V16 A8m

[ving]

There are a lot of posts on the A7M, A6M, etc as well as the small chambers, but I am curious if anyone plays the A8M...

[Agent27]

I am, currently . . .

[ving]

How do you like it? What reeds work well for you on it? I am thinking of checking one of these out once again, I don't think I gave it enough of a chance the first time...

[Agent27]

Right now I'm liking it a lot. I'm liking it over my JodyJazz HR and RPC 90R. I had it a few years but never really liked it before. Maybe it was the reed choice because I'm pretty sure I had tried it with Rico Jazz Selects which for me just don't work on it. I'm using LaVoz on it now and I can get a very comparable sound to other altoists who use (or have traditionally used) Vandoren HR pieces: Vincent Herring, Wessell "Warmdaddy" Anderson, and Antonio Hart. More like the latter 2 than the former though. I don't know what advantages the 8 would have over a 7 or 6 aside from just having a larger tip.

[daigle65]

I play a V16 A8 M.
I use traditional Vandorens#3 and an Optimum lig.

IMHO it's an "OK" mpc. I wish it had a longer table,

[ving]

I go back to an A8S I have over most pieces, but its a little shallow to use for everything--i just hadn't heard of many people playing the M chamber in that tip. I am going to try them out again....




ving

[seboney]

I'm not a newbiw...played a lot of mpcs...and currently play an
V16 A8M . Love it...tried several to get the best of the best. Previous was a Selmer Super Session F..again hand selected...there is variance...and I still like the SSS very much. Wouldn't trade either. All jazz combo work.

Steve

[ving]

Hmm, thanks for the info. I did this with the A8S I have, tried out a few and one really stood out. For quite a while I thought maybe it was the short facing I didn't like as much, but I think its more the smaller chamber that I find a little constricting. If the A8M has the same fullness and response but with a broader sound I think I would like it....

[dave2sax]

I picked up a A9S a short time ago, but haven't played it that much. I was shocked at how easy it was to play for such an open piece. I think it has a huge sound, maybe it's just that opening, I don't know - but that sucker can pump out some volume. When I bought it, I was comparing it to a A8M. I liked the small chamber much better, I think it complimented the darkness of that piece better - gave it a little edge. Without it, I found the A8M a bit too spread for my tastes, but it did have a nice core sound. I thought I was getting a kind of Kenny Garrett thing with the A8M, but the feel of the A9S was just a lot freer - the 8M seemed to have quite a bit more resistance, which I'd probably get used to in time. Both pieces played exceptionally well and both were extremely responsive.

[ving]

The small chambers have a lot of zip, but to me you can't get the sound to open up like with a larger chamber--they stay a little shallow, for me at least.

[ving]

Well, having tried these some more I have a better impression--I have concluded what I disliked about the A8S was the chamber not the facing length--the small chamber just doesn't allow for enough air to be as flexible as I would like or fat enough. The A8M at first was underwhelming for me, a bit stuffy and blase. But after trying it with a half a strength softer reed and a different lig it really opened up, does have what I liked about the A8S but with more sound and core. Of course, this may all change tomorrow, but it was working quite well this evening, FWIW....