Altissimo Mouthpiece Specs for Easier Altissimo

This is a video to help you identify aspects of a saxophone mouthpiece that will assist with altissimo production. Please check out this site for information on Chinese mouthpieces and products in general sold on Amazon
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[@jadmusic5064]

I love watching these kind of videos, especially because I want to design and 3d print a mouthpiece and then refine it! Thank you for the great content as always!

[@Sirvalorsax]

There is some really cool tech on the horizon for 3D printing. Thanks for watching.

[@zachattack4982]

I'm also working on a 3d printed mouthpiece. What material do you think would be best?

[@jadmusic5064]

@@zachattack4982 So I'm currently using a resin printer (have to be careful to use bio-compatible resin) so I don't have a choice in my material. I had also printed one on a standard printer where I used ABS. It works ok, but I would probably use PLA as it is harder (and I don't think it's toxic).

[@zachattack4982]

@@jadmusic5064 yea abs could potentionly by toxic. I'm not well informed on resin printers but I have a normal one.

[@marktyler3381]

This is superb information and analysis. Thank you for your work.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Cool. :)

[@michaeljohnson9969]

Thank you again for this valuable info! This will save people from dumping huge money in mouth pieces and helps narrow the search for great tools to to work our sound!

[@Sirvalorsax]

Thanks

[@Ryan-ok8lk]

Your videos are one of the best on mouthpieces. So informative, and don't rush over the details like many others do! Also I would be so very curious to hear your thoughts on syos... Maybe reach out to them and see if they would send you a few to do a review? I've heard they're very good to work with! All the best

[@Sirvalorsax]

I'm looking into trying some of their pieces for a future video.

[@129jaystreet]

The man has a very pleasant voice.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Lol

[@brianpite0893]

Sir, speaking of Chinese plastic mouthpiece. I recently bought the Eastar EMP-4A for alto. It came with a cap and ligature and 2, 2.5 reeds. With a little persuasion the ligature worked ok. I was very impressed by the sound! It was only 15 dollars on Amazon. I was so impressed with the reeds that I ordered a box. Each Reed is packaged with a little humidity control packet. Just my opinion. Great video as always.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Thanks. I wish they had more info on their products though.

[@sleepy-beagle]

Informative. Thanks I’m just beginning to try altissimo so I find your videos very useful. Thanks

[@Sirvalorsax]

Cool

[@heinzbuena8154]

thanks sir for the idea.

[@DiruKev]

This was a very informative video. I wish I knew more about mouth pieces when I was learning altissimo roughly ten years ago. Luckily I made a great choice when I chose my Otto link and Selmer C**. As I get older it's harder to play altissimo on my Otto link versus warming up an hour and being able to play it no problem I my C**. Again much appreciated on the informative vid

[@Sirvalorsax]

Thanks

[@bobblues1158]

My experience is exactly the same as your´s. High Baffle Not.The number 5 Yanagisawa that came with my Yanagisawa TWO20 tenor plays altissimo extremely well. SYOS is great to work with. Good folk all the way. I have 6 pieces that I use for different situations.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Cool

[@abedinsubashi]

I bought a yibuy after you did a review on it and it was a big improvement on the range of my altissimo. My old mouthpiece could only go up to a high G but the yibuy bought my range up about an octave and a half to a concert Bb6 and on a good day, I can reach a C7

[@Sirvalorsax]

It's good to analyze the difference between them to more accurately predict which mouthpieces will work better for you in the future

[@jeffrycupps9499]

Thanks SirValor. I am trying to get into altissimmo. It is difficult on my Yamaha 5C.

[@ronaldlucero5158]

Wow it's a helpful content love it thanx

[@Sirvalorsax]

Glad it was helpful!

[@엘라-e1k]

great share

[@Michael-ol7wm]

Thank you for sharing your talent and video.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Cool. Thanks for watching

[@Aaron-Qman]

How would you compare the V5 T35 vs Jumbo Java T55 mouthpiece in terms of better altissimo ease?

[@TheLazyClips]

Love your videos

[@michelmalts9053]

Thank you!

[@josemunoz6654]

No hay posibilidad de subtítulos el español☹️

[@koumou57]

Very nice video as usual. Can you please make one on which attributes should one look at in a mouthpiece for a lush bottom end that will facilitate easier subtonig?

[@Sirvalorsax]

I'll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion

[@zachattack4982]

Very nice video man, informative and fun to watch. Looking forward to the two Yibuy reviews. There're still coming right?

[@Sirvalorsax]

I reviewed them and pulled the videos down because of concerns over how these mouthpieces are made. I have a video on Chinese mouthpieces that I have made since then.

[@zachattack4982]

@@Sirvalorsax oh I see. Neither one tells you what they're made of? You mentioned balkalite in specific was bad but these are both metal. Still though, god knows what they do to them.

[@ricobanmar1939]

I love this video I am a beginner can you recommend me a mouth piece and what brand should I buy

[@gallillito]

WOW very good video tx.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Thanks

[@stevenorman4802]

I was waiting for you to say “PEACE!!” at the end of this video and was left disappointed. Just kidding. You had some very good info and I enjoyed watching this video. I am amazed at the level of mouthpiece improvement of precision in regards to now days compared to when I first started playing as well. I was thinking the same thing about metal= bright and HR = dark. Not necessarily so anymore. I like how the Claude Lakey balances bright with dark. If they didn’t have the indentation for the bite plate, it would be one of my favs. I have found out as well that the amount of inherent resistance outweighs a whole lot of other factors when it comes to altísimo. I’m really liking the Ponzol SS pieces for their resistance giving me good thick altísimo. Anyway. Peace! Always enjoy your vids. BTW, have you ever considered going live and answering questions? Thanks.

