Hi.
I play tenor for relative short time (like a year or so). I bought a Jupiter 575 tenor and it came with a Jupiter 4C mouthpiece. I works ok, but I want a better sound and a bit more control. I tried this week a Rico Metallite M7 and it sounded twice as loud and a bit too bright. That might be also because I couldn't get a sound out of it with my regular blue vandoren 2 or 2.5 reeds, and had to downsize to size 1 reeds. That made it play easy and secure, but much too bright. So I thought that the tip opening was too big? What would you please recommend from Vandoren? I want just a nice, allround sound, better than the Jupiter 4C.
Thank you very much!
Horatiu
A few notes:
1) You mentioned you are looking for something with more control. For many, more control is not so much related to a mouthpiece as it is your embouchure and your reed. I'm in my 5th year of playing the tenor and my embouchure is still developing. I play 60 - 90 minutes a day.
2) If you could give us some detail on the challenge your face with the 4C, this group might be able to help faster. Is your reed collapsing when you blow too hard, or on certain notes? Are you not able to get the intonation you desire (too sharp, too flat, or all over the place)? Are you not able to play loud enough? Are you not able to hit the high notes? Do you have problems with the low C, low B, and low Bb? Do you squeak too much?
3) Do you primarily play Classical. Most beginners do, but if you are switching from another instrument, you might be playing a lot of jazz.
4) Do you mostly play solo, or are you trying to blend with a band?
5) Again, we need to know your budget. You mentioned an interest in Vandoren..but your most recent purchase was a Rico Metallite. Hard to get a Vandoren mouthpiece for the price of a Metallite.
Some people like the flexibility of a larger tip opening coupled with a softer reed (2 or 2.5). This allows them to 'bend' note to the tuning they desire...and so they feel that this type of set up gives them more control.
Others like a smaller tip with a slightly stiffer reed because this set-up natural has a more consistent centering (for intonation). The ability to play consistently in tune without having to change embouchure much, makes me feel as if I have more control; as it allows me to focus on other stuff.
It is hard to therefore make a recommendation without knowing some more specifics. Any information you could add would be helpful.
Please also know, that nearly everyone on this forum understand your desire to upgrade mouthpieces. If you have been playing for a year, it makes complete sense. We just don't want you to spend more money on another incorrect mouthpiece. (The Rico Metallite would be an example of incorrect mouthpiece).
