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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Conn Saxophones / MP Question : Intonation

Jawzzz
User ID: 7628823 Aug 9th 5:26 PM
Hey Guys,

I was wondering what MP works well with vintage Conn's. I have a New Wonder 122xxx, which I am currently playing a Meyer 5. Intonation is OK, and I love the tone, but I think I can do better. Yes I am practicing long tones. I'm looking for MP suggestions. I'm considering a Jody Jazz MP based many comments on the board. I'd also be interested in people's classical/concert band MP suggestions.

Thanks

Mike C
User ID: 9663323 Aug 9th 8:12 PM
I've had best luck with large chambered pcs. The best 2 mpcs that work on my 10m are rubber Link and metal Link NY.Thats the sound I like so I get the best results with those. My intonation with them is excellent. No bad notes or sharp palm keys. If I use anything with a baffle I have lots of problems.

Jawzzz
User ID: 3208784 Aug 9th 10:29 PM
Yeah Mike,

I've noticed the small chamber mpcs sound "strained" for lack of a better description. My Meyer 5 is a fairly open chamber compared to most of my other mpcs and I like the results with that most. I guess I'm looking for other large chamber pieces. I don't recall ever playing a Link though. I guess I'll have to give them a try. Anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks

Dave Dolson
User ID: 9209903 Aug 9th 11:13 PM
Jawzzz: I'm one who doesn't agree with the certain-mouthpiece-for-vintage-horn school. I have a straight Conn sop (serial 109xxx), and several other modern and vintage sops. All blow fine with my Selmer Super Sessions, metal Link, JodyJazz, older Selmer S-80 pieces, stock Yamaha, stock Yanagisawa, and other assorted modern and vintage pieces in my mouthpiece box. It has been my experience that if a horn has intonation problems, it's the horn, not the mouthpiece. Others WILL disagree, but that's the way I've found it to be. DAVE

paulwl
User ID: 1961724 Aug 10th 7:58 AM
Dave, you point up the essential fallacy of the CMVH credo: a lot of so-called "modern" mouthpieces are of a moderate enough design that they work well on older instruments.

I often wonder whether proponents of CMVH are aware that they're subtly discrediting both their favorite saxes AND the many fine players who find in them a unique personal sound.

paulwl
User ID: 1961724 Aug 10th 8:02 AM
Present company excepted, of course...

Dave Dolson
User ID: 9209903 Aug 10th 12:22 PM
Yeah - what HE (Paulwl) said.

I should probably add that if a mouthpiece doesn't play good, it is the mouthpiece (or the reed), not the horn (the reverse of what I proposed above). Of all of the mouthpieces I have, some play for me, some don't. But even with a muffled, no-volume, poor-response mouthpiece, the intonation on any of the horns is not affected. At least that's been MY experience. DAVE

Bootman
User ID: 1676554 Aug 13th 3:54 PM
I have a Lawton 7*b that plays exceptionally on a Conn curved sop, excellent intonation, huge tone, lots of volume and is a baffled mpc. The only way to find out if a mpc works or not is to play it for yourself, check it against a tuner. Quantums work great on Conn Tenors, Baritones and Basses too.

Tom S
User ID: 0108854 Aug 16th 12:15 PM
Bootman - I checked out your Chu clips on your website. Great sound using the Ponzol M2. How is the intonation across the horn using this setup?

Bootman
User ID: 1676554 Aug 16th 4:43 PM
The intonation across the range is good with the M2, I have had no real problems with this set-up other than the usual quirks of any tenor except the Buescher. I am currently using a Justsaxes Chu tenor mpc on the Chu tenor, this is a Bronzite model manufactured by Ed Pillinger to Palo's specs and it is simply the easiest playing mpc I have ever found for the Chu tenor. I would recommend checking them out.

Ponchos_Pilot
User ID: 8409173 Aug 18th 11:17 PM
I can second Bootman's thoughts on the Justsaxes Chu piece. It's helped a lot with the intonation quirks on my Chu tenor. It has a nice, beefy tone and plays very easy and free. Very worth checking it out.

paulwl
User ID: 9272753 Aug 19th 2:13 PM
Perhaps Pillinger ought to design a Chu piece for altos. It would be a boon to those who find them troublesome to match pieces with. They can be real wailers when the player finds his optimum setup...

Bootman
User ID: 1676554 Aug 19th 3:48 PM
Paul,
Very true. Have a chat with Ed yourself. I have just had him make me a killer Bass mpc and a bronzite version of my tweaked Quantum.

