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Advice for a 10M player

3K views 17 replies 16 participants last post by  38Conn 
#1 ·
Hello everyone, I am an 18 year old college student in Billings Montana. I play a recently overhauled Conn 10M tenor from 1957. I am looking to purchase a mouthpiece for it. I talked to Mojo Bari, who has been very helpful, and he currently has several mouthpieces within my price range. He has a Wolf Tayne 8 (http://www.mojomouthpiecework.com/ForSale/tabid/62/AlbumID/388-323/Default.aspx ), a Berg 110/1/SMS HR (http://www.mojomouthpiecework.com/ForSale/tabid/62/AlbumID/388-340/Default.aspx ), a Dukoff D7 (http://www.mojomouthpiecework.com/ForSale/tabid/62/AlbumID/388-344/Default.aspx), and a Warburton A 8 (http://www.mojomouthpiecework.com/ForSale/tabid/62/AlbumID/388-315/Default.aspx). These all look like great pieces; my question to you SOTWers is this: which one of these will work best for me? I play in jazz big band and jaz combo at our university, so I need something that can really scream if I need it to, but won't choke off if I need to be quieter. I have played the old Conn mouthpieces, a C*, and a high-baffle Cannonball mouthpiece. I didn't like any of them. The Cannonball was way out of tune and harsher than I could use; the Conn pieces are ok, but they make me sound like a fog horn. I hope all of that helps. Thank you!
 
#3 ·
Will he let you try them? That's really the only way to tell. He can give you a description of the general sound but that doesn't mean it will work for you. It's a very personal thing for most players. You will most likely have to experiment with some mouthpieces, that's what most of us do until we find something that gets us closer to what feels and sounds right to us. Fortunately the 10m is a pretty mouthpiece friendly horn, although there are some here that will say it isn't. You will be able to find someone here to disagree with almost anything someone else has said. Good luck.
 
#5 ·
+1....my experience with Conns is that the later ones aren't as mouthpiece friendly. That's my personal experience, and they come a dime a dozen. I'd say try several pieces to see what gives you all of the characteristics you want.
 
#6 ·
I would vote for a Meyer 8 for big band. If you can't make yourself heard over a big band with that and a Conn, you need to go do some long tone work. For rock and roll, a Dukoff D7 will work quite well (even with that you will need a mike!)

I have played in both these settings with these two MPs and a Conn 10 M since about 1982.
 
#10 ·
I play a '53 10M professionally three nights a week & I cannot over stress how happy I am with my Dukoff D6. I use it as lead tenor in a big band, solo work in a rock band, and most of the time in a jazz trio as quiet mood music for restaurants. Unbelievable how versatile the setup is.

Probably the best advice I've ever received was right here on SOTW, which is: At some point you need to stop chasing a sound by constantly buying something new…. pick a setup & learn to make it work!

Which leaves me with a drawer full of mouthpieces, but my wallet is better off.
 
#15 ·
I'm presently using a Mouthpiece Café Primo 7* on a '36 Conn. It's a perfect match. During December they usually cost $200.00 and they have a return policy. mouthpiececafe.com
 
#18 ·
10mfan Robusto, I have had the chance to try a lot of pieces on my 10m and hands down this is head and shoulders above the rest. The response from low Bb up through the altissimo is amazing and it is a really flexible piece. It just plain gets out of the way and lets you do what you want to do.
 
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