I lived in Tokyo, Japan 4 years with my family from 2002-2006, at YOKOTA Air Base as part of my military service with the USAF Band Of The Pacific/Asia Glenn Miller tribute concerts.We even played with fantastic alto player Sadao Watanabe!!!! It was unreal. I visited Ishimori many times, I would take loads of USAF Mark 6 saxophones for full overhauls, from the grind of being used and abused from Temporary Duty assignments to Korea, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Guam. One of the greatest sax shops in the world.
I was there just before the pandemic and I was like a kid in a candy store. I tried his tenor mouthpiece on one of his Yamaha horns and then bought it. The "traditional jazz" model.
Apparently I am behind the eight ball, as this is the first I have heard about Ishimori. But I am checking them out as the mouthpieces you are playing sound fantastic and the comments of folks who have been, or play the products, are all quite glowing! Thanks for the great review, Jay!
Love the warm tone on that first alto ‘piece. Seems like a lot of players just try to go loud & punchy, but I’m liking the warm but not stuffy, almost classical sounds. Good stuff!
Great video, Jay, I know the alto piece IS based on the great Meyer's, but isn't the tenor piece based on a great Otto Link Slant that they used for the inspiration behind that piece?
Ishimori in Tokyo is hands down one of the greatest saxophone shop on the planet. Every single horn on their shelves, new or vintage has been meticulously setup to its top playing condition. Their mouthpiece, reed and ligature selection is second to none. I acquired one of their alto traditional custom mouthpiece (Meyer bros clone) over a decade ago and it is still an absolute joy to play with that intangible fun factor. A must visit for any serious saxophonist visiting Tokyo.
My wife brought back an ebonite Traditional Jazz tenor mouthpiece with a rose gold ligature from Japan about 7 years ago. Was playing a metal Otto Link up until then. Might try a bigger opening, but wouldn’t bother to try and find a better mouthpiece.
Ishimori is a brilliant shop Did you see the tenor sax which was gifted to Michael Brecker - have I got that right;-)….. I got my Yanigasawa Soprano from that shop along with an Ishimori mouthpiece which I love.
Do you know what the Steel Ebonite text on the mouthpiece means? Is it to do with the hardness of the rubber? I have two Ishimori alto sax ligatures in solid silver and brass for Selmer mouthpieces. Both have the two screws. Out of the two, I prefer the solid silver as it feels like I can push the sound a little more but it left a silver imprint of the ligature on the mouthpiece. I didn't know when I bought the brass that it was raw brass and not lacquered and its tarnished a lot with green patches so I stopped using it.
I use Ishimore ligatures on alto and tenor. What I’ve found useful about higher end ligatures isn’t their their finishes or what material they are made of, but the fact that they are designed to fit a specific mouthpiece or at least a specific style of mouthpiece. I believe that goes much farther to affecting the sound rather than anything else. A lot of cheaper ligatures sometimes fail to properly fit a mouthpiece, even ones that come with mouthpieces. All I care about is proper fit. I do not believe a ligature affects the sound to any significant degree beyond that.
Thank you very much for these reviews. I'm hoping to get either an alto or tenor, haven't decided which yet. I have been playing soprano for about the last 20 years, Cannonball Brute (latest of 3). I keep hoping for those soprano reeds (wink, wink). Been really happy with the Jody Jazz mouthpiece for many years but am always open to something different and these reviews really help.
While in Japan, make sure you visit COCO"s IshiBanYA Japanese style curry restaurant!!!! ICHIBANYA Co., Ltd. owns the top curry rice restaurant chain in Japan, Curry House CoCo ICHIBANYA or usually just CoCo ICHIBAN or CoCo ICHI. The chain owns both direct and franchise restaurants in a total of eleven countries: United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Japan and India. The Japanese Curry House chain is by far the company's largest business. Japan: 1,304 branches with 171 International Locations
Hey Jay, can you give an estimate when the new alto will arrive ? And also what the costs might be ? I am thinking of buying an alto before February for a longer trip. I was thinking of one of yours
(Anyone can answer this). I have honor band auditions tomorrow and idk what read to use. I have a 2.5 signature and a 2.5 American cut on a Vandorian Platinum mouthpiece. Please anyone tell me which one is better. It be really helpful
Thanks Jay. I’m trying to decide whether to return my BetterSax alto to wait for the Tradition. I only have another day or two of opportunity. Any insight on enhancements and price? Sorry for the rush but my clock is ticking! Thanks!
I lived in Tokyo, Japan 4 years with my family from 2002-2006, at YOKOTA Air Base as part of my military service with the USAF Band Of The Pacific/Asia Glenn Miller tribute concerts.We even played with fantastic alto player Sadao Watanabe!!!! It was unreal. I visited Ishimori many times, I would take loads of USAF Mark 6 saxophones for full overhauls, from the grind of being used and abused from Temporary Duty assignments to Korea, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Guam. One of the greatest sax shops in the world.
Misawa 83-84 😊
As someone who plays an ishimori new vintage tenor, I can confirm that they are amazing horns! Very reminiscent of a selmer SBA
He's playing over "Blues For Alice" chord changes,
Concert F Bird blues.
Eb Alto saxophone key of D
(trumpet, Bb tenor sax key of G )
I was there just before the pandemic and I was like a kid in a candy store. I tried his tenor mouthpiece on one of his Yamaha horns and then bought it. The "traditional jazz" model.
Apparently I am behind the eight ball, as this is the first I have heard about Ishimori. But I am checking them out as the mouthpieces you are playing sound fantastic and the comments of folks who have been, or play the products, are all quite glowing! Thanks for the great review, Jay!
Love the warm tone on that first alto ‘piece. Seems like a lot of players just try to go loud & punchy, but I’m liking the warm but not stuffy, almost classical sounds. Good stuff!
