[Boalski]

TLDR:
Is this George M. Bundy alto sax mouthpiece something good to buy for my old Conn New Wonder I from 1917? It's for sale near me. I'll take any information I can get!


Hello,

I searched around the web, and found that old Conns usually work better with a large (round) chamber mouthpiece. I have been using the Selmer Soloist "Style" D mouthpiece with my vintage Conn New Wonder I alto sax from 1917. It has a small horseshoe chamber, which is not ideal. I notice that, the intonation is pretty bad.

Now, I've been searching for large (round) chamber mouthpieces. I now know that vintage mouthpieces sometimes have huge chambers. So I went and searched for an old Conn Eagle mouthpiece. Ebay only really has listings from outside the EU. So I thought I could buy a new Otto Link Tone Edge mouthpiece, but it's 120 euros. The vintage ones are cheaper, and it has a smaller chamber.

So I found a George M. Bundy mouthpiece for alto on my local marketplace app. I was wondering if this is something. People on this forum said that some have huge chambers, but I couldn't really find people who went into the details on this specific model.

Could anyone tell me something about this one? Here are some pictures. I'll take any information that I can get!

Thanks!

 

[turf3]

Looks like one of the generic 1950s mouthpieces that they threw into the case of cheap student horns. Probably much like a Brilhart inside, not a horseshoe per se but kind of similar.

Frankly there's little reason your Selmer Soloist shouldn't play well in tune on an old Conn. You probably need to stop biting and push in.

 

[lydian]

Geo. Bundy is a very easy to play, very vanilla mouthpiece that would be fine for any beginner or classical player. They have an average size chamber, not unusually large. I’ve never had intonation issues on old Conns myself, so I reckon the problem is you, not your mouthpiece. Since you don’t mention how you want to sound or what level player you are, I can’t really add anything else. Good luck

 

[Boalski]

Geo. Bundy is a very easy to play, very vanilla mouthpiece that would be fine for any beginner or classical player. They have an average size chamber, not unusually large. I’ve never had intonation issues on old Conns myself, so I reckon the problem is you, not your mouthpiece. Since you don’t mention how you want to sound or what level player you are, I can’t really add anything else. Good luck

Well, I've never considered the intonation being uneven, untill I started actively looking at every single note on the sax. Low notes are flat, high notes are sharp. People on this forum suggested to use a mouthpiece with a large chamber. One even said that Conn says it's actually required for the New Wonder I to function like it was designed to. So that's why I'm looking for a large chamber mouthpiece

 

[Grumps]

I searched around the web, and found that old Conns usually work better with a large (round) chamber mouthpiece.

That is not necessarily true. For their vintage baritones, yes. For their vintage tenors, sometimes. But for their altos? You should be good to go with a variety of mouthpieces.

 

[turf3]

Well, I've never considered the intonation being uneven, untill I started actively looking at every single note on the sax. Low notes are flat, high notes are sharp. People on this forum suggested to use a mouthpiece with a large chamber. One even said that Conn says it's actually required for the New Wonder I to function like it was designed to. So that's why I'm looking for a large chamber mouthpiece

If low notes are flat and high notes are sharp it indicates your mouthpiece is pushed in further than intended, so you need to develop your embouchure and pull out. Putting a large chamber piece on will make you push in further and make the issue worse. The issue here is with the player, not the equipment.

 

[Boalski]

If low notes are flat and high notes are sharp it indicates your mouthpiece is pushed in further than intended, so you need to develop your embouchure and pull out. Putting a large chamber piece on will make you push in further and make the issue worse. The issue here is with the player, not the equipment.

Is this not pulled out a lot already?

 

[lydian]

Agreed, altos usually are not a problem. For me, since you have the micro tuner to deal with, crank it all the way down, then tune the horn itself (using harmonics). If the high end is sharp, you’re probably biting or using a clarinet embouchure.

EDIT: Nevermind about the micro tuner.

 

[turf3]

Well, of course, you don't show how long the cork is but if it's "typical" I'd say that's probably about where most people would put that mouthpiece on an alto.

