[ppamhk]

Anyone out there using this mouthpiece regularly without refacing. Since, the tip opening is relatively small for adult - 0.067" according to Theo's website, I thought harder reeds are required.

I am getting this piece soon, and wondering if I shall open it a bit as my normal opening is larger and I use reeds of medium strength only. :?

 

[MasterBlaster]

This is a great piece

I had one of these in H.S 78-81 w/ a .75-.80 and was using #3.5-4 strgth reed on it this mpc. is a great lead piece and can produce great altissimo..have Fun w/it

 

[crazydaisydoo]

I just got a 420M, sounds superb with a number 3 rico royal.

I think mine might have been opened up a little, certainly feels wider than my c*. I would wait and see!

Good luck, these are lovely pieces...

 

[hakukani]

I have the tenor version of this mouthpiece. It's the darkest piece I own for tenor. I use it for concert band/classical playing.

 

[crazydaisydoo]

I have just posted a youtube clip of me playing my 420M, you get an idea of the tone. Because I have stepped up a reed I am puffing a bit, but the tone is there (somewhere) As hakukani, it is a dark sound, almost classical, but it suits me.

Excuse the playing, especially the tenor, which I have now played a grand total of 10 times....(there's practice for you...)

 

[ppamhk]

Thanks so much for all the feedback. It looks like harder reeds 3.5-4 would suit this piece. If my memory serves me right, Desmond also used Rico 3 reeds on this piece. I can only use medim strength reeds (ie Java 2.5), anyway lets see how it plays......

 

[tjontheroad]

I use a Master Model Gregory that is almost the same as the Model A. It's just a later version. #3 Robertos work well for me. I tried 2 1/2 reeds. They sounded thin to me.

 

[ppamhk]

I am actually using a Model A 3A 16M. I have asked my mpc tech to open it up 0.071" and it plays great now. This new piece of #4 tip opening is just 0.067" so it may still be small for me.

 

[ppamhk]

Oooops......doubled posting deleted.

 

[ppamhk]

Finally got the Model A 4A 18M in original condition yesterday. Good and bad. Bad first. The tip rail is very thick so it is difficult to blow. I have owned other Gregories and this one has the thickest tip rail. I think I need to perfect it. The good thing is that the core tone is what I had expected - fuller, rounder than my other Model A 16M (smaller chamber).

 

[saintsday]

Mine sure looks original and none of the rails are thick at all. A plain old Rico 3 1/2 plays great on it.

 

[ppamhk]

Just posted a photo of the tip rail

Saintsday, please kindly review the photo attached. Don't you think the tip rail is thicker than normal?

Thanks.

 

[saintsday]

It looks thicker than mine. I'll take a pic later if I have time and post it for comparison.

 

[ppamhk]

Prior to this one, I have had 2 Model A and 1 Master. They all arrived in original condition and none of them have tip rails as thick as this. But this is not a big problem as it can be perfected by a professional refacer.

 

[ppamhk]

Tip and side rails perfected!

My tech finally helped to perfect the tip and side rails of my Model A 4A 18M. Here is a photo. Not only it looks fine now, it plays GREAT too!

 

[tjontheroad]

Looks to me like the rail closest in the photo is a bit scratch up near the tip where as it wasn't in the photo before?

As long it works, that's all that matters.

 

[ppamhk]

Thanks. In fact, there is no scratch on the side rail. The photo picked up and exaggerated the dust or whatever.

 

[tjontheroad]

Well the tip looks MUCH better. Not that I'm any expert.