 3 reeds.
I can play much louder in low register without sounding stupid.
Greater dynamic range and just a basically more complex tone.
Nice.

The beak shape, length, all very different and better for me.
I wish I understood the physics a little better.
I guess it doesn’t matter if I like what I have.