Altissimo on TT tenor

[greenhorn]

I currently play a 184*** TT tenor (1926). It has the front F key. But I'm having trouble playing altissimo register. I do not have this problem while playing my friends super20 or mkIV. I have tried several mouthpiece combinations (vandoren java, morgan, otto link metal, yanagisawa), but they all have the same problem with altissimo.

Does anyone (buescher players) have this problem as well? I'm suspecting that it is a neck angle problem. The TT does have a different neck angle from other more modern horn. Are there neck replacements (with different angle) for the TT?

Any input would be helpful. Thanks.

[morgan]

Sorry - - altissimo for me on a TTT is same as on any other tenor, so I guess I can't help.

[DanO]

Greenhorn,

Im far from a professional so my qualifications here to answer you are questionable at best.

I had a Buescher New Aristrocrat for a time. I had trouble with altismo on it too. I picked up Rachner's top tones book. He was a Buescher player and has some nice fingerings in his book. I bet its your problem. AS you probably arleady know. Different saxes like different fingerings.

[JL]

Don't know about the TT, but on my Aristocrat tenor the altissimo jumps right out, very clear and in tune. If anything, It is a bit easier on the Buescher than on my MK VI, with the same fingerings.

[greenhorn]

DanO,

I have tried several fingering combinations (from various sources), but the fundamental problem is still there - the notes just dont' pop out when I want it to. It takes far too much effort to get the altissimo notes.

My gut feel tells me it is the neck. Wish I had another neck to make a comparison.

BTW, does anyone know if the neck angle on the aristocrat different from the TT?

The tone on the TT I like, everything else I can live with. If only I can fix the altissimo problem.....[/quote]

[paulwl]

It takes far too much effort to get the altissimo notes.
That might be your problem right there. Altissimo needs to be easy if you're going to really use it as part of the range. Back off some...try not blowing so loud or pinching up the embouchure quite so much. The thing is finding the right "focus" for each note so it doesn't need to be squeezed out like the last dab of toothpaste in the tube.

Focus is a wishy-washy but important concept - it's part tone imagination, part airstream, part embouchure, part throat/tongue-cavity positioning. Top-Tones are great exercises but Rascher prefers not to de-mystify the philosophy. He chalks it all up to "inspiration and perspiration."

You don't tell us about your setup. Is it easy to get the whole key range of the horn with the mouthpiece and reed you use now?

I doubt it's the neck. I've read and discussed lots about altissimo and the neck never seems to come into question. It's at least 90% ear, chops, and focus.

[greenhorn]

Thanks for the insight Paul.

When I mentioned effort, it is not force, but rather the focus that you mentioned. Altissimo comes easily (without much effort or need to overly focus) when I use other horns, but on the buescher it is pretty much hit and miss.

I currently use a vandoren java (not jumbo) with RJS 3S. This is the setup I use other horns as well. I have also tried otto link and yanagisawa as well. For reeds, zonda, v16 and RJS.

I will try to fiddle around with more mpc-reed setup and see how it goes.

[brickboo]

I tried many mouthpieces. The only one I can get the altissimo and low sub tones out of is a #10 Runyon Metal Quantum with the Spoiler. I tried quite a few expensive pieces that wouldn't work at all with my Buescher "400"
Give it a try.
boo Hargis

[beth]

i too play on a TT tenor, 197***, with an almost identical set up (vandoren java T75 and RSJ 3S) and have no problem with the altissimo and find it to be just as comfortable as a series II i've played on in the past

what size java are you using?