[jacobeid]

So I've been trying to do some more classical playing. At least 95% of my playing is jazz oriented though. For lead alto in a big band or for combo settings I always use my '35 conn 6m with my morgan 6m with slightly shaved RJS 2H reeds. My "classical" mouthpieces I own are a morgan 3c and a selmer S80 C*.

My problem is, I can't find a reeds for any of them. Surprisingly, I have to use softer reeds on the 3c or C* to make it speak than on my morgan 6m. I've tried la voz mediums, hemke 3's, Rico Reserve 3's, vandoren traditional 2 1/2's, and nothing works. The set up is extremely resistant and very hard to play. With these harder reeds, many notes do not speak at all. If I try softer reeds, then the pieces are a bit less resistant and the notes speak a bit better, but the sound is still very quiet and extremely stuffy on either my conn or my selmer.

I've been listening to more classical saxophone lately to try and get the classical sound in my head, but I can't get anything like that out of my instrument.

Can anyone give me tips on how to blow a closed tip and hard reed setup? I have not been successful at all in my attempts. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[SpeckledLemon]

This may seem like a strange response, but I like to let my reeds soak through for a few minutes in a small cup of water, what some may consider oversoaking. For me, that helped eliminate some of those problems.

 

[TheOtter]

Just a couple of shots in the dark here, but I would suggest experimenting with how much mouthpiece you're taking into your mouth (may need to be more than you think), and also perhaps where your ligature sits on the reed - you may need to push it a little further onto the mouthpiece/reed, to let the reed vibrate more freely...?

Those are easy to play around with. If one of those doesn't help, my hunch would be something "wrong" with your embouchure, but I couldn't say what (maybe you need more support from the sides of your embouchure?). I'm 100% classical, so hopefully someone else who has actual experience making the transition can help more, but Vandoren 2.5s shouldn't be all that stuffy on a C*, from my experience.

 

[hornimprovement]

Try a Rousseau NC4

 

[Rackety Sax]

My stock response to this is to buy a Rascher or vintage Buescher mouthpiece and play on it for a few weeks. After that, everything else will feel extremely free-blowing.

 

[selmer]

sounds as though you need to try a different mouthoiece.

 

[Grumpie]

It might be the switch to the smaller tip since you're on the 6m for 95%.
Give it some time. I use a Morgan 3C and/or caravan (#3 blue box) on a S1 Crat. Resistance yes, stuffy no but that's different when I have been away from that setup for some time.

 

[mike_s]

rather than buying another mouthpiece, i would advise to do a lesson or two specifically working on embochure with a decent classically oriented teacher.

sounds like you might be very loose or taking in too little (or too much) mouthpiece, what works on yoru jazz set up might not work so well for a classical sound and there is probably something fairly easy to fix that you aren't just stumbling into.

 

[CountSpatula]

After I got my Morgan 3C and finally finding reeds that I like (2.5 Alexander Classiques) I noticed coming from my 90R RPC it was stuffy...but I get use to it with some long tones

 

[saintsday]

My stock response to this is to buy a Rascher or vintage Buescher mouthpiece and play on it for a few weeks. After that, everything else will feel extremely free-blowing.

Yup. That'll do it. From my warped perspective a C* is TOO free blowing and sounds harsh. A Conn Eagle or some of the Chedeville style Lelandais pieces would be other alternatives.

 

[MikeRoManiak]

I'm can get a pretty decent 'classical' sound out of my Selmer Soloist D, this is a mouthpiece I used to replace my C*... and compared to the C*... it can SING! haha

 

[jacobeid]

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses a few months ago. It really helped me and got me thinking. So here's my current situation...

I stuck with the morgan and am currently using hemke 3 reeds. I do get a nice darker sound and I don't believe it's stuffy anymore. I think my problem now is that whenever I play classical literature, it sounds like my jazz sound concept coming out. Since I didn't have much of a classical sound concept, I started really digging into the classical world and listening to how the classical giants play. I've been studying the articulation, dynamics, tone, etc. Still though, I find that it's just my jazz sound trying to come out.

My question to you guys is, other than listening and constant long tones, is there anything else I can do to get the "classical sound concept" in my head? I will say right here that I do not want to switch equipment. I feel that by switching equipment, I wouldn't be able to really connect with a mouthpiece or whatever, so I wouldn't notice any effects.

Thanks!

Jacob