alto XL

[colibri]

I'm about to purchase an alto XL (in black). I'd like to hear some comments about this piece. Any help is welcome, thanks.

[johnc]

The X.L has a smaller throat than the Quantum and a bullet shaped rear chamber leading to the tip opening. It has a brilliant sound with a real edge. Not every ones cut of tea but similar to the Dukoff in the 70s. When every note was to be heard in full and not a glissed off. The X.L is not a piece to be played by the unconfident. I sold a few pieces in the UK and had them returned as the player said it screached. The problem was that the player had only been playing a year or two and was experimenting with tip openings and reed strengths. This leads me on to the next thing to bear in mind. You need to get the right Tip opening and reed strength right. This is most important. All this said, once you have the RIGHT set up the X.L will make a sound that is fantastic and consistant. If you can control this beast you will never look back.

[colibri]

Thanks for your reply.
I just ordered a #12 black XL with a spoiler for my alto. Any comments with this tip opening?

Just a little background info, I was using a Jumbo Java A55 with #4 Rico reeds.

[MojoBari]

A lot of guys who like Runyon 11-12's on tenor seem to like Runyon 8-9's on alto (I'm one). I play an Vandoren Jumbo Java A55 and a Runyon Custom 8 (not XL). I have a 9 too. I'd say the A55 is like a Runyon Custom 9-10.

The A55 has a large chamber sound compared to the Custom. The XL is even smaller. The smallness may allow you to play an XL 12 on alto. But be prepared for a more piercing sound.

[super20dan]

i love this mpc! not only is it bright and powerful but very easy on the chops too. i may never use the dukoff again.

[colibri]

Thanks again everyone for the replies.
As bright and edgy as it seems, any experience with the XL with the spoiler in? :twisted:

[Jack W.]

I use an X.L. #7 on my Cannonball "Silver Sonic style" alto and I really like it. (This is a fairly close facing compared to most of you, but for some reason this horn doesn't seem to like anything much more open.) I believe the X.L. is advertised as a rock-and-roll mpc, and it seems to deliver. It is hard to describe sounds using terms like "bright" and "dark", but given that disclaimer I'd have to say that the sound is quite "bright" in the sense of projecting well and having a complex set of overtones. It is not "bright" in the sense of "thin" or "one-dimensional". By the way, I can also whisper quite nicely on it when I have to, perhaps it isn't what this model was designed to do, but it still works. The scale is very even and intonation is excellent, though then again I find pretty much any of the upper-tier Taiwanese saxes to have excellent intonation. I agree with previous posts that you cannot use half-measures when playing on this mpc, but with good breath support I find the sound hard to beat. The X.L. has always seemed to me to be a "less-popular" Runyon model, certainly I've seen it discussed much less than the Custom and Quantum. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. :)

As for the spoiler, it is positively scary, but then again my sound concept is not usually overly loud. It seemed to be the same only much louder. In my hands the X.L. with spoiler passed what I call the "feline test", which means it woke my cat up from a dead sleep and made him come upstairs meowing to see what was going on.... :o

[Les22]

Dear Colibri

It has been a few months now since you ordered an alto XL.

Well...........whatcha think? Is it working for you?


thanks,

Les

[colibri]

I got a black #12 (.110 opening) with Rico #3.5 reeds. It's an easy playing mouthpiece with plenty of brightness without the spoiler in. Insert the spoiler it gets as bright as a star. However it's not the one for me. The tone is too thin for my taste and it has to hang on the end of the neck for it to play in tune. It's great if you just want a roaring mouthpiece but don't wish to get a Dukoff.

[Brian]

If the XL is to thin for you ... try a Jaguar. I use both. I also agree with Mojo's tip size comments. A #12 on alto with 3.5 reads seems to be a truly monstrous set up ... but... "different strokes"....
Brian

[saxybeast]

I should be getting an XL soon and was curious as to how good altissimo is on this piece. Is it as good as the JodyJazz 6 or Custom 7? These have great altissimo reaction in my opinion.

[Paul Coats]

The XL, and similar Smoothbore, are very easy for altissimo. Altissimo is strong, smooth. No wimpy high notes here.

And with a spoiler, it is a great R&B horn section piece, too.

Powerful, can keep up with the trumpet and trombone easily, or wail Harlem Nocturne or Peter Gun solor over a big band.

7-9 for alto, 8-12 for tenor. Try with a Rico Plasticover, Rico, Lavoz, Vdn Java, Fibracell.

[colibri]

With or without the spoiler in, the XL plays altissimo as easy as the Bionix.

[saxybeast]

That's great to hear. I currently use a Plasticover 3 on a JodyJazz 6, and really love the bright, sweet, sound I get with plenty of volume and excellent altissimo. I hope the XL can live up to this. (Any thoughts?)

It's currently on backorder, but I assume it will be in in a few weeks.

[super20dan]

the xl is brighter and more powerful than a jj but still gives a quality sound. plasticovers work great on it . is still the best alto mpc for this type of playing i have found. i am waiting for the jody jazz esp+ to come out as i have talked to jody about a strong market for this type of mpc but still waiting....... bionex makes altisimo so easy its effortless but isnt as good a allaround preformer as the xl.

[saxybeast]

Sweetness. I can't wait until they get here (we've got three XLs and 2 or 3 Jaguars coming and I cannot wait to try these out). Thanks a lot guys.

[saxybeast]

I just got both the XL (6) and the Jaguar (7). The sound on the Jaguar just isn't for me(I haven't thoroughly tested it yet, though), but the XL's sound and power is incredible! I'm using Plasticover 3 reeds, but for some reason it's fairly difficult to play. I play a Custom 7 or a Jody 6 with these exact reeds, but both of these pieces are harder to play with these reeds. I wonder if I need a smaller facing, softer reeds, both, or if something about these pieces is causing me problems. Any help is welcome. Thanks a lot guys.

[super20dan]

i find the XL likes softer reeds-i use a plasticover 1.5 .its just right for me.i can play this combo all nite and not get tired .

[saxybeast]

Cool. I'll try some 2 or 2 1/2. I may order either the XL or the Smoothbore (metal) for alto for my own personal use, and I think maybe a 5 facing will get along better than a 6. By the way, the current XL I'm using belongs to my high school; I'm just using it to try and decide whether I want this or the metal.

[saxybeast]

Cool. I'll try some 2 or 2 1/2. I may order either the XL or the Smoothbore (metal) for alto for my own personal use, and I think maybe a 5 facing will get along better than a 6. By the way, the current XL I'm using belongs to my high school; I'm just using it to try and decide whether I want this or the metal.