Alto mouthpiece for a newbie

[sax rookie]

I am a returning player agter a 20 year hiatus. I stubled upon a free Yamaha YAS23 alto and sparked the flame once again. It's in great shape, plays fine, and came with a Yamaha 4c mouthpiece. Question here is what mouthpiece would you reccomend? I tend to prefer a brighter sound that is a little more agressive, over darker and mellower. I would prefer something that blows fairly easily as well. Please forgive my ignorance over proper termanology. Also could someone explain the advantages to a more 'open' mouthpice over a more closed?

Any suggestions on reed and ligiture combos are welcome.

Thanks,

Mark

[singlereed]

If I were you, I would play the Yamaha piece for two or three months before you go shopping, it will take while to get your chops back, and even then, you will develop for possibly several years. That's one reason we have so much discussion of the mouthpiece here.

A more open mouthpiece potentially gives you more volume and depending on the length of the lay, may well require a softer (lower number) reed for a given player to feel comfortable. Many pro players will use quite closed mouthpieces, others open and all points in between. I think its important to get some kind of playing back before exploring that.

If you want to go and try a few, maybe look at Meyer, Otto Link, Vandoren V5 or V16, Selmer Soloist or some of the Runyon models. Probably look at an opening of around 5 or 6 and a reed in the area of about 2.5. Any of those would give you something lively and bright that most people could get on with.

[Morry]

I second the recommendation of the Vandoren V16. I really like mine on a Yamaha YAS-61 with the V16 reeds also.

[colibri]

Morgan Protone, Brilhart, Selmer C*, Rico Graphtonite
These are all good beginner's pieces that aren't too hard on the wallet. I especially like the Brilhart Ebolin and students use them with good results. The V16 may not play in tune with certain horns but should be ok with the Yamaha.

[Morry]

I hope the V16 will play in tune with the new SX90R alto I have coming. I really love that mouthpiece.

[Vortex]

I'd go for the Selmer C*, I've played one with a Yamaha YAS-23 before and it worked quite well.

[Hailz]

"Morry: I hope the V16 will play in tune with the new SX90R alto I have coming. I really love that mouthpiece."

i just got a new SX90, and i found that the A27 combined with the BG super revelation sounds great for a bright jazz sound. I also use Vandoren Java's, i love the set up and i would recommend it to anyone.

[merlin2322]

I too have the same problem as the oriniator of this post. However, I am looking for a more melower blues sound. Would you recommend the Selmer C1 for as well?


Thx