gurgle

[andre]

I have a problem my low e and f notes gurgle ,my M/P ia an Otto Link 6
and i use Rico 2 reeds any suggestions and yes the M/P is onto the cork.

[djonk]

I have had this problem too and never did find the sax related problem. I eliminated the problem, by trying different mouthpieces until I found ones that work. I guess my sax is finicky in needing just the right mouthpiece facing! I believe that if you knew what your mouthpiece lacked you could change the facing to eliminate the gurgle. I refaced a gurgling piece (by trial and error) until it finally worked for me.

[rollen]

andre,

Try making very, very, very small adjustments to the mouthpiece position on the cork. You might find that there is a very distinct spot that will get the intonation just right and eliminate the gurgles. Other than that, do the mouthpiece only excerises until you can consistanly get Db/C#.

My best guess is that it is more of an embochure issue than a leak.

I had a similar experience with Selmer Super Sessions. Different tip openings all did the same thing. If I played an interval of a 4th or greater and ended on E or F, I would have to really work to control the mouthpiece so it wouldn't gurgle. It was almost like fighting a leak.

[Buster]

I can suggest two explanations -
1. Links seem to be notorious for having uneven tables which cause the reed to be poorly seated - a problem not only Links have. Get someone to work on it or get a new one.
2. If you are having problems tuning(common on sopranos) and you pull the piece out too much the seal is broken - hence the gurgle.

[MM]

Rollen,

Looks like I'm fighting this with a Super Session also. Were you able to cure your gurgles with the Super Session, or did you need to change mouthpieces? If so, to what? My sax is a Yamaha straight 62, what is yours? Mine seem to be worst on low E but sometimes appear on D and Eb.

Thanks.

[retread]

I'm a fairly new soprano player. When I get gurgles is seems to be an embouchure problem, and it's caused mostly by holding the soprano too close to my body. As a clarinet player, there's a tendency to hold the sop so the mouthpiece is not horizontal in my mouth. The right position cures my gurgles. YMMV

[rollen]

MM,

I was just demo'ing the Super Session. The funny thing is I had demo'ed one before without the problem. So, you might want to try some others.

I also tried a Yanagisawa metal that I thought was the best mouthpiece, for me, so far.

[Razzy]

When I first started out I had gurgles on the same notes... it was a combination of embouchure needing to become firmer and needing to get a more open mouthpiece. I was playing a Yamaha 4C, not the best mouthpiece in the world but the main problem is it's REALLY close (even more than C*), and Rico jazz select 3S, and a Yamaha 675.

So I'd say first, practice a little more with a correct embouchure until it becomes pretty firm. Best exercises for this are longtones to a piano and the mouthpiece exercise to the concert Db. Give it about two weeks and if the problem persists, begin to open up your setup gradually.

[Bill08690]

I just purchased a Prestini sop with Rico #5 mpc. I find that the low F,E,& D gurggle if I don't push the mpc down far enough on the cork. The Rico needs to be all the way on the cork and maybe more to stop the gurggle. The Rico mpc is a large chamber mpc [like the Otto Link] so there is a lot of air volume in the mpc. Perhaps a smaller chamber mpc would work better. I'm in the process of securing a Runyon Custom mpc which is a small chamber mpc to see if it works better.

[FreshSax]

I have a JK SX90II(Black Nickel) and MK VI sop right now and owned Prestini sop once but sold it a couple of months ago. I have 6 sop MPCs. I don't have any problem with all my mpcs on those two horns. But on Prestini sop, I had same problem. It happened on C and lower notes. It wasn't leak, mpc either. I had to pay so much attention when I play those notes. Also, mpc should be pushed all the way in. I couldn't find why....Probably wrong mpc and wrong reed.....Other than that, Prestini is pretty well made horn and worth for the money.

[Bill08690]

Just picked up a Runyon Custom that was worked over by MojoBari fame. This mpc really sings on the Prestini sop. No problems with gurgle or G2 either. As I suspected, the long narrow bore requires a very small volume mouthpiece.

[rollen]

Just a continuation...

I have tried a few more pieces to date.

1- a Vintage large chamber Buescher with a very small tip opening (around .045). No gurgles. Awesome sounding mouthpiece.

2- a current production Otto Link 6. Also no gurgles. This is the easiest to play mouthpiece I have yet to try. I could close my eyes and have someone finger notes and every note would play. Unlike other pieces I have tried, where some embouchure adjustment is required when playing larger intervals. This comes in handy when going from G# to low C# in and 8th note passage.

3- Barone Trad/Contemporary. No gurgles.

So far, the only pieces that really caused problems were the Selmer Super Sessions (not all, just a couple) and a Bari Hard Rubber.


I was reading about saxophone acoustics on a website (site escapes my memory) and it mentioned that soft reeds widen the horns interval and harder reeds narrow the interval. Maybe this had something to do with it. I was using softer reeds (2,2.5) on the SuperSession (facings G,J)

[Paul Coats]

"I'm a fairly new soprano player. When I get gurgles is seems to be an embouchure problem, and it's caused mostly by holding the soprano too close to my body. As a clarinet player, there's a tendency to hold the sop so the mouthpiece is not horizontal in my mouth. The right position cures my gurgles. YMMV"--Retread

BINGO!!! We have a winner!!!

Number one cause of soprano gurgles for new soprano players, which many think are leaks.

[Bill08690]

Over time I have come to learn that gurgling on any sax can usually be eliminated with a change in embouchuer pressure. On the sop I have to lower the tongue. On alto I have to tighten up a bit on the sides. I have also learned that mouthpiece position and chamber volume effect gurgling as well. When good players try my horn they have no problems.