Isn’t most everything shorter than a Jody piece?

 

Most of the JJ pieces use a very free blowing curve which I'm fine with. I just use a slightly harder reed if I want more resistance. Like you I also like the lower beak angles of the JJ pieces and have been playing a DV Chi 7* for over a decade now. I had an 8* DV for a while but it was too bright for me even in the larger tip. With the relatively long medium high baffle the DV has it's going to feel very free blowing in a 7 tip regardless of the facing curve. What playing characteristic makes you think you are having an issue with the facing curve??

 

Most of the characteristics of the piece are great to me, I love the free blowing aspect of it and the beak hieght. The facing curve is just not what I am used to because it's so long. I"m having a hard time taking in enough mouthpiece and it makes my playing suffer a little bit. I have tried to get the habit of taking more in but it just feels uncomfortable to me.

 

Since you’re stating the facing curve is “way longer than [you are] used to,” please define the facing length of your individual JJ piece in exact terms (millimeters) along with the facing length to which you are accustomed.

After you have established those measurements, we may be able assess whether the facing length maybe in fact impeding your performance. Otherwise, you’re just asking us to make a wild ass guess, which is a waste of time.

In my experience, JJ pieces are not as exactly faced as their competitors because they are not machined as precisely and then are hand finished to less than well defined specifications. The facing length on your individual JJ piece may or may not be “long.” (The DV pieces are pitched as having a “perfectly” machined curve, but that’s not been my experience with them.)

More information helps us help you.
Best,
Ben

 

Haha I guess the exact measurements would be helpful. Here are the measurements of the facing lengths of all the tenor mouthpieces I have.

DV 7 - 26mm
V16 T6 Hard Rubber - 20mm
Stock mouthpiece that came with my horn - 18mm

The measurements are from the tip rail to the end of the curve. Also like I said in my original post I am mainly an alto player. I play on a Durga 5 in a 7 opening (20 mm). The length of the curve on the V16 is what I prefer but the beak is too high for me. The beak height of the DV is great but the curve is a big adjustment for me. A lot of contradicting factors here LMAO

 

26mm is long. 20mm is short. 18mm is ridiculous. Shorter than a lot of soprano pieces. “Standard” facing length (a value that common for tenor pieces in the 7 - 8* range) is 24mm. So 26mm isn’t so long as to be unworkable, but it is a little longer than usual.

Put your thumbnail at 25mm, on the reed, and then put the mouthpiece in your mouth so your bottom lip touches your thumb nail. Play there. If that’s too difficult for you, either get another mouthpiece or have that one refaced.

BTW when you say “end of the curve”, how do you measure that? I assume that “facing length“ means the point where a 0.0015” feeler gauge (~0.04mm) stops on a glass gauge. The actual curve extends a little farther than that, certainly 2 or 3mm.

 

26mm is long. 20mm is short. 18mm is ridiculous. Shorter than a lot of soprano pieces. “Standard” facing length (a value that common for tenor pieces in the 7 - 8* range) is 24mm. So 26mm isn’t so long as to be unworkable, but it is a little longer than usual.

Put your thumbnail at 25mm, on the reed, and then put the mouthpiece in your mouth so your bottom lip touches your thumb nail. Play there. If that’s too difficult for you, either get another mouthpiece or have that one refaced.

BTW when you say “end of the curve”, how do you measure that? I assume that “facing length“ means the point where a 0.0015” feeler gauge (~0.04mm) stops on a glass gauge. The actual curve extends a little farther than that, certainly 2 or 3mm.

I’ll try that method of putting my thumbnail on the reed and try playing there. If that doesn’t work I’ll have to find a different mouthpiece with a shorter curve.

As for how I measured it, I don’t have the proper measuring tools for mouthpieces so I just used a regular ruler that has a millimeter side on it. LOL

 

People generally express facing curves with the .0015 feeler or sometimes .002. It does extend further but general discussion involves the one physically measured.

Wow 26 mm on a 7.

That is a baritone facing for most.

 

The DV curves are long and radial. They work great for large tip openings. But nothing works for every player.

the SuperJet facings are shorter. More like the vintage Level Airs.

 

The only JJ piece I've ever tried was a Chicago 7*, the facing was so long it felt like a 6. Hated it.

 

I’ll try that method of putting my thumbnail on the reed and try playing there. If that doesn’t work I’ll have to find a different mouthpiece with a shorter curve.

If you like everything else about the mouthpieces, that’s a reasonable impetus to get it refaced.

As for how I measured it, I don’t have the proper measuring tools for mouthpieces so I just used a regular ruler that has a millimeter side on it. LOL

How do you determine where the facing ends?

 

Hello all,

I have been appreciating everyon's advide so far regarding my original post. I have tried the thumbnail trick today and it is helping me a little bit. Worst case scenario I will most likely try a diferent mouthpiece. I'va had my eye on the D'Addario Jazz Select mouthpiece for a few days now. I've never had a mouthpiece refaced before so I have no idea what to expect from that. Again, I really apriciate everyone's input.

 

that mpc is not right for community band in the first place unless its jazz band

 

I have never cared for the Jody Jazz pieces. There are plenty of early Babbitt stm links out there for sub 300 that killer. That beak shouldn't bother you and a .076 opening will be right at home for you.
Let me know if you're interested and I can pull up some ebay links for ones I'd buy if I was in the market.

 

I play a Jody Jazz DV 7 and I have zero issues playing on it and I've played on a short facing curves like a Super Jet or Drake Sanborn for a bit but the problem with a short facing on a bright piece is you have to really work to get a big fat low end sound. The reason for the long facing curve on the DV is for the MP to be very free blowing while giving an even sound across the range including the low end.

 

You could try the old trick of putting a thin piece of tape on the table of the mouthpiece under the but of the reed, which rocks the reed bit closer on the facing and makes the facing feel slightly shorter.

 

What reed are used on that JJ DV?

 

Here’s just a thought since you liked your Vandoren so much except for the higher beak profile it’s a relatively easy fix if you have any sort of files, as well as some decent hand, eye coordination, or even sanding sticks, etc. where you can basically just lower the beak to a more suitable height or a profile. I’ve done it several times and I’ve done it way before I even started working on mouthpieces. It’s pretty the easiest fix one can make to their own mouthpiece without much risk of screwing it up. Just food for thought. Currently I’ve been buying a lot of woodwind company mouthpieces as if you’re lucky you could find them for a decent price on eBay etc. and I use them as blanks and they turn out as wonderful playing link/Meyer style mouthpieces when faced correctly. This is one of the modifications that needs to be done as these older vintage style mouthpieces seem to have really high peaks almost clarinet like hieght. Anyways, good luck my friend with your journey.

 

I'm curious though... What happens if you forget the facing and just play the piece where it feels comfortable for you?