[bfoster64]

I have recently played four different mouthpieces on my Yani soprano: (1) Bari 68 HR, (2) Yani 9 metal, (3) Jody Jazz Classic 9 red plastic, and (4) Selmer Super Session J. With the exception of the Yani, these all have the classic round "squeeze" chamber that I understand originated with the Selmer Soloists. The Yani still has a squeeze, though it is square, not round.

With every one of these pieces I get the sensation that the chamber is not big enough, i.e., the squeeze is hindering my playing. I like the Bari the best of all of them, and many people swear by the Super Sessions, but none of these pieces seems to work for me the way my Morgans do the trick on alto and tenor.

Does anyone out there play a large-chambered mouthpiece on a modern soprano? If you do, please tell me about it! I really want to avoid spending hundreds of dollars on soprano pieces to find a good fit (as I've done on alto and tenor, thank you, GAS).

I was starting to wonder whether any good large-chambered soprano pieces existed out there (and I'm not talking about the old-school fat-chambered pieces from the 20s and 30s). Then I saw a Slant Link soprano on Ebay with great pictures of its big round chamber. But I can't afford an $800 soprano piece right now. What other options are there?

 

[tjontheroad]

Of course, you gonna get a gazillion answers

Sooooooo, order a Fmaj7 and realize why nobody ever sells them after they get one. Not large chamber, but feels that way.

 

[A Greene]

I don't know how to do the thread link but here is a great conversation regarding Modern Large Chamber Soprano Mouthpieces - it's 2 years old but still has good info.

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=23511&referrerid=15595

 

[dstack79]

Hey Brooks,

Did you ever consider getting a modern HR or metal Otto Link? I'm not a soprano player myself, but know a couple of players who get a fine sound out them. Big chamber, cheap too

-Dan

 

[SaxyAcoustician]

Are you sure chamber size is the reason for your difficulties? As well, the shape of a chamber is not as important as the volume of the chamber.

Just some thoughts.

 

[hakukani]

Large tip openings just don't work very well on sop, IMHO.

On tenor I play a .125. On sop, I play a 6. I wouldn't want to go to a 9.

 

[bruce bailey]

Ithink the Super Session may be the biggest chamber that you can find (easily) unless you go with a Rascher or Caravan BUT those will be much more closed than the ones you have.

 

[littlemanbighorn]

Large tip openings just don't work very well on sop, IMHO.

Tell that to Steve Lacy. He played a Link 13*.

 

[ryp(nz)]

Large Chamber Soprano

Contact Brian Powell or Erik Greiffenhagen from mouthpiecepieceguys.com to see if they can do a mouthpiece similar to a Morgan 6C (0.065). You may be able to specify your tip opening choice.

Cheers

http://www.mouthpieceguys.com/

 

[whaler]

Try a Selmer metal mouthpiece in an F or G opening. I've tried a ton of soprano mouthpieces and keep going back to this. Dark, but with a nice edge.

 

[blackfrancis]

Modern Link metal has a squeeze. I have a modern Link hr that's lovely. And if you get one that's not, there's always Zentera...

 

[Pigpen]

I've got a curved and a straight Yani sop. I like a modern Meyer HR on both and have two of them so I can leave one on the curved.

I used to like a Bari that I have the best. I like the Meyer more than the SuperSession and metal Link I have too. The metal Link would be good if you want to maximize your volume, but it's not for me. The Meyer looks like a bigger chambered piece than any of the others to me, but my eyes could be fooling me.

 

[Dr_sax]

I recommend a runyon custom. I play an #8 with vandoren v16 #3 reeds and get a nice full and fat soprano sound. I also like a yanagisawa #7 metal mpc. I play them on a straight yani soprano.

 

[daigle65]

Vandoren has a larger chamber

I play a Vandoren S35 on a mid 70's Mark VI and i've tried the Selmer Super Session. Just with the naked eye you can tell that the Vandoren has a larger chamber.
I bought mine in the early 90's so I don't know if the newer Vandorens have changed.

 

[Chicken 'Lil]

I've never found anything that is a good as an original slant link. A Bay is a nice mouthpiece and you don't have to wait for a million years (like you do for Fred's) to get one. The Lamberson pieces are good but are not in the same universe as a link.
I agree with hakukani that very large tip openings are tough on soprano. Much tougher than on tenor.

 

[Kini]

but none of these pieces seems to work for me the way my Morgans do the trick on alto and tenor.

Have you tried the Morgan Vintage?

 

[silvin]

Recently came back on my Selmer Super Session I, after years on a HR Link 7 that it's really good, but I seem to prefer the Selmer these days ...
Had a Morgan Vintage 5 that wasn't for me, despite its great qualities!

 

[bruce bailey]

The slant Link IS a great soprano piece BUT you will not find one under $600.

 

[hakukani]

Tell that to Steve Lacy. He played a Link 13*.

Not many Steve Lacy's around.... He was a madman, sounded great. Still can't figure how he played on such an open piece on sop.

 

[Paul B]

Not many Steve Lacy's around.... He was a madman, sounded great. Still can't figure how he played on such an open piece on sop.

Very soft reeds (Marca 1.5), but more importantly, years and years of dedication just to soprano. But Lacy also arrived at this set-up only after many years of working with "normal" ones. Clearly his radical approach isn't for everybody, though I think a good sound can be achieved with an open piece and softer reeds, provided the player puts in the time.