Hi, I have been playing alto saxophone for about six years, most of which has been on a Jody Jazz Hard Rubber with a 6 facing. The mouthpiece is just too small, not letting me project as much as I need to. I am in college and I play with the college big band. I can spend up to $200 and am spoiled with a YAS Custom Z. I'd like to develop more of a distinct sound (obviously from more practicing) on this mouthpiece for playing outside of the big band as well. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
new mouthpiece suggestions
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A Runyon Custom 7 or 8 (same design as the Jody Jazz Classic). It would feel familiar to you and not be too small in tip opening. A Custom Jazz would have a little more brightness. Like in-between the Custom with and without a Spoiler.
If you want a try another brand, then Vandoren is a worth checking out. Their Java and Jumbo Java A45.
If you want a try another brand, then Vandoren is a worth checking out. Their Java and Jumbo Java A45.
Grafton + TH & C alto || Naked Lady 10M || TT soprano || Martin Comm III
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I second the idea of a Vandoren Java A45, although I'm surprised a Jody Jazz HR 6 can't do what you want. In fact, it can do what you want, I have one right here on trial (not sure if it's the same, this one is called a Savannah model) and it's a very fine mouthpiece.
While playing lead alto professionally I used a meyer 6M, and at various times I tried larger tips and different pieces, e.g. Lawton, Barone and Guardala, but I always came back to that 6M because the wider tips didn't actually give me any more projection than putting the same amount of extra effort that those mouthpieces required into my embouchure and breath support with the 6M.
Plus, I found the intonation to always be better with the 6M. So my first recommendation is to stick with the 6 Jody and work at your technique so that it gives you what you want.
If you want a different mouthpiece (and most of us get those urges), then I would suggest you try them out for yourself, it works much better than asking for recommendations from people on the internet
While playing lead alto professionally I used a meyer 6M, and at various times I tried larger tips and different pieces, e.g. Lawton, Barone and Guardala, but I always came back to that 6M because the wider tips didn't actually give me any more projection than putting the same amount of extra effort that those mouthpieces required into my embouchure and breath support with the 6M.
Plus, I found the intonation to always be better with the 6M. So my first recommendation is to stick with the 6 Jody and work at your technique so that it gives you what you want.
If you want a different mouthpiece (and most of us get those urges), then I would suggest you try them out for yourself, it works much better than asking for recommendations from people on the internet
Grafton + TH & C alto || Naked Lady 10M || TT soprano || Martin Comm III
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I agree about the control, esp for alto. Although I use a very wide tip on tenor (9*), as I said, that kind of equation doesn't translate to alto, especially for lead and section work.
Grafton + TH & C alto || Naked Lady 10M || TT soprano || Martin Comm III
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I really like the stock lig that comes with it, but I also like a Rovner. In fact I'm using the Rovner because I have the mouthpiece on loan to test, and prefer to use the Rovner so as not to mark the mouthpiece. I currently have half a dozen alto mouthpieces to trial, I will be doing some recordings to compare and will post them once I have finished.
Grafton + TH & C alto || Naked Lady 10M || TT soprano || Martin Comm III
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All done, more to follow I hope. See:
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?169212-Alto-mouthpiece-comparisons-soundfiles
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I have used a Yamaha 4C, Selmer Soloist E, Selmer S80 C** and a Meyer 6M. If you want to play jazz or bigband music than go for a Meyer. I agree with all the things Pete said. My Soloist has a larger tip opening than my Meyer, but I can play louder with the Meyer, and playing on the Soloist takes much more effort. My new Soloist mouthpiece also sounds too classical and to dull for jazz:s I'm very happy with the Meyer! But I think your JodyJazz is also a good mouthpiece. So maybe some more practice is your solution;-)
Grafton + TH & C alto || Naked Lady 10M || TT soprano || Martin Comm III
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Very similar re: free blowing (for me) I have some sound comparisons here:
http://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-mouthpiece-ppt.html
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Free-blowing depends on which Meyer you compare to which JJ HR. They both have similar facing work that is variable. So a good Meyer will beat a JJ HR and vice versa in the response area. They both usually benefit from the hand finishing that a refacer can provide.
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