Smooth!!
Great video, Jay,
I know the alto piece IS based on the great Meyer's, but isn't the tenor piece based on a great Otto Link Slant that they used for the inspiration behind that piece?
That Traditional alto piece is killing! You sound great on it, Jay 👍🏻
Ishimori in Tokyo is hands down one of the greatest saxophone shop on the planet. Every single horn on their shelves, new or vintage has been meticulously setup to its top playing condition. Their mouthpiece, reed and ligature selection is second to none. I acquired one of their alto traditional custom mouthpiece (Meyer bros clone) over a decade ago and it is still an absolute joy to play with that intangible fun factor. A must visit for any serious saxophonist visiting Tokyo.
My wife brought back an ebonite Traditional Jazz tenor mouthpiece with a rose gold ligature from Japan about 7 years ago. Was playing a metal Otto Link up until then. Might try a bigger opening, but wouldn’t bother to try and find a better mouthpiece.
Always good to hear you play.
there are dozens of "best mouthpiece of all time" out there. These are some of them. we have a ginormous selection to choose from.
Great sound on these mouthpieces!
Hell yes I love these mouthpieces!!!!!!!!!!!
Ishimori is a brilliant shop
Did you see the tenor sax which was gifted to Michael Brecker - have I got that right;-)…..
I got my Yanigasawa Soprano from that shop along with an Ishimori mouthpiece which I love.
Their saxophones are beautiful.
You sounded great on that first one!
Love those mp's! Can't beat the better sax reed!
Like that traditional jazz alto...very nice and crisp.
You have to try the Everton mouthpieces, they are Brazilian mouthpieces.
Nice sound Jay
Do you know what the Steel Ebonite text on the mouthpiece means? Is it to do with the hardness of the rubber? I have two Ishimori alto sax ligatures in solid silver and brass for Selmer mouthpieces. Both have the two screws. Out of the two, I prefer the solid silver as it feels like I can push the sound a little more but it left a silver imprint of the ligature on the mouthpiece. I didn't know when I bought the brass that it was raw brass and not lacquered and its tarnished a lot with green patches so I stopped using it.
I was wondering if yanagisawa could finish their saxophone in cognac lacquer like the ishimori top hat and cane ?
Just bought the Ishimori two screw inverted ligature for my Otto Link Florida tenor mouthpiece. As perfect as a ligature can get for a Link STM
I use Ishimore ligatures on alto and tenor. What I’ve found useful about higher end ligatures isn’t their their finishes or what material they are made of, but the fact that they are designed to fit a specific mouthpiece or at least a specific style of mouthpiece. I believe that goes much farther to affecting the sound rather than anything else. A lot of cheaper ligatures sometimes fail to properly fit a mouthpiece, even ones that come with mouthpieces. All I care about is proper fit. I do not believe a ligature affects the sound to any significant degree beyond that.
Great video! (Also, third)
Edit: your Better Sax reeds sound amazing!!!
Thank you very much for these reviews. I'm hoping to get either an alto or tenor, haven't decided which yet. I have been playing soprano for about the last 20 years, Cannonball Brute (latest of 3). I keep hoping for those soprano reeds (wink, wink). Been really happy with the Jody Jazz mouthpiece for many years but am always open to something different and these reviews really help.
Wait!! The Bettersax “Tradition”? When is that coming out and what makes it a level up from the other? Thanks!
While in Japan, make sure you visit COCO"s IshiBanYA Japanese style curry restaurant!!!! ICHIBANYA Co., Ltd. owns the top curry rice restaurant chain in Japan, Curry House CoCo ICHIBANYA or usually just CoCo ICHIBAN or CoCo ICHI. The chain owns both direct and franchise restaurants in a total of eleven countries: United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Japan and India. The Japanese Curry House chain is by far the company's largest business.
Japan: 1,304 branches with
171 International Locations
You order the curry rice with teriyaki chicken from a spice level of 1 (mild) to 10 (hotter than the sun!!! ) I always got level 4 which was perfect.
I thought this video was about ligatures and mouthpieces. However l was so wrong.
Tradition Jazz! great sound
Hey jay! Love ishimori products. Their horns are great too. Question tho. When can we expect the new alto to be released?
What is your opinion on Aisiweier saxophones? Do you think it’s a good saxophone?
Hi,
quick question: will there be a Better Sax soprano saxophone in the future ? or maybe a Bari : )
Hey Jay, can you give an estimate when the new alto will arrive ? And also what the costs might be ? I am thinking of buying an alto before February for a longer trip. I was thinking of one of yours
Thanks for your input on this great brand, Jay. The 2nd traditional jazz mouthpiece you tried its a 7: small or medium opening? Thanks in advance
What ligature is on the tenor mouthpiece?
(Anyone can answer this). I have honor band auditions tomorrow and idk what read to use. I have a 2.5 signature and a 2.5 American cut on a Vandorian Platinum mouthpiece. Please anyone tell me which one is better. It be really helpful
Any idea when the BetterSax Tradition sax is being released???
Summer 2024 looks like.
Thanks Jay. I’m trying to decide whether to return my BetterSax alto to wait for the Tradition. I only have another day or two of opportunity. Any insight on enhancements and price? Sorry for the rush but my clock is ticking! Thanks!
Jay, you don't appear to be using hearing protection. Say it isn't so?
What mic is that??
AEA N8. They make an R88 that's two N8 mics in one for built in stereo that I really enjoy using.
Hmmm, doesn’t look like they make a bari mouthpiece, according to their website? Bummer.
Are these etudes you are playing or are you just doodling around?
👍🏾🎵🎶🎷
First
Ishimori makes great gear but EXPENSIVE.