Alto mouthpiece with "tenor" sound

[leonardA]

Does anyone know of an alto sax mouthpiece that would give a more tenor like quality. I don't know exactly how to describe it. Darker, Richer, more like a tenor sax sound. What about a used Martin mouthpiece.

[MojoBari]

There is some discussion under the Repairs Section - Tenor Reeds on Alto.

I think wider tip openings, .100" and up, have more tenor-like quality to the sound.

[Johannes Gerber]

I agree with Mojobari. But some players sound more like tenor on alto.

I'm busy experimenting - like always - I'm making a 0.110 alto piece that will take tenor reeds. The JG Custom I sold on eBay the other day was 0.098 - this piece had a thick, loud tone - although the experienced listener will know it's alto - it sound very tenor like if you listen quickly. It's got the same timbre - with the outstanding projection.

Once you use tenor reeds on alto the piece blows actually easier to me - because of the build of the reed. That's why I make this piece 0.110.

Would anyone be interested in a alto piece that's made to use tenor reeds? I'm still busy experimenting though. It will have a bigger window. Medium baffle, large chamber.

[MojoBari]

One of my back burner projects is to reface a bass clarinet MP to take bari sax reeds...

[JL]

I think I know what you guys are after and, being a tenor player I can relate to it. But if you wanna sound like a tenor, why not play a tenor? Or are you going for something in between the alto & tenor? It's always fun to play with different sonic possibilities, of course.

[Mike Ruhl]

Would anyone be interested in a alto piece that's made to use tenor reeds? I'm still busy experimenting though. It will have a bigger window. Medium baffle, large chamber.
I'd be interested in it.

[Johannes Gerber]

the biggest obsticle regard to making a mpc for alto that uses tenor reeds is the length of the tenor reed - obviously, some of the reed will extend past the end of the table, but to get it better I will make it with a longer table and shorter shank. There's a lot of things to consider when doing this - it sound so easy - but once you start, many things come up.

My mouthpieces have a very thin table - with a alto reed at 14mm at the butt, the table is about 0.5 mm at the back of the window. Now with a tenor reed that's about 15mm at the butt - you need to take the table down more so it can get wider for the reed to have a nice fit. This will cause the window to move back some more.

So I'm working on something that's got more material so I can have a tenor reed size table.

I'll let you know when I'm happy with the results and consider making a few.

[Bootman]

Check with Ron Coehlo of RPC mpcs, he makes a 105 alto mpc that uses a tenor reed. This is a great mpc.

[tomsch]

Johannes - What are your plans for producing tenor mpcs? Your alto mpcs look great!

[Gaijin-san]

JG, why the need for a long table? I have a Metal Quantum on Alto... an Alto mouthpiece, and ALTO reeds stick off the end of the table. Struck me as wierd, but doesn't seem to harm anything.

[markieg]

Johannes - Could you let me know as well about the alto mpc w/ tenor reed? I've been working on my sound and want to go metal, I just don't have the money yet. Maybe I will by the time you're satisfied with the mpc's. I've seen your site and your products are very reasonable priced compared to some of the mpc's I've seen. I'm also working on getting a Conn C-melody working. Maybe you could figure something out with that playing tenor reeds too. Thanks!

[Mike Ruhl]

Check with Ron Coehlo of RPC mpcs, he makes a 105 alto mpc that uses a tenor reed. This is a great mpc.
Doh! I came back to post that very thought. Thanks Boot.

[Johannes Gerber]

Every piece I make, is set up the way JVW taught me - that's a very reliable way and like many of you will know is a way that work VERY well. I do everything by hand - table, lay, chamber, beak - everything.

So if an alto reed sticks out at the back - a tenor reed will even more - and the Lig will grab it ugly - touching some of the heart area. I'll make the table just long enough so the lig will fit well.

Personally, I like alto reeds more - for the same reasons that was mentioned in the other thread - the high notes doesn't sound great for me.
But with 0.110 and a higher baffle that might be better. The large chamber 0.105 I'm busy with is still too small for me - might take it to .120 - it's very easy blowing

As for a tenor piece - I'm working on the model - 2 are finished already.

Up to now everything was truly handmade from solid bar - no casting - this takes much of my time for shaping the outside and filing, sanding, buffing - by hand. The next models will have the blanks cast and the rest will be same as the previous pieces - by hand. This ensures every piece is a real work of art.

