I've been on a bit of an alto kick lately after a year or so without it seeing much action. Now that I'm playing a bit more, I am starting to develop a tone concept a little more distinct from what I do on tenor and have been feeling a bit of dissatisfaction with how much I have to voice my V16 A7M "tight" to get the focus I want out of it.
After a bit of internet research and a bit of luck in the SOTW Marketplace, I picked up a Phil-Tone Novella Jazz from another SOTW-er in a .076" tip. Having played it for a few hours yesterday and a few hours today, I am absolutely taken aback at how much this thing just...works. Right from the get-go it felt like it's "neutral" sound was that sweet, focused tone that I like. Lots of clarity and definition in the sound and plenty of edge on top, all while using what I would consider to be a neutral embouchure and voicing, loose and open.
With a reed on the softer side (red Java 2.5), it complements the sweetness of my Buescher 140 perfectly and response top to bottom is instantaneous. I even got inspired to pull out the Piazzolla Tango Etudes (allegedly for flute but whatever) and play through No. 3. Probably much too bright a tone for a music school jury, but the sweet, dense core meant it made musical sense to me, which it didn't on the Vandoren. I also managed to hit the altissimo A first try, in context, while reading through the piece. Not a hard note, but I'm not a great alto player, so that's pretty cool. I think it was easy for me to gauge how to voice it just because I was starting from a voicing that felt normal to me. The 8va E at the end still eludes me...
It also killed it running through some Omnibook stuff and just messing around over changes. It's funny how much better I play when I don't have to devote as much of my brainpower to making a sound that I like.
Overall, this mouthpiece is a bit of a revelation for me on the alto. I've never felt so relaxed on this horn. It's kind of remarkable what a good fit this is for me and what I've been thinking about lately.
Is anyone else using these? I don't see much talk about them around here unless I'm just searching for the wrong things.
After a bit of internet research and a bit of luck in the SOTW Marketplace, I picked up a Phil-Tone Novella Jazz from another SOTW-er in a .076" tip. Having played it for a few hours yesterday and a few hours today, I am absolutely taken aback at how much this thing just...works. Right from the get-go it felt like it's "neutral" sound was that sweet, focused tone that I like. Lots of clarity and definition in the sound and plenty of edge on top, all while using what I would consider to be a neutral embouchure and voicing, loose and open.
With a reed on the softer side (red Java 2.5), it complements the sweetness of my Buescher 140 perfectly and response top to bottom is instantaneous. I even got inspired to pull out the Piazzolla Tango Etudes (allegedly for flute but whatever) and play through No. 3. Probably much too bright a tone for a music school jury, but the sweet, dense core meant it made musical sense to me, which it didn't on the Vandoren. I also managed to hit the altissimo A first try, in context, while reading through the piece. Not a hard note, but I'm not a great alto player, so that's pretty cool. I think it was easy for me to gauge how to voice it just because I was starting from a voicing that felt normal to me. The 8va E at the end still eludes me...
It also killed it running through some Omnibook stuff and just messing around over changes. It's funny how much better I play when I don't have to devote as much of my brainpower to making a sound that I like.
Overall, this mouthpiece is a bit of a revelation for me on the alto. I've never felt so relaxed on this horn. It's kind of remarkable what a good fit this is for me and what I've been thinking about lately.
Is anyone else using these? I don't see much talk about them around here unless I'm just searching for the wrong things.
