Meyer

darby dylan · Meyer

Hello everybody
I have j'ust bought a new mouthpiece.A otto link where i'm verry pleased about but my question is why that my teacher and both shops i went into they sugested me to buy a Meyer.
what does it have of special that it is good to start with.
regards

dylan

Bariman

A Meyer is a very good step-up mpc, and could easily be used for pro gigs and recodings. They are usually in the medium price range, very close to the Otto Links. There are a variety of different facings and chamber sizes to try. Some more info can probably be found on the internet through a search engine.

Bariman

reisio

They probably figure it's an easy sell, since novices (others, too, but especially novices, imo :p) like the loud, abrasive sound you get easily with your usual Meyer. Instead of honing your tone you can have an instant Cannonball squeal (sort of :p) just by using a Meyer.

I personally can't stand them, but I'm not into squealing, so that's no surprise.

Lots of people equate jazz nowadays with squealing and growling a lot and generally making a fool of yourself. I'm sorry to people that like to do that constantly (used in moderation it's fine), but there's more to jazz than that.

Bariman

I couldn't agree more, reisio. However, I tend to see the Meyers as a blank slate that a person can build their sound on. Sometimes, you just have to try something yourself to see how you play it.

Bariman

reisio

'Course.

JPSaxMan

Not to turn this into a tone thread but I agree with both reisio and Bariman. Although I play on a Dukoff D7, it wouldn't sound it at first glance. Why? I've managed to tame the beast so that I sound "normal". And not like some crackhead that just got buzzed before a gig. I've never had an experience with a Meyer, but if that's the sound you first get out of it, you'll need to tame it so that you can sound normal. But hey, if that's your thing, go for it. Mr. Green

darby dylan

That's what they told me in the shop that i should buy it because you can form your sound with it.but i really didn't like the sound now i have my Otto link i'm so pleased i can't stop playing on it.But the problem is for the academy i play classical music and for myself i play jazz(intensivelly).i'd love to continue with jazz for my higher studies.
The problem is for classical i'm quiet advanced tpo and my teacher wants me to continue with classical for my higher studies and he wants me to stop playing jazz.the problem is that for him i play on a classical mouthpiece and for the jazz on my otto link.
Could this be a problem???
regards

dylan

JPSaxMan

I don't quite understand your quandry Confused

reisio

If your teacher is suggesting you use a Meyer for classical, get a new teacher (or accept that even if you end up with a lucrative career, you will probably sound like crap to people with even remotely trained ears).

As I've said elsewhere, I haven't heard a classical saxophonist on any prestigious recording lately that didn't sound like complete crap. Sure, their technique was good and if you had a tuner you could tell they were hitting the right pitches - but they usually have an overblown sound and a harsh, ear-splitting tone.

Sometime in saxophone history it was apparently established amongst professional teachers that sounding like crap is how it should be done the legit way. Go figure.

In fact come to think of it, if your teacher is suggesting you shouldn't play jazz, he's clearly a goof. :p It's all the same when you get down to it.

JPSaxMan

Actually reisio, I think my classical sound/tone is pretty good. I'll record some legit stuff some time for you to liste to Mr. Green

reisio

darby dylan

No i'm not playing on a meyer for clasical music.of course not.for classical i j'ust play on a standard selmer c2(2 stars i mean).

Have you ever heard sombody play classical on a Meyer???

reisio

Considering how horrible so many classical players sound nowadays playing on conservative mouthpieces, I hope oh so very much I never have to hear it done with a Meyer.

I've done it myself...so painful.

JPSaxMan

Reisio, maybe they are playing on Meyers and that's the problem? Confused

darby dylan

I't must really sound horible

Tully

reisio

Not sure I've heard any I like. Delangle and Harle are both quite overblown and abrasive. Haven't heard Bornkamp. Rousseau is _okay_, but he's pretty old and I don't know if I've heard anything from when he was younger.

If you're asking if I had a teacher that liked to say stuff like "EEeeeeewwwww, Delangle, Harle and all those other legit guys sound like crap", the answer is no. :p

Tully

LOL, we must listen for completely different things in terms of tone quality, because Harle is perhaps my favorite legit player right now in terms of tone! Sound-wise, what jazz players do you like? I'm guessing you're into guys like Scott Hamilton that subtone a lot and have more of an "old school" sound, if you will? FWIW, I love that sort of sound for tenor.

darby dylan

I like this warm sound like people like sonny rollins.
i'm also more for the tenor for jazz.i find it gives something nicer.
what your opinion about this?

Tully

I love Sonny Rollins. I wouldn't go so far as to say I prefer tenor for jazz, but there is just something about it...

JPSaxMan

I think tenor is ideal for jazz, if I had to choose between SATB, T would be #1.

Now I don't mean to de-rail good thoughts, but this topic is about Meyer. So let's end all off-topic discussions now please. Thank you Mr. Green

Tully

Right, back to Meyers...

Anyhow, I love Meyers for alto (only tried a couple on tenor, but they just weren't right for me). Between the different tips, facings, and chambers, I can get whatever (non-classical) sound I want, but the mouthpiece still leaves room for me to fine-tune my own sound I have a great 7M small chamber that I use for combo playing or other times when my Runyon Custom (which I use mostly for playing lead) is too much. However, I'm very interested to try the Vandoren V16 series, as they're supposed to be copies of the old Meyer Bros. pieces.

