Vandoren SM711 AL3 Optimum Series Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
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AL4 (1. The 4C (1. 63mm tip opening) is the most similar. 6mm). br>AL3 has a lower number, 1. 52mm
It's not a silly question in the least. AL3, AL4, and AL5 are model numbers that refer to tip opening, with AL3 having the smallest tip opening. With a soft reed, such as 1-, the AL3 is a great choice. The 1/2 or 2 will blow with the least amount of back pressure, while the AL4 will have more and the AL5 will have the most. To cut a long story short, if you don't mind blowing until your face turns red, go for the wider tips, but if you want to enjoy playing your sax without putting in a lot of effort, go for the narrow tips (AL3). You can still play an AL3 loudly with a soft reed - Today's reeds are incredible, so experiment with a few different types until you find one or two that you like. I hope this has been of assistance.
Amazon is great about exchanges, but as a middleman, it may or may not be the actual vendor. Look for the words "ships and sold by Amazon" under the price, which means the item is returnable. It's possible that it's not if it's sold by a third party but delivered by Amazon. If you're just trying out a mouthpiece, ALWAYS use one of those rubber mouthpiece patches to prevent bite marks.
The Vandorin Optimum mouthpiece can provide this level of versatility when used with the Vandorin Optimum ligature, but a Rovner Versa ligature may provide the most flexibility for a modern sound. The Sigurd Rascher mouthpiece has a larger chamber and uses the Rovner Versa ligature to produce super highs and lows while maintaining a more traditional sound. I hope this has been of assistance. Rich
Selected User Reviews For Vandoren SM711 AL3 Optimum Series Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
My saxophone has been in use - same saxophone - for more than 60 years It has always sounded good. After primarily using Selmer mouthpieces, I finally settled on a Selmer metal jazz mouthpiece that I enjoy playing. It had a slightly dark sound to it, and I had good control over it. I had put the sax down for a few years and then picked it back up. I made the decision to go on the hunt for a new mouthpiece. This led me to Vandoren, specifically the AL3 Optimum, which was advertised as being simple to play and bright. It's amazing to see the difference. I don't mind a little resistance in a mouthpiece, but this one had just the right amount of resistance. The sound is bright and slightly brassy, giving me more freedom to "curve" tones and make my sax sing. It works well with low and high tones alike. It has a much wider range than my expensive Selmer metal mouthpiece, which is four times the price. I used a Vandoren Optimum ligature with this, and now I use Legere synthetic reeds. The two reed combinations proved to be the most effective. 75th Anniversary American Cut Vandoren 3 cane reed is what I usually use. All I have to say is that this combination excites me. My 1936 Buescher Aristocrat sounds just as good as the Selmer Mark VI I used to play.
This is a great mouthpiece for classical saxophone players who want to keep it simple. Even though this mouthpiece has the largest opening (AL5), it is still quite small in comparison to other mouthpieces, necessitating the use of a stronger reed (Hemke 3). Even so, it's a fantastic game. In the last few years, I've bought and played a lot of mouthpieces (Vandoren, Selmer, Meyer, Rico, and Otto Link), and this one is by far the best. Exceptional altissimo response and consistency throughout the entire range. It sounds great on both the older Selmer Mark VI and the newer AS42.
I was looking for something simple to play with, and I found it. I'm new to the mouthpiece game, and I'm learning that there are a lot of different kinds to choose from, as well as which ones to avoid. This is one of the few things I've tried that has proven to be effective for me as a beginner. (I've been out of practice for a while, and my first sax experience wasn't exactly typical). br>br>I think this mouthpiece has a good airflow, and I don't feel like I'm losing air out the sides of my mouth like I do with some other mouthpieces. Because it's such a costly piece, I recommend using a mouthpiece protector patch to prevent your teeth from cutting into the tip. I've also been washing everything in cold water to keep the color from fading. br>br>If you're looking for a simple, clean sound, this mouthpiece is a good, easy piece to use.
Classic mouthpiece with a good balance. I had tried a few others before falling in love with this one. It's a lot of fun. It's not as loud as a Yamaha 4c, but it's still loud enough. However, its resistance can help you gain more control over the sound. The tone has a pure quality to it as well. This mouthpiece is fantastic, and I highly recommend it for classical playing or upgrading from a 4c to a pro mouthpiece. I've used the 4c, S80, Meyer 6HR, Rousseau NC, and Rousseau JDX5 (which I like as a Jazz mouthpiece because it's different from the AL3).
I bought it because of the positive reviews on this site, and I'm glad I did. This is what I've been using with my Yamaha YAS- In comparison to my other mouthpieces, the 62 pro alto produces warm, strong tones with significantly improved playability. It's a good idea to try a variety of mouthpieces and reeds when it comes to sax mps. This is what I'm using with the Vandoren 3 Java reds.
The Vandoren company makes a dependable line of mouthpieces, reeds, and other instruments, and the Vandoren Optimum A4 is a great mouthpiece in my opinion. It has a nice warm tone in my experience, and it's something I'd recommend over a Selmer C*. Though a fantastic mouthpiece for beginners, in my opinion, I prefer the warmth and resonance of a Selmer Concept to that of an intermediate student. If you're upgrading from a Yamaha or Selmer C* mouthpiece and don't want to spend $60 more, this is the best option for a classical saxophonist, but no other classical mouthpiece I've tried compares to the Selmer Concept.
I'm new to the saxophone and tried out a few of the more expensive Pro Model mouthpieces right away. That was a huge blunder because they were extremely difficult to work with. This Vandoren, on the other hand, is an excellent first mouthpiece! The quality is excellent; it's very easy to blow, and the notes are perfectly clean and clear! I can also play altisimo beautifully! I wish I had purchased it at the start!.
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