[Steve Stockham]

Here's the situation: I have a Selmer USA Omega (Model 162) alto that I have had for a while. It took me three months and seven mouthpieces before I found one that I deemed acceptable. I ended up using a Selmer S80 E which has a nice, open sound.

The problem started when I put a MkVI neck on my alto. The neck seemed to free up the sax (a condition that others have noted on SOTW) and just play with a more warm and resonant tone. At first, I was astounded at the difference but after a couple of months of playing with this new neck, I have noticed that I am getting a "warble" in my low D and that the bell keys require a much more "back of the throat huffing" to ensure that the sound comes out clean. I checked with a leak light and there are no leaks. This led me to wonder about mouthpieces.

I tried the various mouthpieces I had tried before and while the warble went away when I used the Yamaha 4C and 5D it sounded "tinny." The Selmer C* gave more resistance but the middle C seemed to go weak! I tried the Selmer USA and Rico mouthpieces but they didn't really give me the sound I was looking for either.

It would appear that, by changing the neck, I improved the sax but by doing so, I changed the variables so that the mouthpiece I was satisfied with no longer works! (*Sigh) This is getting expensive! I don't have anywhere I can go to try various mouthpieces so I have to make an educated guess and "shoot in the dark" and hope to hit a bullseye! Any advice would (obviously) be very welcome!

 

[Grumps]

Once you find something that works, it's best to stick with it unless there is a true need for additional change. Swapping mouthpieces is tempting for many players, but once you start adding necks into the equation, you're heading down a road of which you may never get off.

 

[Steve Stockham]

Don't I know it! In this case though, the MkVI neck definitely improves the sax's performance! I'm just trying now to mate the perfect mouthpiece to this new arrangement! I'm not exactly sure why the D is warbling or why middle C should go weak with the C*! Just to be sure, I put the old neck back on and tried the mouthpieces out again. I definitely like the sax's performance with the MkVI neck better than the AS100 neck (yeah, I don't even have the original neck to work with!) that it came with. Oh well, the search continues. I'd pay up to a couple of hundred bucks for a mouthpiece that was perfect for this arrangement. I guess I need some advice on where to look further.

 

[Atonal]

I think your guess is going to be as good as anyone's unless there are others that play a Selmer Omega with a Mark VI neck.

 

[bruce bailey]

A few solutions to the warble. Push the mouthpiece in more and if it fixes it, then you need to put a baffle (mouthpiece cap, etc.) in the bow. This is a common practice on many older horns. Often the neck will leak where it fits in the body. To check for this (other than a wobble) is to pack it with cork grease and play the horn to see if it does the trick. If so, you need to get the neck tightened.

 

[Grumps]

I definitely like the sax's performance with the MkVI neck better than the AS100 neck (yeah, I don't even have the original neck to work with!) that it came with.

Oh, I didn't know that you didn't have the original neck to begin with. So it makes more sense to experiment. You don't get the low end warble or week middle C with the AS100 neck though, right?

 

[Steve Stockham]

Nope. Of course, the entire spectrum is "shallower" using that neck. The S80 C* seems to give slightly more resistance but also allows for a more resonant tone so that was the mouthpiece I ended up playing. The Yamaha's were easier blowing but the tone just wasn't there. This was why I decided to try a MkVI neck! I truly believe I've just about got it! The whole sax came alive and the C* and the S80 E seemed to be the two best mouthpieces to bring out that rich Selmer core sound......except that the d*mn low D warbles or the middle C is weak!! It's got to be the mouthpiece! To that end, I was able to acquire a Meyer 6M to try. Tomorrow, I'm going to put it through it's paces and see how the sax reacts. I've heard good things about Meyers... Well, wish me luck! I'll let you guys know how it turns out!

 

[Grumps]

... the entire spectrum is "shallower" using that neck.

Have you recorded yourself using both necks? Or had someone else stand outside the room while you played them both to compare?

 

[harmonizerNJ]

Steve, I have a Mark VII alto neck which plays almost identically (on my Mark VI alto) as my original Mark VI alto neck. I am not using this Mark VII alto neck right now. I am not expecting that my Mark VII neck will play noticeably better or worse on your horn than the Mark VI neck you are using now, but there is a chance you might find it slightly better for you, or find it indistinguishable on your horn from playing the Mark VI neck. I know a Mark VII neck has lower market value than a Mark VI neck, so if you like the Mark VII neck on your horn, it might be a win for you in either case. PM me if you would like to discuss further.

 

[bruce bailey]

If the C* and E were the best mouthpieces, why didn't you go with a D?

 

[Steve Stockham]

Honestly? It's because I'm less than overwhelmed with Selmer's quality control with regards to their mouthpieces these days. I have a sneaking suspicion that, should I have either one refaced properly by a professional, they would probably be totally fine! I was able to find a Meyer to try and it's reputation for quality control is solid. I may still go the refacing route (especially if the Meyer doesn't give me what I'm looking for.)

 

[Steve Stockham]

Well, we have a winner!!! The undisputed champion of the head-to-head alto saxophone mouthpiece challenge is...........the Meyer 6M!!! The low notes now come out without any "warbles" and even the low Bb is much easier to play whereas the upper register is clean and crisp. The middle C is still very slightly weaker but that is mostly because I was specifically looking for it! The S80 E still plays the upper register with more force but doesn't hold a candle to the lower ranges! I have found a mouthpiece that works with this arangement! This Meyer 6M really brings out a warm full bodied tone especially in the middle to lower registers! Danged if this sax isn't starting to remind me of my old MkVI that I had 20 years ago! The more I play it, the better it's sounding! (*Sigh* Finally...)