great advice jeff, couldn’t agree more.
the problem people may face as I do where I live, I don’t have any local shops that let me “try” the mouthpieces, and small shops carry a very small selection of these mouthpieces. from here i have started shopping online. take recommendations and purchase some mouthpieces from places that offer a return policy. most of the time there is a small sanitation fee to do this (around $4) but well worth it to try out some different mouthpieces.
From the few I have played, Theo Wanne mouthpieces are the most free blowing easiest mouthpieces I have tried out. the downside, they are rather pricey, but if you find one that suits you, you shouldn’t have to get another. LOL.
I have played on a custom metal Guardala styled MBII but have recently changed to a Theo Wanne HR mouthpiece and am loving the darker, warmer sound. it doesn’t seem to have the screaming brights as i get with my metal but i am still looking for my unique voice. good luck in your mouthpiece search.

I have the MP Blues again! Someone should write a song by that name. I tried again tp progress from my Meyer 5 as it is horrible on jumping down to the low D to go to the STM metal 6* and no go. Simply not comfortable with the sound, the fact I had to really strain to control the squeaks and low notes and the Rico reeds that played well for me on the Meyer seem to not suit it. So after some back and forth I have ended up back on the 5C Yamaha but this feels so restrictive now that getting air into it meant I really had to back of the air pressure i am now used to.

I have bit the bullet and am commencing with a teacher this Sunday so hopefully he can guide me. JF, just wondering what was your progression in the early two to three years? Any others having the same issue. Love to hear what members in their 2nd to 4th years have played and are playing. I know they say we are all different but surely there must be some rules that work for all of us.

I am off to the shop tomorrow to try out some Vandorens in the Java and Jumbo Java ranges and buy myself a Xmas present. I remember testing these on my alto and they worked well but then I sold it for the tenor. It is frustrating and really messing with my practice and general playing comfort so i gotta sought it quickly.

(Wayne, if you would like to try the Meyer 5 I would be happy to send it to you.)

Dazza… first, congrats on that decission of going to a teacher. A player who stands by you and see what exactly are you doing with your fingers, embouchure, breathing and all that stuff to advice you and help you improve is worth the price you pay. Any error can be detected early for corrections to be taken. In 2-3 years of constant prectice (I feel I never stress enough the word CONSTANT) you’ll be able to play several tunes fluently and read any score to study it on your own.

As for the MP, your teacher, whoever he/she may be, will put you clear: “don’t worry for now, there’s plenty path to walk before”. Stick to the one you feel comfortable to, if it’s the original that came with your sax, play with it. You may choose the reed that best fit to it. Think of a MP as a pair of shoes (this was told to me by two unrelated teachers, in different situations). You’re learning to walk by this time, so no need to wear a pair of Nike Air Ultra-mega-Jumpin’ boots, since much probably they will cause you a blister on your toes.
After 6-10 months of modelling your embouchure you could try to blow through another piece, which surely you’ll be able to tell the difference.
If you are planning to get a metal MP, think of it as a future investment. I, for myself, got a bargain almost new in the box Otto Link STM 7* some months ago and put it safe at the bottom of a drawer. I only take it out and put it on the sax when I want to make some studio pics of it (I’m an amateur photographer), just for the fun of it LOL…

Keep the work, practice hard, focus on your tone, not on your accessories. Sound must come from your inner body, where some people think the soul resides.

Marc.