the mouthpiece would definately make a difference, and the Rico Royal Graftonite is an affordable mouthpiece that plays very well, and is a little brighter than your stock mouthpiece. I would definately give it a try. Have you had the sax checked for leaks and adjustment problems? If not, you may want to. After sitting for a while, you could have some problems with pads. The Bundy is certainly good enough to learn on, and re-develope your embouchre. If you're looking to rent a new tenor, I would suggest you try a Yamaha YTS 475 or a YTS 62. I really think they're an excellent value, and a good quality horn. Jim