Mouthpieces for a Mauriat?

[CKing]

Hello all,
I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post in, but I'll put it here anyway. I recently ordered a 66R tenor from Tim at SaxAlley, which I am very excited for the more I read about these horns. I was wondering though, what mouthpieces have you all found work well with the P. Mauriat tenors? I understand their tone is that of a vintage horn (darker, possibly more spread than other modern horns) . I won't be playing any classical. I would like a mouthpiece that will project and roar if I put the air through it, but also whisper. I don't want the piece to play to bright, but I'm a little worried of getting a piece that is too dark and producing a washed out sound. At this point I'm thinking about giving a Morgan Excalibur 7 a try, but I can't choose between the E and EL. These Mauriats sound like awesome horns, and I know I'll have to try a few mouthpieces before I find one that's right for me. I guess I'm just asking for guidance so I at least know which pieces to try. Thanks everyone...

[BigDaddyJ]

CKing,

I've been trying to to figure out how to answer your question without hearing you first, but I can't. I can tell you that ALL my mouthpieces sound great on the horn, as opposed to my Martin which sound good with only some of my pieces. I personally use a Ponzol Super and a Zagar Cool School with great results. As Keith can tell you, his set-up is completly different, and the Zagar does NOT work for him. So far my favorite STYLE of mouthpieces for the Mauriat would be the Link-like pieces but with more projection: Ponzols, maybe a Vandoren V16 (easy to find and consistent), or a Barone (if you have the cash).

later

Joel

[Morry]

I like a big chambered piece like a Link or a Barone Jazz on the "P" tenor.

[CKing]

Yeah, it makes sense that it's hard to say without hearing my sound. After reading a considerable amount on this forum though I think I have decided on a Morgan 7EL. Hopefully I'll get one that plays in tune when combined with my horn, but otherwise it sounds like a high quality flexible piece. Thanks for the input!

[saxali_uk]

Just to make this more complicated. If you had a Mauriat tenor (I may be buying one) and you occasionally want to play classic (ie: in a symphonic windband) which mouthpiece would you use? would it actually be possibly.

I play mainly Jazz but I'm joining a symphonic windband...and I tend to do classical exams.

[GAS_Wyo]

saxali_uk,
Thanks for resurrecting this old thread...I hadn't seen it before.

I've been using an old Selmer C** and getting good results in a classical setting. It's the piece I played in college and HS and I love it! The horn can sound classical, but I think it's more the style of playing than the mpc. I believe I could do just fine with my NY Link in a wind symphony. That's not bragging, it just seems to me classical is more a style of playing that has more to do with throat opening, embrochure, etc. I played with one mouthpiece forever (a Geo. Bundy 3) until I figured out you could get different sounds with different pieces! :shock: And I really didn't find that out until I started getting on this website and really pusuing "my sound". Now I own too many mpcs...it's getting to be an expensive education! ;)

[Chris S]

I use a Rousseau NC5 for classical with my P (non rolled tone hole version.... I don't keep up on gear enough to know the model number and all that).

Chris S

[saxali_uk]

Ok, That's cool. Atm I'm playing a link HR on a jupiter and I can do classical and jazz on that fine. I was just a bit freaked out by all the stuff about how jazzy mauriats are.

[BigDaddyJ]

Just an update.

I now use a Fred Rast J model mouthpiece (http://www.rastmusic.com/sax.html) on my 66R. It is a hard rubber piece with a .105 tip (Link 7*). It's got a very slight step baffle right behind the tip. This is what I thought a great Link would sound and blow like. I use it to play straight ahead, funk, ballads, and anything in between. If you want to hear a clip of me playing my 66R with the Rast, just PM me. I'll email it to you.

later

Joel

[Jimmy O]

I am gettin a 66 this week and was wondering if there is any value to the mpc that comes with the horn. Or is that wishfull thinking?

[GAS_Wyo]

My experience...it's wishful thinking. The Link I'm playing (NY STM 7) is really good for me after a few months on the piece and horn. I'm sticking with it...for now. ;-)

[Yellowhorn]

CKing -

I've ordered a black-pearl PMauriat tenor (the one that looks like the JK Shadow) and can't wait for it to come!

While waiting for this horn, I have also got myself a Runyon Metal (smooth bore) Spoiler mpc. Because the black pearl has a warm, contemporary sound, it does not, I think, make a lot of volume. So, if I play indoor, it is fine. But if I need to increase the volume, all I have to do is insert the spoiler into the Runyon mpc, and it will increase the volume. So, de facto, I have two mouthpieces for the price of one (137 US$ from Music123).

For you, I suggest you check out the Otto Link RG metal mpc. It is a versatile mpc for all occasions, settings, and genres of music. That is what I have read of it. Music123 sells it for about 149 US$.

I hope this helps.