Ok, so I recently picked up a second mpc identical to what I play on a regular basis, and was curious how many people have picked up a second piece as a back up and not even played the piece; I was pondering this, I only got the 2nd one as a precaution to have around if the original ever is damaged. I have no reason to try to replace the first, I am happy with it. Anyhow, in the event the main piece was damaged, I know I have the closest thing to replace it with. I just have the feeling trying the new one out and comparing it to the main piece is opening a can or worms--I figure if I needed to play it I could get used to it, but I don't need to know any more about it until then...
back up mouthpiece...
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I would buy the same mouthpiece but one size different. That way if the reed doesn't like one, maybe the other will work. I knew a great studio player who carried a Selmer C*, C**, D and E for Alto. He matched the mouthpiece to the reed.
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Play it. It might be a dog. I've got an RPC 90V that I'm using for alto and recently picked up a spare 90R (the new model designation for what was the 90V). I definitely played the spare when I got it and A/B'd it with the 90V. If it was better, I'd have had no problem shelving the 90V instead, but it was generally the same; though I did have a slight preference for the 90V.
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I've got several truly excellent mouthpieces for my alto and tenor. So good in fact that I'm sometimes ambivalent as to which one to play. If I lose or damage one, that just makes my choices easier. 
...so no, I don't have a duplicate back-up as such.
But I don't get your question in the first place. You want a back-up but you don't want to try it out? What's the sense in that? It's likely that it will be an emergency when you need the back-up mpc. Do you really want to wait until then to find out how it plays? :scratch:
...so no, I don't have a duplicate back-up as such.
But I don't get your question in the first place. You want a back-up but you don't want to try it out? What's the sense in that? It's likely that it will be an emergency when you need the back-up mpc. Do you really want to wait until then to find out how it plays? :scratch:
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I have backups for my horns but they usually stray a tad from my main pieces.
My main tenor and alto pieces aren't very easy to come by and can be pricey.
My main tenor and alto pieces aren't very easy to come by and can be pricey.
I have two Mojobari modified Guardala Studios. Different facings though but still close enough that I could pick up either one and play on a gig. I may send in the back-up to get the facing matched though since I prefer my primary mpc.
No back-ups on alto or soprano though since I do not gig as much on them.
No back-ups on alto or soprano though since I do not gig as much on them.
This was kind of a challenge to see if I could hold out from trying the new piece--but I will probably try it out, curiosity being what it is and all. The likelihood is that I won't like it as much--I figured if that was the case, I would be better able to cope with that if I actually needed to use it. If I play it now and don't like it it will roll around in my head and make me less likely to be ok using it if I needed to ; of course, I could always use that as motivation to find a different back up piece I suppose!
I recently invested in an identical piece (on sale at a great price). I played it at my earliest opportunity during the trail period to check for possible defects before deciding to keep it as a spare.
If I put it in my case as a backup, I want to know that it plays.
If I put it in my case as a backup, I want to know that it plays.
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I think you owe it to yourself to try it out. You may like it even better....ving said:
When I decide to change mouthpieces - which is rare. Once I've settle on THE mouthpiece I start looking for a back-up. I really into the Tenney products lately so I have 2 Tenney Slants 7 for tenor. Not super expensive but NOT cheap. I'd just hate to be at a gig and drop my mouthpiece with nothing ready to go.
I use to own a Selmer Soloist F Hard Rubber soprano mouthpiece. Love the sound but started to get concerned about the replacement cost not to mention buying a back-up. Finding one in a timely fashion also seemed problematic. So I've move to a more readily available mouthpiece.
I use to own a Selmer Soloist F Hard Rubber soprano mouthpiece. Love the sound but started to get concerned about the replacement cost not to mention buying a back-up. Finding one in a timely fashion also seemed problematic. So I've move to a more readily available mouthpiece.
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I do the same thing. I was playing levelairs for about two years and had two identical ones. Then I switched to comets bought two from Paul Coats identical. Again about two years. Just recently switched to zagars. Bought one from Rispoli after reading some good things about them here on SOTW. I found they played better in the low end with a slightly harder response in the altissimo. Nicer intonation and overall tone (although my wife can't tell the difference when I subject her to countless "which is better A or B, 1 or 2?" questions). The altissimo was easily overcome and the low end response was noticably better so I switched. Again I bought indentical ones. In all cases they were production pieces and in all cases they played exactly the same. Could not tell the difference. Paul may have finished the comets himself I don't know. I like having identical setups as much as possible. I'm probably good for a couple years.A Greene said:
Ok, gave the second piece a quick blow--its a 115B RPC by the way--and it is different than my primary one, but not bad. Feels maybe a bit smaller and the baffle is more of a straight drop off, the first I have is more of a bullet shape. As you might expect, it feels more compact and brighter. But, like many of the RPC's I have played it plays well, just feels a little different. Not quite as flexible, but definitely something I could play on and be comfortable. Slightly harder reeds maybe, but that would actually be a good thing I think...good for a back up...
ving
ving
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Ving: Shame on you! If you are a true SOTWee, you would undoubtedly have a large collection of mpc already due to frequent episodes of GAS attacks. How can you even ask if you should have a "backup" mpc? You should have a few dozen already! C'mon, make us proud and buy a few, pronto!
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Seems like you're the right person to ask then...spiderjames said:I do the same thing. I was playing levelairs for about two years and had two identical ones. Then I switched to comets bought two from Paul Coats identical. Again about two years. Just recently switched to zagars. Bought one from Rispoli after reading some good things about them here on SOTW. I found they played better in the low end with a slightly harder response in the altissimo. Nicer intonation and overall tone (although my wife can't tell the difference when I subject her to countless "which is better A or B, 1 or 2?" questions). The altissimo was easily overcome and the low end response was noticably better so I switched. Again I bought indentical ones. In all cases they were production pieces and in all cases they played exactly the same. Could not tell the difference. Paul may have finished the comets himself I don't know. I like having identical setups as much as possible. I'm probably good for a couple years.
Have you ever damaged your #1 'piece and NEEDED an identical backup?
I'll cop to having bought in to the "I need a backup". I had FOUR variations of the same 'piece (my Morgan .090's). One day I realized it had become a collection and I sold all three backups. :shock:
Now someone else has a fine historical collection - including the original by Jon Van Vie - and I know where to go if I ever need a backup.
Funny thing is at one point I had around 6 or 7 different RPC tenor pieces! I sold all of them except the one I liked the most. But I had begun to think it wouldn't be crazy to have another one around--but you are right, the chances I will need the other piece in the immediate future are slim...
A player I know did have this to say--he played the same berg for some 20 years or better, his main and only piece--and got a puppy last year who chewed the tip. He had it repaired, but it wasn't quite the same. His comment was that he wished he had picked out two at the time he bought the original.
A little obsessive, maybe, but having a second piece seems pretty logical. The only drawback I see is in the event your main piece is wrecked somehow I have taken away the opportunity to rush out and try a bunch of pieces to replace it then...!
A player I know did have this to say--he played the same berg for some 20 years or better, his main and only piece--and got a puppy last year who chewed the tip. He had it repaired, but it wasn't quite the same. His comment was that he wished he had picked out two at the time he bought the original.
A little obsessive, maybe, but having a second piece seems pretty logical. The only drawback I see is in the event your main piece is wrecked somehow I have taken away the opportunity to rush out and try a bunch of pieces to replace it then...!
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