[@Sirvalorsax]

I'm still trying to work out the live situation but I don't have access to good enough internet yet...

[@thestevenorman]

Ok Thanks.

[@HenryJonesVictor]

Another great video. I know you're the altissimo guy, but do you have anything to say about the opposite direction - as in problems getting low notes out of certain mouthpieces? I have a Rico Graftonite .85 that simply refuses to pop anything below a low D while my .105 Berg Larsen plays the entire range easily. Is the small opening entirely to blame?

[@Sirvalorsax]

Could be your reed choice with the small tip opening and also your embouchure. I play with a very relaxed "lip-out" embouchure for the entire range of the horn including altissimo.

[@HenryJonesVictor]

@@Sirvalorsax Ah, I see. I also play lip-out but I've been using some really hard reeds recently. Gonna try something else next time, thanks!

[@saxmoe]

Hi really enjoyed your videos can you let me know what size reed and type of reed thank you use and thanks for sharing the information.

[@Sirvalorsax]

I mostly use Vandoren Redbox 2.5 reeds with a mouthpiece tip opening around a 6*-7*

[@jasonandrews9058]

Thanks for all of your valluable research. I would like to produce a darker/focused tone on my alto. I love the metal finishes please suggest one that I can purchase to aid me there.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Vandoren Large chamber V16 Ebonite is a good choice.

[@benclaps]

Very awesome and informative video! Do you prefer lower resistance or a higher in general?

[@Sirvalorsax]

I prefer the least amount of resistance from the mouthpiece and a balance with my reeds choice.

[@jaisoofi5513]

A little off topic but what do u suggest as a good replacement ligature for an otto link stm? as we know the stock ligatures aren’t the best lmao

[@Sirvalorsax]

I use my Vandoren Ligature on it a lot.

[@AbouTheMagnanimus]

Have you tried any of the Morgan mouthpieces? I own a soprano and alto by them. Both are large chamber mouthpieces and I like them a lot. I'm still working on my own altissimo, but they are nice for it so far.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Morgan or Morgan Frye?

[@AbouTheMagnanimus]

@@Sirvalorsax Morgan Mouthpiece Company as started by Ralph Morgan. Curious as to your take on them if you get the chance.

[@maxpartlow6246]

I currently play on a New York Otto link and am looking for a better ligature, whenever I tighten up the ligature it puts indents on the reed. What alternative ligature would you recommend that will fit on my Otto link?

[@Sirvalorsax]

A lot of ligatures will have this effect on reeds. All but my really expensive Silverstein and the not so expensive Compass Ligature don't do this.

[@user-fy3yq2gh7m]

Hello sir! I just bought the Yibuy silver #7. Do you have a recommendation for a replacement ligature? Great video as usual. Rob

[@Sirvalorsax]

I stopped playing the Yibuy pieces and pulled down the videos I did on them. I posted a video on why. In short, If I can't research the company that makes them I'm not going to play them unless I can get them replated or I can research the materials that they are made of. I have not pursued an alternate ligature for them but I am in the process of getting the unplated ones plated.

[@user-fy3yq2gh7m]

Thanks for the update. If you do get your replated I would be interested in where and how much you spent. Loving these videos you have helped me in my playing.

[@cameronbailey2754]

So to sum up the baffle is the key to altissimo as it creates resistance and resistance is good ? Can you improve this with reed strength though ? And if so what Reed strength makes more resistance ?

[@Sirvalorsax]

For me, the baffle doesn't matter for altissimo. I prefer low baffle mouthpieces. It's more about the embouchure. High baffle means smaller area so a bigger tip opening is needed with high baffle mouthpieces. The baffle should be seen as a harmonics amplifier. Low baffle amplifies low harmonics giving a dark sound and a high baffle amplifies high harmonics giving a bright sound. Reeds are the most important part as far as equipment goes. That's why I use different ones on really low tip opening mouthpieces

[@cameronbailey2754]

Sirvalorsax thanks so much man ! Stay classy doing what your doing

[@gordonramos4135]

Can you tell me what you think of the plastic coded reeds Rico makes 1 . And I've tried fibercell now I'm using vandoren still having a hard time with altissimo can you tell me how to overcome I use an old Berg Larsen metal 120 / 5 and also a Berg hard rubber 1oo m on tenor

[@Ryan-ok8lk]

I keep coming back to plasticover reeds. They're quite bright and not as full sounding as some other reeds, but I find them very reliable and easy to play that I can overcome that. Would recommend

[@Sirvalorsax]

I think they play differently from when I was in high school 25years ago. I struggled with them a lot recently. What mouthpiece do you have?

[@gordonramos4135]

@@Sirvalorsax I have a metal Berg Larsen mouthpiece 120. / 5 and also a hard rubber Berg Larsen Which is a 100 medium. The metal mouthpiece is very old.

[@darylbeebe6517]

Awesome video as always. I am waiting on my second TAM Gary Sugal piece. The first wasn't the best fit for me. What are your thoughts on the altissimo on the TAM Sugal Mouthpieces?

[@Sirvalorsax]

I've had a wonderful playing experience. Mine have high baffles which makes the tip seem smaller than usual. If you are having some difficulty, try a more open tip. I went from a 7* to almost an 8*

[@darylbeebe6517]

@@Sirvalorsax Thanks so much for the response. I dealt with some squeaking and when I went to harder reeds It was tough to blow and project. I am looking foward to my new piece. Thank you for your work. It really helps me in my spending and decision making.