Optimum AL-3 adult two years back into playing.
I had the AL-4 but purchased this AL-3 with the lower tip opening because my endurance was not where I needed it to be as a player to use in the wind ensemble. So my review will be kind of a comparison. The AL-3 has slightly thicker rails and front rail than the AL-4 but the inside of the mouthpiece baffle, throat, chamber, ramp, look similar. I experienced the AL-3 to be slightly darker like others are saying, but I felt I get a similar sound out of the AL-3 as with the AL-4. I can still get high upper partials to the tone out of the AL-3 as with the AL-4. I'm happy with the over all tone I can get from the AL-3 although not quite as focused as with the Selmer Larry Teal. The resistance is noticable but not too much. With the AL-3 I had the same issue others were saying it not projecting due to the smaller tip opening, but with plenty of practicing and stiff enough reeds, you can still project with the AL-3. The bore inner diameter of the AL-3 is similar to the AL-4, no problems putting it on the neck cork.
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