 

[Boalski]

Well, of course, you don't show how long the cork is but if it's "typical" I'd say that's probably about where most people would put that mouthpiece on an alto.

So pulling the mouthpiece out is not a good idea? I find that if I pull it out more, it isn't stuck properly and moves around easily

 

[turf3]

Well, then your cork's gotten crushed down. Wrap it with a piece of paper to tighten up the fit, and put the mouthpiece where it needs to be. Cork is a consumable item.

 

[Tryptykon]

So pulling the mouthpiece out is not a good idea? I find that if I pull it out more, it isn't stuck properly and moves around easily

It would help to know how long you've been playing the saxophone .

 

[turf3]

It would help to know how long you've been playing the saxophone .

I believe the answer is apparent from textual evidence. No harm in that, we all had to learn this stuff some time.

 

[Boalski]

It would help to know how long you've been playing the saxophone .

For about 4 years now

 

[Tryptykon]

I believe the answer is apparent from textual evidence. No harm in that, we all had to learn this stuff some time.

Wasn't apparent at all to me, but of course I agree with your second statement .

 

[Tryptykon]

For about 4 years now

Thanks, Boakski . Hope you get things sorted out .

 

[lydian]

So pulling the mouthpiece out is not a good idea? I find that if I pull it out more, it isn't stuck properly and moves around easily

You always put the mouthpiece wherever the horn is in tune. If the cork is too loose or too tight in that spot, fix the cork.

 

[FisherSax]

The old George Bundy mouthpieces are made of quality hard rubber. I think the design changed over time from a large chamber, scooped sidewall design to a medium chamber, straight side wall design similar to a Brilhart. Can't tell from the pictures which type this one is. I have a round chamber alto and medium chamber tenor. Both play very well with hard reeds and have a warmer sound than any Selmers I've tried. How much are they asking for this one? They pop up on ebay every so often.

Regarding tuning, this article is worth reading. It says that the solution to flat down low, sharp up high is to push in not pull out and retrain your embouchure.

 

[Boalski]

The old George Bundy mouthpieces are made of quality hard rubber. I think the design changed over time from a large chamber, scooped sidewall design to a medium chamber, straight side wall design similar to a Brilhart. Can't tell from the pictures which type this one is. I have a round chamber alto and medium chamber tenor. Both play very well with hard reeds and have a warmer sound than any Selmers I've tried. How much are they asking for this one? They pop up on ebay every so often.

Regarding tuning, this article is worth reading. It says that the solution to flat down low, sharp up high is to push in not pull out and retain your embouchure.

Thanks for your reply. I just double checked how the tuning is and it appears that some notes are just like 25 cents apart from each other, like f and f#. It appears that yes some low notes are flat, but the high notes are fine. It's just some notes being all over the place. I know every saxophone has imperfections, but it seems like mine has some more imperfections than I expected. Don't know if this is normal or not, I got it restored by the best sax restorer in the Netherlands, according to multiple people who have played for like 40 years. I'm guessing I'm just inconsistent. I find practising long notes very confronting, I don't really want to do it. But I guess it's best to practise long notes and see after some time if the problem persists. Maybe the problem is just me being not consistent enough.

Oh, about the mouthpiece. People here told me that the Conn New Wonder I alto saxophones can be used with a variety of mouthpieces, it's the tenor and bari versions that work best with a large chamber mouthpiece. So I won't be buying that mouthpiece, better to stay with what I have and get comfortable before moving on. Unless the price is very, very good (50 euros).

Again, thanks for your reply it's very helpful. I'll take a look at that PDF you sent when I have the time!

 

[super20dan]

The old George Bundy mouthpieces are made of quality hard rubber. I think the design changed over time from a large chamber, scooped sidewall design to a medium chamber, straight side wall design similar to a Brilhart. Can't tell from the pictures which type this one is. I have a round chamber alto and medium chamber tenor. Both play very well with hard reeds and have a warmer sound than any Selmers I've tried. How much are they asking for this one? They pop up on ebay every so often.

Regarding tuning, this article is worth reading. It says that the solution to flat down low, sharp up high is to push in not pull out and retrain your embouchure.

the facings on these are extremly hit or miss. played more bad ones than good