Smaller Facing? - Alto

astropants said:

I recently purchased a YAS-82Z and I've been playing on a HR Meyer 7M, but I find it hard to produce notes with ease on all registers... I've been told that switching to a mouthpiece with a smaller facing will help clear this up. Is this true? If so, what kind of facing should I be looking for?

Thanks for the help!

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An even one. Your Meyer's facing might not be even, leading to inconsistent response in different registers. Of course, this is all working on the assumption that you already know how to support your air and form a good embouchure.

dirty said:

An even one. Your Meyer's facing might not be even, leading to inconsistent response in different registers. Of course, this is all working on the assumption that you already know how to support your air and form a good embouchure.

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I'd add that you might try a softer reed too...

I second that motion. I play on a 7M also. And what you need to do, is try to get a Soft reed. As stated above. What size reed do you play on?

You could try a Vandoren V16 in a 5, 6, or 7 facing, Vandoren V5 series in those tip openings are very good as well. Vandoren facings are very consistent so at least you will know where you stand resistance wise. Have you had the sax checked for leaks? One small leak in any pad can create a huge problem for anyone.

dirty said:

An even one. Your Meyer's facing might not be even, leading to inconsistent response in different registers. Of course, this is all working on the assumption that you already know how to support your air and form a good embouchure.

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Do you mean to say that my mouthpiece could have been flawed since I purchased it? I've had it for a good 8 months and had the same problems on my YAS-52, but its gotten dramatically worse on my Z.

As for my reeds, I play on 2 1/2 Javas...

I use to have Amaty super clasic, I use Berg 90/0 with 2,5 Rico. Now I have Seri III Selmer, but with the same mp I can't make a good respone. So I change to 2 Rico, the respone is back but I need to relaxe cause the strength of the reed is lower. I use Meyer 5 with 2,5 or 3 Vandoren blue box, it's good enough but I need a bright color sound, so I use Berg now with 2 Rico.

astropants said:

I recently purchased a YAS-82Z and I've been playing on a HR Meyer 7M, but I find it hard to produce notes with ease on all registers... I've been told that switching to a mouthpiece with a smaller facing will help clear this up. Is this true? If so, what kind of facing should I be looking for?

Thanks for the help!

Click to expand...

If the problems started or got worse with the new horn, then I'd get it checked for leaks (or do it yourself with a rope light from your local hardware store). If it was not "set up" by a tech, it may simply be a bit out of adjustment from shipping.

Also, it would be useful to know which notes have problems and what the problems are. From the other answers, I think most of us are assuming the problem is with low notes, which often means leaks (and they can be in any pad on the horn).

Alan

If you have a leaky pad, any note below said pad will be unresponsive. This might be a good way to figure out which one it is if you don't have a leak light or repairman close by (assuming that this is the problem.)

It's also possible (a very slight chance) that the bore of the mouthpiece doesn't match the bore of the horn for you very well. I haven't heard of people having trouble with Meyers on Zs, but it could be...

I thought Phil Woods plays a Meyer on a Z -if so seems to work for him!

awholley said:

I thought Phil Woods plays a Meyer on a Z -if so seems to work for him!

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Well, Phil Woods could probably play pretty much anything he wanted and sound good...

awholley said:

I thought Phil Woods plays a Meyer on a Z -if so seems to work for him!

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He does, but how many of us are Phil Woods?

It's also a vintage Meyer piece. You know, the kind that goes for $1200, but that's irrelevant...