[erotico]

Hello guys...i have a guardala mbii with tip opening .110. This mouthpiece have a good sound and big projection which I like very much but unfortunately its opening tires me considerably because i'm use usually a 7 tip opening. If i change a tip opening on guardala modifying it to .100 is a good idea?

 

[Grumps]

An original? Or is that a modern tribute piece? If original, and it doesn't work for you... sell it. For a lot. Or either way, original or not, you could take the time to get used to playing it with softer reeds.

 

[turf3]

It's a lot easier to open up a MP than to close it, and the results are more uncertain. I'd go 1/2 or 1 strength lower on reeds for a while, and if that doesn't work for you, sell it.

From pictures this looks like a high flat baffle, so Berg 0 or 1 chamber, Brilhart Level Air, Dukoff D chamber, or any number of other similar pieces would probably work about the same.

 

[1saxman]

Depends on whether its an original handmade or a later 'Laser-Trimmed'. The LT will have 'MBII' stamped deeply across the back of the top and it came with a transparent bite insert with 'DG' behind it. If you have a LT, its worth about $400 in nice condition. Add $1000 to that if it is an original. So either way, you don't want to break the plating on it with a reface.
#1, it'll probably never play th3e same again, and #2, you'd be better off selling it and getting something else.

As far as even a LT being 'the same' as a Berg, Level Air or Dukoff, that's buell shiite. DG's mouthpieces had their own thing, even the LTs which were usually only a tick away from being as good as the hand-finished.

 

[Dr G]

Hello guys...i have a guardala mbii with tip opening .110. This mouthpiece have a good sound and big projection which I like very much but unfortunately its opening tires me considerably because i'm use usually a 7 tip opening. If i change a tip opening on guardala modifying it to .100 is a good idea?

+1 to changing reeds to dial in the mouthpiece to your needs.

That tip opening is optimum for that baffle configuration. Closing it down will throw off the balance, and give you something that won't work the same way, nor be an easy sell.

What is your usual mouthpiece/reed combination, and what reeds are you using on the Guardala?

 

[turf3]

...As far as even a LT being 'the same' as a Berg, Level Air or Dukoff, that's buell shiite...

Whoa, steady on there big fella. I was just saying that they're all high flat baffle pieces and so SIMILAR characteristics can be experienced. Compared, for example, to a Link largish chamber with rollover baffle and concave side walls, or a Brilhart Ebolin with flat side walls and rollover baffle.

 

[Sebastian]

It's a lot easier to open up a MP than to close it, and the results are more uncertain. I'd go 1/2 or 1 strength lower on reeds for a while, and if that doesn't work for you, sell it.

From pictures this looks like a high flat baffle, so Berg 0 or 1 chamber, Brilhart Level Air, Dukoff D chamber, or any number of other similar pieces would probably work about the same.

I can't agree with this statement and here's why. I can close a mouthpiece by sanding the table down carefully until the tip opening is smaller, then compensate by redefining the table, and recutting the curve to apply a good facing. Opening it up means changing all the angles of the baffle in a guardala and removing material from the tip which means it will be less like the piece was in the first time. Recutting the tip and baffle is a huge gamble for a customer or player who wants the same feeling but in a larger opening. Closing it from the table means all the other attributes will be the same concerning the voice: profile, height, thickness of the beak etc.

That being said, I don't recommend closing the piece ESPECIALLY if it's a handmade Guardala. Just for the sake of originality, try and find something comparable that is nice to play in a size that doesn't wear you out.

 

[blaine hoopes]

I've got a stainless Berg that is about a .090 tip and I think I have a stainless Brilhart Level Air in a narrow tip (have to check) and I have a metal Dukoff as well. I think we are in different countries or I'd invite you over to try them and see if we could work out a trade. (I'm in Northern California)

It's not too difficult to close the tip but I wouldn't recommend doing that on a Guardala because you'd be much better off to sell it and buy something in a tip opening that suits you better.

A softer reed would be the first thing I'd try though.

 

[meven ASC]

Hello guys...i have a guardala mbii with tip opening .110. This mouthpiece have a good sound and big projection which I like very much but unfortunately its opening tires me considerably because i'm use usually a 7 tip opening. If i change a tip opening on guardala modifying it to .100 is a good idea?

Whether it is an original, i.e. handmade, Guardala or not, I do not recommend to close it down. These designs are meant to be with bigger tip opening and the bigger tip is usually compensated with a longer facing length. Like others have said, I would recommend to experiment with reeds first or sell the piece.

It's a lot easier to open up a MP than to close it, and the results are more uncertain.

Actually, it is the opposite. Closing down is easier and the results are more controllable.

 

[erotico]

My Guardala MBII is a WWBW LT refaced Phil Tone and i'm Italian musician.

 

[Grumps]

So it's already been altered then? I'm assuming it wasn't altered for you, otherwise you might have some recourse. But in the future, I'd avoid altered mouthpieces to begin with. Not worth spending any more money on at this point, and trade sale/trade value will be highly diminished. So your best bet is trying a softer reed, or simply moving on to something else. Unaltered, that works right for you from the get go.

 

[Pete Thomas]

My Guardala MBII is a WWBW LT refaced Phil Tone and i'm Italian musician.

The only real issue would be it gets bbrighter. Dr G mentioned "That tip opening is optimum for that baffle configuration. "

Baiscally a no or low baffle mouthpiece can be altered a lot without the actual sound changing too drastically.

But when there is a high baffle the tone often has a tendency to change more when the tip is altered. What happens is the volmue between thew baffle and reed becomes significantly less.

So this is why people are saying softer reeds is a better route if what you want is less resistance. However it could be the extra brightness from closing the tip may be something you like (bearing in mind it's already quite a bright mouthpieces) Alternatively lengthening the facing curve might be good. But bear in kind it's going to be almost impossible to revert that to what it was.

 

[Sigmund451]

If I remember properly the piece was a problem child that needed correcting. That said, I also suggest not closing them. They can become harsh in small tips and you cant realistically lengthen the facing to help balance the tone. As suggested, experiment with reeds.

 

[Sigmund451]

Double post

 

[MojoBari]

If you find the intonation a bit wild to control, then closing it down should help. The baffle can be lowered as part of the job if you are worried about it getting brighter.

If we all were born with optimum embouchures and sound concepts, then optimum mouthpiece designs would work for all of us.