JPSaxMan

Tully,

What do you think of that Runyon Custom? Jacob plays one on his Antigua soprano and he sounds almost like Branford. I know, alto/soprano two different animals but some opinions wouldn't hurt. And I know we're drifting off the topic of Meyer but at least we're talking about mouthpieces now... Wink

Tully

For lead alto, the Runyon Custom gets me exactly the sound I want. Bright, focused, and clear, but not whatsoever nasal or tinny. Not only do the Customs play well IMO, but you can get them for very little used.

I have the same soprano set-up (Antigua 586, Runyon Custom 7) as Jacob, but I can't decide whether or not I like the Custom on soprano. I've only had it for about a week, but so far, it's sort of nasal and blattly, not full and round like my Morgan 6J. I have a hunch this is a reed problem, since I've only been able to play it with what I have on hand, Vandoren blue box 3.5 (actually a good sound, but they're so hard I can hardly play it) and Vandoren ZZ 2.5 (too soft, and very thin-sounding). I'm going to grab some blue box 3's next, since those should be dark and full like my current 3.5's, but play much easier.

JPSaxMan

Now that would be weird...having the same exact setup as someone else Confused

Tully

JPSaxMan

I think I need a recording Tully...you know my e-mail.

A question about Meyer's...why would my BD have recommended it to me as a jazz piece if it is so "squealy" and "edgy"? Confused

Tully

I'm trying to figure out what to do for a recording (you know the situation) but I'll definitely send you one as soon as it gets worked out. Personally, I don't think Meyers are "squealy" at all (if it is, that's the player's problem, or it is a poorly faced mouthpiece). Edge will depend on the facing, chamber, and tip opening, but Meyers are not very edgy compared to a lot of other pieces on the market, IMO.

darby dylan

I find it's true that it is squealy.That's the sort of sound that came out of the meyer that i tried in the shop.
And actually i'm verry pleased i didn't buy the Meyer because i could have had a risk that it would descourige me what i of course didn't want to happen.
Now with mi otto link i play really alot and i have fun playing on it.

did anyone try and play on a selmer metal jazz??
Looks quiet nice.

dylan

Louis Scuderi

OK. I use a Meyer on both alto and tenor and love them very much. Both of them give me the tone I want and are very easy to play. I've tried links, Selmers, Jody Jazz, Bergs, and many others and I always go back to my Meyers. The closest I've been to switching is with a vintage Brilhart on my tenor.

darby dylan

It's quiet possible that when you play on it there is a nice sound that comes out but when i tried it a squaelly sound came out.
What's a brilhart??

Tully

Arnold Brilhart made some great mouthpieces "back in the day" before Brilhart was bought out by Selmer. The modern ones suck IMO, but the vintage Brilharts can be great. Here's more info:

http://www.mouthpieceheaven.com/misc/brilhart.htm

darby dylan

Did charlie "yardbird" parker play on a Brilhart??
Because he also had a white mouthpiece??

dylan

Tully

Bird did play a Brilhart, and he also played a Runyon, both of which were available in white.

Louis Scuderi

Another thing on Meyer's, this was something posted on SOTW the other day-

Tully

That's very well put; I couldn't have said it better. I've never used a Meyer for classical playing, but for someone like myself who tends to play on the darker side of any mouthpiece, a large-chambered 5M might work well.

Valley Sax

I think the Myer is a great mouthpiece. I have been play on a Myer 5M for about 30 years and it sounds great for both classical and jazz. However; a mouthpiece is a varible. What works for one person might not work for another. I like the Myer much better than my Selmer Soloist C*. It's all up to the individual. Just like horns.

Valley Sax

Sorry Guys and gals; make that Meyer.

JPSaxMan

VS, you can always hit that little button that says "edit" next to the the word "quote" right after you make a mistake to fix it...just for future reference Cool

Valley Sax

JPSaxMan:
Thanks for the hint. I'm new here and hadn't noticed that.

JPSaxMan

Not a problem Mr. Green

Anybody try the new Meyer G series?

JPSaxMan

Guess not, and now I can have some say in this thread.

I now play on a Meyer 5M for alto. Whoever said a Meyer could be used in classical (I think my band director even did *shock*), they should be shot and fed to the brass players at the Red Rail Restaurant. I love the sound I get out of the Meyer (certainly not squealy unless the reed is misplaced, I'm actually finding the stock lig to be a bit difficult in far as terms of slippage etc), full, focused, rounded, bright with a TAD of edge. Nice mixture.

But some of that is NOT what to get in a classical alto mouthpiece, even if you are from the Mule school of classical saxophone. Mule would die if he heard one his concerto's played on this mpc. It's too bright and too edgy for classical. A French sound should be bright, but not too bright, and have no edge whatsoever. And to make things worse, a Rascher (German) sound should have no brightness but instead more darkness. Unless you get a small chambered Meyer in a different tip, you will not acheive the Rascher sound.

Thank you :D

darby dylan

I'ts true what you just said
a meyer gives a much to much jazzy sound and very sharp.

dylan Darby