[Woodshedfred]

I'm playing a link HR 7 on my yamaha YAS62 alto, and it has a tendency to go way sharp on high C# and sharp but to a lesser extent on the notes above this. very tricky to keep it in tune with the embouchure.

I've read the articles on the yamaha website about pushing in the mouthpiece and lowering the pitch centre and have worked on this with a little success.

I can play it in with reasonably good tuning using the crook from my YAS25, but the tone aint as nice!. it makes me wonder whether its the set up - are links known for not playing in tune on Yamaha's?
when I use a Meyer or a Runyon mpc the intonation is spot on so I'm confident its not a problem with my specific horn.

does anyone have any experience or advice to share on this? thanks


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[chops2200]

don't push the mouthpiece in...pull it out...this will lengthen your instrument and lower the tuning. Other than that, practice long tones with a tuner to get better at staying in tune.
I'm using the same kind of mouthpiece on my yamaha z tenor and it sounds great, took a while for me to get control of the piece though.

best wishes

 

[Saxland]

Links have a larger chamber that does not match well with the bore of an alto saxophone. Meyer have the right size chamber to tune more easily. It is possible to play the link better it in tune though. What I do with larger chamber mouthpieces is to tune the low notes D,E and F slightly flat, by pulling the mouthpiece out and lowering the pitch, but I can lip them up alot more easily. The higher notes should come into pitch if you are not biting.

If it does not work for you you can always try and compact a bit of dental wax into the mouthpiece evenly on the roof and sides to make it play sightly sharper and pull it out on the neck a bit. Thats alot of experimenting though.

You may want to try a large chamber meyer, a Brilhart Hard Rubber is a great larger chamber mouthpiece as well. In my view it is
much better than a link hard rubber on alto. A Bari brand Richie Cole mouthpiece has a lushness to it you might find apealing. They do need a proper refacing though as they tend to play resistant. A Bari Richie Cole on a Selmer 54 is a combo that ozzes warmth and tonal depth, for me at least. A Bilger Silver (Bilger written in silver colour on the mouthpiece) could work as well, but it will probbably need a reface.


My guess is you can find the tone you are looking for on something other than a Link and have great intonation and response.

 

[bfoster64]

I'm no expert, but I think Saxland is right. Given the large chamber, you'll probably have to learn some serious embouchre adjustments to get that piece to play in tune on your Yamaha. Check out the FAQs on Mojo's website regarding the relationship between chamber volume and intonation in different registers.

 

[SuperDave]

I have used hard rubber otto links on my YAS-62 (80's vintage) HR Otto Link 8,8*, and 9(if memory serves) without any theoretical urban SOTW,mythological, chamber is too large tuning issues. Pull your mouthpiece out a little, and practice long tone scales with a tuner...
Or you can listen to the guys without much experience with links on alto... :shock:

 

[kavala]

As suggested by saxland, it is common for players to bite down
hard in order to reach the higher notes.

This is not necessary.

Just relax and let the notes come naturally and they should be in tune.

 

[amoram]

If you really want to keep/play it, practice lots and lots of long tones

 

[bfoster64]

Regarding Superdave's post, I'm pretty sure the STM has a larger chamber than the Tone Edge.

 

[jnewmann]

Try instead of modify

I have had mouthpieces that do the same in the upper register. I understand that you may like the tone of the piece, however if it doesn't play in tune it is not the right one for you. I have not had good luck with links on alto, but am very pleased with tenor pieces. My suggestion would be go to a music store that offers several different brands (including Link) and sit in a practice room until you find the one that sounds good and is a good match to the horn.

I have also found that upper stack intonation can be affected by how much of the mouthpiece beak is inserted to the embouchre as well of playing reeds that are too hard

 

[milandro]

A Otto Link STM 7 is very open indeed on alto! I've learned here, from advise given from Phil Barone, that the combination large chamber-short lay of the STM, could only work if the opening is very much smaller than you usually play. I use to have problems with a STM 7* and a 7, nice sound but not very good intonation and lack of control all over the place. I now play a stm 5. Plenty of control and much better intonation. More resistence but the sound is very nice. Use a thicker reed too. You will get a spread and mellow sound.

 

[SuperDave]

Currently I am using an early Babbit 6* STM on alto instead of my hr 8, and the intonation is very good.

 

[Woodshedfred]

thanks for the advice folks, following Kavalas comment, I've found that going from middle to high c# by keeping the embouchure steady but depressing the octave key produce a well tuned note even if the tone needs some work, I guess the knack is to practice that now.
interesting comment about tip openings - I actually found that the 6* was harder to keep in tune than the 7, but maybe that cos its harder to bend the note on a 7

 

[SaxyAcoustician]

Woodshedfred,

Call me crazy but I'm willing to bet that your problems would be solved with a G1 neck.