[Dave Dolson]

I realize mouthpiece response, tone and choices are VERY subjective, but I thought you may enjoy reading this.

I got my old MKVI alto back from my son earlier this week and found a Meyer 6M-Medium Chamber mouthpiece in the case. I knew it had been there and was glad it remained.

That made me get out my two Meyer mouthpieces and do a comparison. I used a Vandoren ZZ #2 reed I'd adjusted and a Selmer metal two-screw lig on the MKVI.

The three pieces were a Meyer 6M-Medium Chamber (from the horn's case), my Meyer 6S-Medium Chamber, and my Meyer 7M-Small Chamber. They all looked similar to my eye. If they hadn't been marked one could easily have assumed they were the same facing, tip-opening and chamber-size.

I played them all and they ended up being just as I remembered them. The 6S-Medium Chamber was superior - good response, big sound, lots of resonance.

The 7M-Small Chamber felt as strong or stronger than the 6S-M but the response was a bit more difficult - not as solid and sure as the 6S-M, the resonance not quite as good as the 6S-M and the focus was more narrow.

The 6M-M was the least desirable - the tone was muffled, the resonance was less, but it was focused. It was clearly not up to the 6S or the 7M. Had I never experienced the 6S, the 6M may have been acceptable and I'm sure an audience probably would not hear the differences I felt. Still, a good mouthpiece can make all the difference to the player and that is important.

Regardless of whether or not I could see differences among them, I sure felt and heard them. And, I suppose that if I went into a big reed-search I could maybe enhance the results, but the 6S-M works so well, I don't feel the need to go further than this. DAVE

 

[RS]

I have a Meyer small chamber, medium chamber, and large chamber. All #7 I think. They all look the same to my eye but I can tell a diifference in how they sound and play. My favorite is the small chamber as it has the most focus, power, and projection. Alot of this could be due to being worked on by Jon Van Wie, but it was a strong player even before I sent it to Jon. His work was the icing on the cake.

 

[Dr G]

Back last century, when I played the occasional alto (I'm since well reformed), I had 6MM and 7MS - preferred the 6MM, but it, too, was a Jon Van Wie reface. Jon commented that he liked the potential of the 7MS. Had I remained committed to the alto, I would have had that one refaced next.

I'm a proponent of the "get your #2 refaced to see if it can become #1" but I understand that is coming from a refacer who's always looking for work... or perhaps perfection. Get those other two off to a refacer, Dave. That 7MS should pop!

 

[daviderato]

Reed strength plays a huge impact on the playability of a mouthpiece as well. A year ago I received a phil-tone Meyer in the mail, and I was so excited I ran downstairs to try it out. I slapped a new 2.5 vandoren java red reed I had used on my Ponzol, and was instantly disappointed. I tried all of Vandoren's reed flavors in a 3 and they all played much better than a 2.5, and I was much happier with the new piece.

 

[Saxman96]

I have a Meyer 7M after upgrading from a yamaha mouthpiece a few weeks ago. I love the Meyer 7M! It's an unbelievably great mouthpiece! I play it with a traditional rico orange box strength 2.5 reed. I'm only a high school sophomore and I sound very close to what a professional sounds like. I dont know who I sound like but I sound cool. I've been playing sax since I was 12 years old. The only thing I want to do is to develop a similar altissimo style similar to what Grover Washington jr had when he played the saxophone. I have started imitating one of his licks from his live video from 1988 in rhode island of him playing "Shivaree Ride".

Also I'm planning to try out beautiful vintage Selmer Mark VI alto saxes at a woodwind shop that has a room full of them!

 

[Dr G]

Also I'm planning to try out beautiful vintage Selmer Mark VI alto saxes at a woodwind shop that has a room full of them!

Wear dark pants.