SaxPower said:
Hi !
I'm thinking of buying my first metal mpc. I'm playing for 10 years now and the only mpcs I played were ebonite. So i'd like to know how it feels to play a metal one. What are the differences I'll see. A friend of mine said they are hard to play ... What to you think of Beechler ?
Its just a different feel in your mouth. Not hard to play per se.
My beechler bellite for alto is actually physically pretty small, smaller than say a link STM or a selmer metal and much smaller than any rubber alto piece Ive played. It took a little getting used to as your embouchoure is necessarily tighter, but I persisted because I loved the tone, mellow at the bottom and a bit edgier at the top, plus its very flexible. Given the size difference though that piece might be a shock? I came to it from a metal selmer, which was not such a big step from a rubber piece.
Its a very free blowing piece too, mine is about a 7 facing (although marked as a 6) You have to be a bit careful, make sure you can return it if you are buying new, or best case play a few if you can. I use ether 2 or 2.5 plasticovers on mine, and it ranges easily from the top to the bottom of the range. Its by far the easiest piece Ive tried for hitting the lows easily. And it can go loud, much louder than my metal Link.
Another thing I found was that it was a smaller diameter than any of my other pieces, it was really tight on the cork until I spent some time with a dremel and some sanding drums! Now I have the option to interchange pieces easily.
I really like the piece, but try one first if you have the chance, I hear they can be variable, although I heard that after I got mine and mine plays great. Got any friends who will lend you a metal piece or two to see what you think?
Good luck, I use nothing but metal pieces now. I should probably sell my rubber ones.
