Any Benefit to a Meyer 6M over a Meyer 5M???

[FrankB2]

I've only played the 5M, and found it to be a very nice free blowing
piece. However, the buggered piece I have is going to be replaced
by the shop. They have some sealed Meyer 6M's in stock, and I
was wondering if they'd sound better, worse, same???? I've only
been playing sax since last September, but have played clarinet
for 30 years. Man, I knew I was missing out, but not this much<G>!!!!
I read on somebody's site that the chamber height varies on the
different size Meyers, and they all blow fairly easily, even with larger
tip openings. The shop didn't have any demo 6M's, and I didn't want
to make them cut open a sealed mpc. Thanks!

Have Fun, Frank

[RS]

Personally I would prefer the 6 over the 5 which I find a little too closed. Since you've been playing clarinet for a long time your chops should be able to handle the Meyer 6 no sweat. Might take a couple of days to get used to it.

[Ritchie]

You are really interested in buying, so there is nothing wrong with letting them cut open the sealed mouthpiece. Maybe you want to go one step further and try a 7M, which is the modern equivalent of the 1939 Meyer 5M. Do yourself a favour and try before you buy. If you are afraid you are not able to handle the bigger tip opening, combine it with a softer reed.

Read Ralph Morgan's article from the Saxophon Journal (http://www.dornpub.com/SaxjPDF/meyer.pdf) to learn more about Meyers. It's a great article from a guy who knows really a lot about mouthpieces.

[FrankB2]

Thanks!

Frank

[RS]

Maybe call Woodwind/Brasswind (1-800-348-5003). I believe they still have a trial policy on mouthpieces and you can maybe try out several. I also agree it might be a good idea to try a 7M. My alto piece is an 8M small chamber. Finished by Jon Van Wie it's a killer piece.

[MojoBari]

From your clarinet experiance, you will probably be more comfortable with a 5M or 6M and a hard reed. I think a more "saxy" sound can be had from a 6M or 7M and a softer reed. But Phil Woods sound OK on his 5M.

A trial from WW&BW is a good deal. But you will need to live with the sax for a while before you can zero in to your sound.

[RS]

But what would Phil's 5M equal in today's Meyers? Ritchie says about a 7M. I've heard this elsewhere also. Current 5Ms are .071". Pretty small for alto.

[FrankB2]

I read the article about a "Meyer is a Meyer..", and began to wonder
about Cannonball's sound on a "5M". Which 5M???? I compiled a list
of alto players using a Meyer 5, but are they using *vintage* 5's??
I definitely get a more saxy sound witht he 5M compared to a Yam 4C,
but it's not there yet. I'm using Vandoren Trad's 2&2.5 reeds. I realize
as well that I'm responsible for at least PART of the tone<G>, but I'll
take all the help a piece can lend. The shop didn't mind me trying the
6M, but it's a SamAsh store so you have to log your horn in and out,
and that's a bit of a hassle. Oh well, nothing comes easy. Thanks again!

Frank

[phillysaxman]

In most cases when you hear about guys using vintage Meyers they are the ones made in the late 50's and 60,s. The tip openings and facings from that era are pretty much the same as the ones made today. Before that was the "True Flex Models" which are the ones that are refered to in the Ralph Morgan article about the tip openings being larger than the ones of today. I know that Phil Woods uses a NY Meyer 5 which has the same tip opening as the current Babbit models.

[FrankB2]

Sounds good to me. I like the Phil Wood sound...the Adderly sound...
the Kenny Garret sound....Charlie Parker...Joe Lovano's recording of
"Central Park West" on alto is GREAT. Man, I love sax. I lucked out on
a Yamaha 23 that was being sold locally on ebay. It was pretty much
new, and I got it for $385. I drove over to pick it up, and the guy said
that he bought it within the past year when Mars Music was going out of business. I've been looking for a better horn, but it would be nice to
find another deal like this<G>. The sounds a little thin on the 23, but
it'll keep me in sax heaven for a while.

Frank

[Hornlip]

Just by way of adding more information to the old/modern tip opening loop:

Recently got a alto horn that came with a Brilhart Tonalin mouthpiece, six-digit serial number, #2 facing. The facing is shorter, but the tip opening is maybe just a shade narrower than my modern Meyer 5M. Can't really feel a difference when I'm playing it, except from the shorter facing.

[MojoBari]

The 23 is a fine sax. Make sure it is leak free and play the $%#& out of it until you get a good sound. Work on mouthpiece/reeds/sound.