I've always been under the impression that larger baffles enhance or generally make playing the altissimo range easier, but I'm beginning to question that.
The Lamberson FMaj7 alto piece I recently got has no baffle, and the altissimo speaks a LOT easier than many other baffled pieces I've owned, it's very easy and one of the things I love about the FMaj7. I find the altissimo on this piece easier and more consistent than my Lamberson 6M, which has a small rollover.
A while ago I tested a Pillinger 5SL, which is a fairly closed mpc again with no baffle designed for classical playiing. The altissimo on that was by far the easiest I've ever played, it was like playing in the middle of the horn.
Comparing my Morgan Jazz 7m or 6m to a Morgan Excalibur 7e, same thing - the brighter Excalubur piece had a more difficult altissimo, although I'm not sure if the baffle was all that different between them. The Jazz 6m has a great altissimo.
I recently got a Dukoff D8 to experiment with and it plays pretty good, but the altissimo is much more difficult than any of the pieces listed above, and the Dukoff has the largest baffle of them all.
All things being equal (tip opening, reed strength etc.) shouldn't a high baffled piece generally make altissimo better, or is this just another myth? Based on my experience, I've found the opposite to be true.
The Lamberson FMaj7 alto piece I recently got has no baffle, and the altissimo speaks a LOT easier than many other baffled pieces I've owned, it's very easy and one of the things I love about the FMaj7. I find the altissimo on this piece easier and more consistent than my Lamberson 6M, which has a small rollover.
A while ago I tested a Pillinger 5SL, which is a fairly closed mpc again with no baffle designed for classical playiing. The altissimo on that was by far the easiest I've ever played, it was like playing in the middle of the horn.
Comparing my Morgan Jazz 7m or 6m to a Morgan Excalibur 7e, same thing - the brighter Excalubur piece had a more difficult altissimo, although I'm not sure if the baffle was all that different between them. The Jazz 6m has a great altissimo.
I recently got a Dukoff D8 to experiment with and it plays pretty good, but the altissimo is much more difficult than any of the pieces listed above, and the Dukoff has the largest baffle of them all.
All things being equal (tip opening, reed strength etc.) shouldn't a high baffled piece generally make altissimo better, or is this just another myth? Based on my experience, I've found the opposite to be true.