The tenor model will be in 0.100, 0.105, 0.110 (favourite) 0.120 and bigger - I can basicly make any facing because I do it by hand and I play every piece I make frequently throughout the process. Each piece is set up really well. The tenor piece will be a Jazz model - like my alto - Large chamber - Medium straight baffle with round sidewalls - the chamber is wide - more wide than deep. This piece gives a clear fat tone, some edge, in between dark and bright and absolutely outstanding projection.

I'm thinking about a higher baffle, large chamber piece as well.

I'm still setting everything up - someone has said my pieces are too cheap - they are too cheap for the amount of time I spend on each one and the playing I do on each one. I have kept the prices down so the word can spread. But I'll keep them reasonable. I'm a reasonable guy.

As soon as the tenor piece is ready I'll post it here - there's a waiting list already - should be in the next 2 months.

Regards
JG

[Chris]

Buy a tenor, then you will have a tenor sound.

[Johannes Gerber]

Chris, yes I agree.

The goal I'm trying to achieve is not the tenor tone though. I want to create something that will transform the alto with a unfimiliar tone - with a tenor reed and large chamber, the tone will be big, but my personal goal is to supply a few players with a piece that will give them a tone that's not known before.

Something that will sparkle interest from the audience and other players.

[ZenBen]

LOL Chris. Whose theory is it that states: the most obvious answer is usually the right one? I once heard that branford marsalis was trying to make his alto sound like a tenor until brother wynton suggested he just switch to tenor because the tenor already sounds like a tenor.

[ZenBen]

LOL Chris. Whose theory is it that states: the most obvious answer is usually the right one? I once heard that branford marsalis was trying to make his alto sound like a tenor until brother wynton suggested he just switch to tenor because the tenor already sounds like a tenor.

[leonardA]

To those who say why not just play a tenor, I do have a tenor, but I like the alto better because of it's smaller size and it takes less wind. So if I could get a more tenor-like sound on it, I'd have the best of both worlds for the most part. I have played tenor reeds on my Yamaha 4c alto mouthpiece with some success, but it didn't really have a true tenor sound.

[markieg]

But replacing the alto reed for a tenor reed and opening the tip of the mpc would make it require more wind.

[ZenBen]

I'm sorry. I meant no harm or offence by my preivious comment. I was just laughing at Chris's comment.

I too am actually looking for a bigger, more robust sound on alto. But I'm not convinced it has to come from a large tip opening. I'm thinking more along the lines of large chamber and low/ no baffle.

[Beer Can]

I think you need to use a darker alto JK maybe then I like an Otto Link 6 metal this was accused to sound tenor like for me
Dan

[donnalee23]

hello I´m a player sax from argentine (buenos aires city) recently I got a freddie gregory metal mouthpiece (solid plate) 9* I think that this mouthpiece has a similar sound of tenor sax.- I use a selmer superaction serie II.-
what do you think about this mouthpiece?
sorry but my english is no good I hope you can understand to me.-

[sinkdraiN]

Interesting question. There was a time when i played a metal yanagisawa 7 on alto and everyone would comment about how I sounded like a tenor. I can see why. I produced a more husky tone with that mouthpiece. I retired that mouthpiece quickly for that very reason.

[Razzy]

There's a fellow at my university who, whenever I happen upon his practice room during his long tones practice, I always think is somebody playing tenor. Then I hear him play some kind of scale or run and am shocked to hear that it is an alto. He's a fantastic player, and I would describe his tone as very rich, deep, and robust, but still having the edge of an alto player. Know what he plays?

A meyer 6M mouthpiece, with Vandoren traditional 3 reeds, on a Yamaha custom Z.

I'm convinced it has nothing to do with the equipment! He practices his overtones religiously.

[Saxplayer67]

I find my alto Otto Link Supertonemaster #5 can give me a 'tenorish' sound easily.

[Beowulfmk]

I play NY meyer large chamber, and it is very dark. According to my friends, my lower scale sounds almost tenor like :)

[disgruntleddave]

well, i dont know what exact kind of tenor tone youre going for.

i use a JodyJazz ESP 6 on my mark 6 with vandoren ZZ 3.5's. My tone has enough edge when i want it to but its quite dark (considering the metal mpc) - i think that in some of its range it sounds similar to a tenor sound, but thats only the tenor sound that i think of. i guess experiment until you find what youre looking for?

[davidtw]

can someone post some alto "tenor sound" clip