Jawzzz User ID: 7628823	Aug 9th 5:26 PM Hey Guys, I was wondering what MP works well with vintage Conn's. I have a New Wonder 122xxx, which I am currently playing a Meyer 5. Intonation is OK, and I love the tone, but I think I can do better. Yes I am practicing long tones. I'm looking for MP suggestions. I'm considering a Jody Jazz MP based many comments on the board. I'd also be interested in people's classical/concert band MP suggestions. Thanks
Mike C User ID: 9663323	Aug 9th 8:12 PM I've had best luck with large chambered pcs. The best 2 mpcs that work on my 10m are rubber Link and metal Link NY.Thats the sound I like so I get the best results with those. My intonation with them is excellent. No bad notes or sharp palm keys. If I use anything with a baffle I have lots of problems.
Jawzzz User ID: 3208784	Aug 9th 10:29 PM Yeah Mike, I've noticed the small chamber mpcs sound "strained" for lack of a better description. My Meyer 5 is a fairly open chamber compared to most of my other mpcs and I like the results with that most. I guess I'm looking for other large chamber pieces. I don't recall ever playing a Link though. I guess I'll have to give them a try. Anyone else have any suggestions? Thanks
Dave Dolson User ID: 9209903	Aug 9th 11:13 PM Jawzzz: I'm one who doesn't agree with the certain-mouthpiece-for-vintage-horn school. I have a straight Conn sop (serial 109xxx), and several other modern and vintage sops. All blow fine with my Selmer Super Sessions, metal Link, JodyJazz, older Selmer S-80 pieces, stock Yamaha, stock Yanagisawa, and other assorted modern and vintage pieces in my mouthpiece box. It has been my experience that if a horn has intonation problems, it's the horn, not the mouthpiece. Others WILL disagree, but that's the way I've found it to be. DAVE
paulwl User ID: 1961724	Aug 10th 7:58 AM Dave, you point up the essential fallacy of the CMVH credo: a lot of so-called "modern" mouthpieces are of a moderate enough design that they work well on older instruments. I often wonder whether proponents of CMVH are aware that they're subtly discrediting both their favorite saxes AND the many fine players who find in them a unique personal sound.
paulwl User ID: 1961724	Aug 10th 8:02 AM Present company excepted, of course...
Dave Dolson User ID: 9209903	Aug 10th 12:22 PM Yeah - what HE (Paulwl) said. I should probably add that if a mouthpiece doesn't play good, it is the mouthpiece (or the reed), not the horn (the reverse of what I proposed above). Of all of the mouthpieces I have, some play for me, some don't. But even with a muffled, no-volume, poor-response mouthpiece, the intonation on any of the horns is not affected. At least that's been MY experience. DAVE
Bootman User ID: 1676554	Aug 13th 3:54 PM I have a Lawton 7*b that plays exceptionally on a Conn curved sop, excellent intonation, huge tone, lots of volume and is a baffled mpc. The only way to find out if a mpc works or not is to play it for yourself, check it against a tuner. Quantums work great on Conn Tenors, Baritones and Basses too.
Tom S User ID: 0108854	Aug 16th 12:15 PM Bootman - I checked out your Chu clips on your website. Great sound using the Ponzol M2. How is the intonation across the horn using this setup?
Bootman User ID: 1676554	Aug 16th 4:43 PM The intonation across the range is good with the M2, I have had no real problems with this set-up other than the usual quirks of any tenor except the Buescher. I am currently using a Justsaxes Chu tenor mpc on the Chu tenor, this is a Bronzite model manufactured by Ed Pillinger to Palo's specs and it is simply the easiest playing mpc I have ever found for the Chu tenor. I would recommend checking them out.
Ponchos_Pilot User ID: 8409173	Aug 18th 11:17 PM I can second Bootman's thoughts on the Justsaxes Chu piece. It's helped a lot with the intonation quirks on my Chu tenor. It has a nice, beefy tone and plays very easy and free. Very worth checking it out.
paulwl User ID: 9272753	Aug 19th 2:13 PM Perhaps Pillinger ought to design a Chu piece for altos. It would be a boon to those who find them troublesome to match pieces with. They can be real wailers when the player finds his optimum setup...
Bootman User ID: 1676554	Aug 19th 3:48 PM Paul, Very true. Have a chat with Ed yourself. I have just had him make me a killer Bass mpc and a bronzite version of my tweaked Quantum.