Ok Jamterry-You are right on the money. The only suggestion I might have if you start playing professionally is having the horn set-up differently. Do not go out and do this unless this is mostly a jazz horn. Kids don't run to your folks and tell them you need to do this!!!!!! This will not make you sound better. Some people suggest having the pad heights greater (the pads open up more in a resting position) and also adding metal resonators to the horn. Both of these adjustments will make a horn slightly louder and project more which means it will amplify your current sound. No magic pill right Jamterry? Be warned replacing resonators means you have to have an overhaul ($600) plus the cost of resonators ($75-100) and I wouldn't have just anyone do these changes. The resonators might be a bit much if you continue playing classical. If the key heights aren't done right you will have horrible intonation problems. These are changes I would advise to someone mostly playing jazz or commercial on a semi-pro to pro level who has an extremely knowledgeable repair person. . Otherwise a complete waste of your money. If the horn really plays well then keep it. If you happen to play another horn and find that it really feels better when you play it then maybe consider trading it in otherwise keep it. Kristy

Eah well, i have an old yamaha that i use for marching band and it has plastic resonators, but my Selmer III has metal ones and they play just as loud...so not sure about that. The only place anyways here that repairs horns and all that stuff is like the crappiest store ever, almost lost my horn once and they hold on to it longer than normal and charge extra -.-". And for mouthpiece I play on a Dukoff D8 and Medium hard lavoz reed, is there something else I should be using? Not all of our songs we play are classical.

Well, if you can get a good tone and control out of that mpc / reed combo, I'd stick with it.... for jazz and rock. I don't think I'd personally use that combo for classical stylings, though... much too brash. If you're looking for a more all-around piece try a good hard rubber. Most of the better quality HR mpcs. I've played can go from soft and lush right to hard and loud with just taking in a little more reed into your mouth and a slight change in embochure (sp.?) Go to that crappy store and try out as many mpc / reed combos as you can until you find one that can do it all for you.