[djm0226]

Looking for advice. I played clarinet for a little while then switched to alto sax. Now I'm looking to pick up soprano. I'm looking to buy a new Antigua SS4290 (CAD copy of a Yanagisawa S991) from Dave Kessler. So I'm researching mouthpieces and ligatures, I forgot how many different options there are!

I looking to play smooth jazz, gospel and hip-hop/R&B. I want something bright (but not overly) that still offers a complex full tone. I'm also looking for something that will help with the control (I know soprano's require more embochure control than altos.)

Please let me know any suggestions. I've budgeted up to $175 for a mouthpiece and ligature.

Thanks!

 

[paulevy]

No doubt about it--check out www.sopranoplanet.com for the best help from a great guy.

 

[sandster]

Yep, SopranoPlanet first!

 

[1saxman]

See if the stock mouthpiece plays okay before getting mouthpiece fever. If you do need a mouthpiece, don't get a big facing. This is murder on a sop, which already takes the most pressure to play (of sop, alt, ten, bar). Also start out on the softest reeds you can find. Practice long tones for 15 minutes twice a day. In a sop mouthpiece, you're looking for mellow and easy, or the most bang for the buck. Otto Link metal tends to be very metallic/brassy, but basically any metal can work depending on the player. The soprano can be very resistant, particularly the inexpensive ones, which is why you want a mpce that plays easily. If your sop comes with a curved neck, use that and keep the straight one for a spare. The curved neck takes a lot of 'oboe' out of a sop sound. As soon as you get it and get the original mpce playing, use a tuner on it and see how bad it's going to be. A lot of this will be you, but you do need to find out right away if the low notes are excessively sharp. You may find that the mouthpiece needs to go in a lot to tune in the mid-range, and this can make the low notes sharp on some sops. If you get the top in tune but the low Bb is sharp, it can't be adjusted - they don't make a bell-stretcher for sop.
So you can see that you have a lot to find out about a new Taiwan soprano before worrying about a premium mouthpiece.

 

[djm0226]

Thanks for the replies. I talked to Dave Kessler about the Antigua...it doesn't come with a "stock" mouthpiece.

 

[bruce bailey]

I have been playing for 50 years and I use a Yamaha 4C stock mouthpiece.
Great for starting out, easy to play, in tune and cheap at under $20.

 

[Dave Dolson]

We are all different. While the Yamaha 4C plays, I much prefer other pieces. On my Antigua (which I seldom play) I use a Selmer Super Session J or a Morgan Vintage 6 or 7 (both). These are open pieces but I've been playing open pieces for many years. If open tips concern you, try one of the smaller Super Sessions - I also have an E and it plays when I use a harder reed on it - much better then the Yamaha for me. DAVE

 

[bruce bailey]

It might help to say what clarinet and alto mouthpieces you are using. I still say the 4C is the best for starting on soprano.

 

[djm0226]

I no longer play the clarinet, so that's probably not a good comparison. I have two HR mouthpieces for my Alto, one is a Selmer C* and the other has no markings. The unmarked one has a measured facing of around .080, with a smooth, open baffle. I prefer the unmarked one in pretty much every kind of playing that I do now.

I will most likely get a 4C to start, then look around again when I'm more confident playing the soprano.

Thanks for the help!

 

[bruce bailey]

Maybe a 5C would be closer to what you are using on alto.

 

[BigHunk]

No doubt about it--check out www.sopranoplanet.com for the best help from a great guy.

+1 for Joe
I think you can do yourself a favor by contacting Joe at Soprano planet...
I started playing Sop about a year ago & I tried 3-4 different pieces(Rpc & Vandoren,meyer & runyon) and then went to joe...he sent me a piece that just absolutely nailed what I was looking for.

 

[docrob]

While Sopranoplanet and Joe are great. The pieces he sell might be more than your budget (although he does have a runyon on his website that is under your budget). The Morgan Vintage pieces play pretty well right out of the box, you can get them from junkdude for a trial (see his website for details). That is if you want to look outside the Yam 4C which is a pretty decent mouthpiece for all around playing.

 

[Paul B]

I'd guess it's better play the horn for a while before turning to an expert like Joe. He makes pieces specifically tailored to the sound his customers are looking for; if you have very little experience on the horn his wisdom won't likely do much good. His pieces are fairly priced, but still more expensive than other options. Start with a cheaper basic piece that will allow you to build your soprano chops, then talk to Joe in a year or two when you're confident about your abilities and what you want for the next step.

 

[Little Sax]

It looks like this 5C is still available. Not too much money for something to develop your chops on...

 

[BOPITY FUNK]

Bruce is dead right about Yamaha m/p's for soprano. I'm using a 6c--bear in mind I've had all the 'top end' stuff--and it does the lot.
Maybe for quartet playing a 4c or 5c and 'classical cut' reed.

 

[djm0226]

I'd guess it's better play the horn for a while before turning to an expert like Joe. He makes pieces specifically tailored to the sound his customers are looking for; if you have very little experience on the horn his wisdom won't likely do much good. His pieces are fairly priced, but still more expensive than other options. Start with a cheaper basic piece that will allow you to build your soprano chops, then talk to Joe in a year or two when you're confident about your abilities and what you want for the next step.

Very true. I just bought a Yamaha 4C from WWBW. Seems like it should be a good mouthpiece to learn on. Amazon also has the 5C and 6C, should I decide in the future that I want a larger tip. I've heard lots of recommendations for Joe at SopranoPlanet. I'll definitly check him out once I'm comfortable with the "soprano chops".

 

[evan1]

I no longer play the clarinet, so that's probably not a good comparison. I have two HR mouthpieces for my Alto, one is a Selmer C* and the other has no markings. The unmarked one has a measured facing of around .080, with a smooth, open baffle. I prefer the unmarked one in pretty much every kind of playing that I do now.

I will most likely get a 4C to start, then look around again when I'm more confident playing the soprano.

Thanks for the help!

Great choice. 4C to start and then try a more open facing, I use a 7C and i am a 25 year player. Bruce id like to add that over last weekend i tried a series of soprano mouthpieces including Vandoren Java, Vandoren V16, Otto Link HR, Otto Link Metal, Selmer S80, Selemer Soloist, Jody Jazz and some others so I am going to post about those experiences.

 

[bkobog]

if you can find a Selmer classic metal D in ebay? bought that and did not change for the last 10+ years. works well together with a Rovner Mk III ligature and Vandoren (Blue) #3. I like to play with some resistance.
Selmer C* maybe a good start if you can get the selmer metal D

 

[evan1]

BKOBOG - I am very interested in trying the slemer metal for soprano. What are your experiences with the D Facing ?

 

[Little Sax]

The Selmer Metal Classic for soprano are very good mpcs. I have several (C, C*, E, & G). The biggest problem I've ever experienced with them is a "spitty" sound that happens. Someone on SOTW told me to put some cork grease inside the mpc; that stopped the spitty sound right away.