[BrianMitchellBrody]

In my search for a high baffle piece I have tried many many pieces since starting bari in May of this year. Dukoff and Ponzol were not suitable for my vintage horn.

In my searches on ebay came up with the RPC copy made by BO in a .100 tip size. It is supposedly made with "soft" copper (whatever that means).

Having no frame of reference because I have not played an actual RPC baritone piece, I am very impressed especially at the price point of $90.

Once received I threw away the case and the ligature as both were garbage. I am using my trusted Vandoren M/O tenor ligature which fits perfectly.

The play test over a period of an hour with a Legere' 2.5 revealed a strong mouthpiece capable of using dynamics from pianissimo to FF throughout the horn.

Subtones easily in the low range (Bb-D) and you can play the low Bb at Pianissimo. No report on altissimo.

When this piece is pushed is gets very loud but the tone stays stable and in tune even in the difficult palm key high range for a baritone from D3-F3.

I like the fact that it can be punchy as I need as the mouthpiece allows for clear precise staccato and other tonguing techniques.

My opinion is that this particular piece from BO is very good but might need to be opened to a .120 to be fully realized but as a
relative beginner to baritone the smaller tip is fine with me for now.

To my ear I am getting that Ronnie Cuber sound which is what I have been chasing.

 

[KeithL]

I have an RPC .110 rollover that's a very nice player. I use it on my Low Bb bari for jazz combo gigs. I've also found for the type of music I play on bari (big band, jazz combo, funk/ R&B, and rock) tips between .110 - .120 work the best for me. That being said, if you take a piece from .100 and open it to .120 you're most likely to end up with a completely different playing piece so if you like the way it plays now I'd be careful about having it opened that much. I'd keep looking for something that already has a larger tip or find something with a chamber design that works with your vintage horn and then experiment with adding a temporary baffle. If you come up with a setup you like you could send it to someone like Mojo to have a permanent baffle installed or even make one yourself.

 

[1saxman]

What is a 'BO' mouthpiece? Not finding anything, even on ebay.

 

[KeithL]

What is a 'BO' mouthpiece? Not finding anything, even on ebay.

I think BO = Borb Oliver - he has pieces on eflay and Reverb that match the OP's description.

 

[1saxman]

Ahh. I have seen those. Attractive pricing if they are for real.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Ahh. I have seen those. Attractive pricing if they are for real.

"For real"? Anyway, I have played the tenor and alto pieces from this maker but I found those to be just okay compared to
Bergs and custom pieces I already had/have, but designer baritone mouthpieces are expensive and most are out of my price range.

This baritone piece is a nice alternative to those $600 pieces I drool over.

I'm keeping it at .100 since it plays well and I can always use harder reeds.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I have an RPC .110 rollover that's a very nice player. I use it on my Low Bb bari for jazz combo gigs. I've also found for the type of music I play on bari (big band, jazz combo, funk/ R&B, and rock) tips between .110 - .120 work the best for me. That being said, if you take a piece from .100 and open it to .120 you're most likely to end up with a completely different playing piece so if you like the way it plays now I'd be careful about having it opened that much. I'd keep looking for something that already has a larger tip or find something with a chamber design that works with your vintage horn and then experiment with adding a temporary baffle. If you come up with a setup you like you could send it to someone like Mojo to have a permanent baffle installed or even make one yourself.

I use Greg Weir for my mpc. work and we have discussed putting a baffle in a Link but this BO piece is good enough for now and once I have other projects paid for perhaps I'll save for an actual RPC.

 

[10mfan]

I got one of these to see if it was a good copy of what Ron was doing, and it is. It’s got the shank/body that’s angled, which I’ve always liked. It certainly has enough baffle for the link guy who wants more out of his link but doesn’t want to have to put a baffle in it. This will be a nice alternative.
The nice thing about buying a piece that has a good design already, is that you can always have your own favorite refacer do their work to it to make how you want, if it isn’t quite that way already.
I’ve had the experience where I’ve tried a bunch of other copies of his that were just ok, but this was good.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Totally agree Mark. I was hesitant about the bari piece because the alto and tenor pieces I have tried were not nearly as good as this particular copy.

 

[vbluesman]

I've looked on eBay and I haven't found a BO RPC inspired baritone sax mouthpiece. I found a 10mFan inspired tenor mouthpiece that looks like the Robusto.

 

[malteof]

I've looked on eBay and I haven't found a BO RPC inspired baritone sax mouthpiece. I found a 10mFan inspired tenor mouthpiece that looks like the Robusto.

Same here. Does anyone have a link?

 

[KeithL]

Same here. Does anyone have a link?

Here' a link to his ebay items for sale; Items for sale by borbolivermouthpieces | eBay

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I've looked on eBay and I haven't found a BO RPC inspired baritone sax mouthpiece. I found a 10mFan inspired tenor mouthpiece that looks like the Robusto.

I think I bought the last one. I was actually hoping to buy another.

 

[cymru97]

Well, I just placed an order for an 8*. Worth a gamble for the price, especially with the comments in this thread. I look forward to giving it a try!
I think he has 8* and up listed right now if anyone wants a larger tip opening.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Well, I just placed an order for an 8*. Worth a gamble for the price, especially with the comments in this thread. I look forward to giving it a try!
I think he has 8* and up listed right now if anyone wants a larger tip opening.

You will be pleasantly surprised. I bought a second one in a .120 opening. The first one I bought is a .110 and they both are fantastic.

 

[mijderf]

Sanz_music seems to have a few on eBay. Here's the link:

Borb Oliver Jazz baritone saxophone coppermix 8* mouthpiece w/ ligature ref RPC | eBay

Borb Oliver Jazz Softcopper Baritone Sax Mouthpiece. Modeled after the RPC, this mouthpiece has an amazing tonal quality.

www.ebay.com

They seem to carry Borb Oliver pieces, so you could also give them a call. They are in Casselberry, FL.

 

[cymru97]

Well, my 8* arrived today and so far so good. I only had a chance to give it a quick honk before work, but I like it so far. As mentioned by others, the ligature was quickly set aside for something different. I’d say you should go ahead and plan on this if you order one. Not a big deal at all given the price point. I can’t tell you what I’m using, it’s an older Rovner-style with no markings.

I’ve never had the pleasure of playing an RPC, so I cannot compare the two directly. I slapped on a Rico Royal 3 and later a 2.5 for the test drive. I think (again first time playing it) I prefer the 3, it was bit more stable and with maybe a bit thicker tone. VERY big and thick low end. It’s a bit brash on first blow, but I think it can be reigned in easily enough. I’m more used to .110-.115 openings and this is sold as a .125 so I’d wager this is on me not the mouthpiece. It blows easily across the range of the horn, no areas jumped out as problematic.

Definitely a fun piece that I look forward to exploring more and it’s hard to beat the price point. Perhaps I’ll run it head to head with a Metalite and report back. It’s the only other new mouthpiece I can think of that is remotely similar at a low price point.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Jumping from a .110 to a .125 can take some getting used to. .120 is my limit on bari

 

[B Flat]

Does anyone know if they have a piece modelled on the RPC Rollover pieces?
I’ve never really gotten along with the RPC baffled pieces.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Does anyone know if they have a piece modelled on the RPC Rollover pieces?
I've never really gotten along with the RPC baffled pieces.

When I was looking the closest I came to that was a dukoff or an RPC