Whats your Alto Setup?

[35TangoTango]

Mark VI purchased new in 1964
Meyer NY 7SS purchased in 1975
Rovner Light Ligature
Vandoren Java 2.5 reeds

Used for Big Band jazz and blues.

[MoodyBlues]

Yanagisawa

Yanagisawa Bronze Neck

Beechler HR s5s/GW NY 6/JJ 6M HR

RSJ's 3 soft

Cheap nickel 2 screw lig works best

[juanm]

Main Sax:
A-701 LCsax
Theo wanne durga
vandoren java red cut 3's

back up sax:
Conn 6m (early 50s)
same mouthpiece and reed set up.

[PercussiveAlto]

Hn White sax, Babbitt mpc (soon to be meyer or Phil tone), and lately Rico Hemke, 2 or 2.5.

[sarajlim]

Marching band:

Yamaha Advantage
Selmer S-80 C*
Forestone 2.5 synthetic reeds

Concert Band:

Selmer Super Action 80 Series II
Selmer S-80 C* or S-90 190
Vandoren traditional strength 3

[martysax]

I'm back to my Meyer 5 with V16 3s on my 44 Zephyr military alto.

[konex]

YAMAHA YAS-21
Phil Barone NY6M
Francois Louis Pure Bronze
Gonzalez 2.5

[MLP1956]

Venus alto with a vintage Riffault 3

[jaz9090]

Horn: Yani A911
Mouthpiece: NY Cafe Bros HR
Lig: Francois Louis Pure Brass
Reeds: Fibracell Medium

[48Chevy]

Mirage alto, rico # a7, rice #3 reed

[mike713]

rice #3 reed

what kind of rice do you use? long grain, medium grain, or short grain? I would suggest trying them all, but on the setup you have I would recommend a long grain brown rice for that extra richness of tone.

I prefer sushi rice myself even though it requires more break-in time.


although some of the best players in the past have been known to use Uncle Ben's instant rice and they sounded great, so I guess it's not the grain it's the farmer.

[The Saxophone Lament]

Yamaha YAS-275
Selmer S80 - C*
Selmer Ligature with 2 screws
Vandoren blue 2 1/2

I'm not happy with my mouthpiece though, I think I will go for an ARB Great Neck Original from Beechler like Charlie Parker
But I don't know if these Beechlers are something good..

[JackLi]

Horn: Cannonball Big Bell Stone Series hopefully I'll get a new horn this year
Mouthpieces: MeYer 8M, or Phil-Tone MeYer 6M
Ligature: Vandoren Optimum with the 3rd plate
Reeds: Vandoren Green JAVA 3.5 or Rico Royal 4

Got the new horn.
Horn: Henri Selmer Paris Reference 54 Dark Lacquer
Mouthpiece(s): Phil-Tone MeYer 6M or Brilhart Personaline Ebolin L6
Ligature: Vandoren optimum with plate #2 or #3
Reeds: Vandoren Green JAVA 3.5 or Rico Royal 4

[Colby512]

Alto Horn: Yamaha Custom Z (No Lacquer)
Mouthpieces: Classical - Selmer C*, Jazz - Yanigisawa 5* or Dukoff D7
Lig: Stock ligature that came with horn
Reeds: Vandoren ZZ 3's

[drtran]

Yamaha Custom Z (normal lacquer)
Vandoren Optimum AL3 or Meyer 5M (they are interchangeable for me)
Rovner Dark Ligature (shoe lace when I'm desparate)
Fiberreed (Carbon MH), Vandoren Java 4, or Vandoren V16 3 1/2

[christiansax]

Update my Set-up:

The Martin Magna Alto Sax with Selmer Super Session E Mpc. with Vandoren ZZ Med. Reeds.

Man I love those Martins!!!

[bkobog]

Yanagisawa A992 Alto with Paraschos neck
MPC: Selmer Paris Larry Teal ebonite mpc + Rovner Mk III ligature, Jody Jazz DV NY #6 mpc + gold ring ligature on VANDOREN ZZ/Original reeds (3.5/3)
love a warm, lush sound

[MVash]

Mark VI 166,xxx alto
RPC 90V mpc
Bonade Lig
Rico Jazz Select 3S filed

been that way more or less for 10+ years, and not sure i'll ever change!

[Mattutopia]

I play a 1927 Buescher True-Tone alto (the series iv), very well set-up and regulated, with a Selmer SA80 C* HR mouthpiece and a Rovner-style lig + Rico-Royal 2 1/2 reeds...I know it sound like an unimaginative set-up but actually it plays absolutely beautifully, clear as a bell and is a real joy to play.

[jack_cremo]

Rampone e Cazzani R1J
Brancher B21
Plasticover 2,5