[zxcvbnm]

Two days ago, I received three mouthpieces I ordered from Weiner Music. They were a Rascher, a Caravan large chamber, and a Caravan medium. I immediately disqualified the Caravan medium chamber because it was too bright. Now, I can't choose between the Rascher and Caravan. Here are the characteristics of each. (played on a vandoren blue box 4 reed)

Rascher
Better control on low notes and high notes
Better altissimo
If I have the tiniest amount of spit in my mouth or the mouthpiece, it sounds spitty
Kind of airy sound
It's way too easy to overblow the low d, which is annoying

Caravan
Low note control is slightly worse
I can't hit altissimo, but this is probably due to the fact that I'm still used to a french-style piece
Great, full, rich, velvety sound.

Right now, I'm leaning toward the caravan, but I'm kinda worried about the low notes. Also, these are being played on a student yamaha, but I'm getting a vintage buescher soon, so I don't know how they'll play on one of those.

Also, I know the Caravans are handmade, so there's some variation, but the Raschers are copies of a vintage buescher piece, so I assume that they're all the same? Should I order one or two more of each just to see?

Anyways, thanks for answering

 

[J.Max]

The Rascher mouthpieces will have variations too. It's just a natural part of the whole mouthpiece manufacturing process. (They're made by Babbitt, as are the blanks for the Caravan. I'm not even sure if the Caravan pieces are still hand faced.) As far as your question goes, it sort of depends on the horn that you get. If you're going to buy a vintage Buescher, the Rascher piece will probably play better. On modern horns, the Caravan is probably the better choice.

Remember, as with any piece, you'll need to work with it for a while so you can get everything just right.

Oh, and the Rascher mouthpieces are actually built from a Martin blank. I can't remember the reason for this, but I believe that it has something to do with the original molds (which were based on a Buescher) wearing out and they couldn't locate a Buescher.

 

[Rackety Sax]

...Oh, and the Rascher mouthpieces are actually built from a Martin blank. I can't remember the reason for this, but I believe that it has something to do with the original molds (which were based on a Buescher) wearing out and they couldn't locate a Buescher.

J.Max, what I've heard is that only the sops were modeled on a Martin, and that's because that's what Carina Rascher uses on sop.

 

[J.Max]

J.Max, what I've heard is that only the sops were modeled on a Martin, and that's because that's what Carina Rascher uses on sop.

I knew that bit, but I thought that they eventually changed the alto and tenor ones too because of a manufacturing issue. They used a Martin because that's what the soprano one was modeled after...you're probably right though. I can't imagine them using anything but a Buescher piece and putting Rascher's name on it. That being said, the Rascher mouthpieces have a few (small) differences from the vintage Bueschers, which I attributed to the different blank. Maybe this was just the variation in Rascher's particular piece...or maybe they changed it just a small bit...

 

[danman9113]

Two days ago, I received three mouthpieces I ordered from Weiner Music. They were a Rascher, a Caravan large chamber, and a Caravan medium. I immediately disqualified the Caravan medium chamber because it was too bright. Now, I can't choose between the Rascher and Caravan. Here are the characteristics of each. (played on a vandoren blue box 4 reed)

Rascher
Better control on low notes and high notes
Better altissimo
If I have the tiniest amount of spit in my mouth or the mouthpiece, it sounds spitty
Kind of airy sound
It's way too easy to overblow the low d, which is annoying

Caravan
Low note control is slightly worse
I can't hit altissimo, but this is probably due to the fact that I'm still used to a french-style piece
Great, full, rich, velvety sound.

Right now, I'm leaning toward the caravan, but I'm kinda worried about the low notes. Also, these are being played on a student yamaha, but I'm getting a vintage buescher soon, so I don't know how they'll play on one of those.

Also, I know the Caravans are handmade, so there's some variation, but the Raschers are copies of a vintage buescher piece, so I assume that they're all the same? Should I order one or two more of each just to see?

Anyways, thanks for answering

Hi,I had a question for you about the rascher. Did it come finished?

 

[J.Max]

Hi,I had a question for you about the rascher. Did it come finished?

Now that's funny.:shock:

 

[zxcvbnm]

Hi,I had a question for you about the rascher. Did it come finished?

I don't understand the question. Could you reword it?

 

[vivace1]

It's all personal obviously. That said, my personal choice would be the Caravan. I personally feel the tonal palette is broader with a more open piece. While I agree that the low notes on the Rascher are unbeatably "stringy," the overblowing issue was too hard for me to get over. I want a piece to accept a faster airstream without have to make too many adjustments.

 

[zxcvbnm]

Yeah, I pretty much chose the Caravan already, but I still have to test them on the New Aristocrat.

 

[J.Max]

Curiosity...did you buy the New Aristocrat from Junkdude?

 

[zxcvbnm]

Curiosity...did you buy the New Aristocrat from Junkdude?

Yep

 

[J.Max]

That's a really good horn. You're going to like it. I came VERY close to purchasing it on two different occasions...

 

[zxcvbnm]

Thanks. Just wondering, why didn't you purchase it? (oh yeah, btw, junkdude said it was a relaq, but it looks pretty original to me. Would you know anything about this?)

 

[J.Max]

Thanks. Just wondering, why didn't you purchase it? (oh yeah, btw, junkdude said it was a relaq, but it looks pretty original to me. Would you know anything about this?)

I didn't purchase it because I just couldn't get comfortable using it all styles of playing. (I do some rock stuff occasionally, and it just doesn't feel right for that.) I mostly play classically, but I studied in the French school (as opposed to the Rascher school) so I couldn't get used to it. (And I have never liked the ergos on Bueschers, but I think that's more of a case of getting used to something than anything else.) It just wasn't an appropriate horn for me in the end.

And I'm pretty sure that it's a relacquer too, although I don't care about that one way or the other. Most of the New Aristocrats I've seen have been plated and the engraving is slightly deeper. I'm not really a collector though, so this doesn't really make any difference.

BTW, Rascher himself played on a 267xxx serial number (according to Gayle from vintagesax.com) so that's a pretty cool horn in the perfect serial range. From your other posts, it sounds like you're a Rascher school player, so that horn should be absolutely perfect for you. It plays VERY nicely too.

 

[zxcvbnm]

Yeah, the Rascher thing is part of the reason I'm getting it. But, I also may be doing some rock stuff in the future, so I don't know about that.

 

[J.Max]

Yeah, the Rascher thing is part of the reason I'm getting it. But, I also may be doing some rock stuff in the future, so I don't know about that.

Well, keep in mind that MY experience isn't necessarily YOUR experience. There are a few people on the board that use Bueschers for rock, funk band, what have you, etc. The right mouthpiece can make a big difference.