[LateNiteSax]

I'm now finding myself in situations where I have to keep my volume very controlled, but I still want to get funky, rock out and let it all hang out. Tenor saxophones are very loud things especially when you really push a ton of air. The best way to get a handle on that is with a quieter mouthpiece.

I have zero problem doing this for alto or tenor on my rubber Brilharts, Rubber Otto Links, Kessler Custom (set up by Norbert Stachel as are some of the others), and my new and wonderful Phil-Tone Orion 6* (.095") and similar smaller tip, lower baffle jazz mouthpieces I have. These are easier to control for long periods of time at lower volume levels.

I have my superb brass Ponzol M2 s 110s, Bergs, Saxscape, custom 8* Otto Link STM with a beautiful baffle in it among other more aggressive high baffle more open stuff, but I do fine with the quieter mouthpieces for these gigs.

If you can ability to play a style, you can do it on a .120" Guardala or a small Selmer Goldentone. In some particular situations, that Selmer Goldentone just might be the better choice. While there are some things you can do with the Guardala you can't quite do on the Goldentone, it could be these correct choice given the live situation you find yourself in.

 

[1saxman]

Definitely good to be flexible. I never tried to play pop/rock music quietly - I always had a mouthpiece with a lot of power and I used it. If I was too loud, I would put up a large Acrylic 'reflector' that mounted on my mic stand. This not only reduced my 'air' (on the 'air' in the room) volume, it was a terrific monitor. However, there are different situations for everyone and what you're doing is a good thing. You'll probably find a favorite 'quiet' mouthpiece and stick with that - there's a lot to be said for bonding with a certain mouthpiece. To anyone else trying this I would suggest using two different versions of the same piece where possible. Latenite has a super-duper 8* STM Link, so maybe he should go with a regular STM Link in maybe a 6.

 

[jazzznbluezzz]

It can be done for sure. Depending on what style you prefer. I regularly play the old school R&B style on either an original Brilhart Streamline 7*
(somewhere around .95 I guess) and to my surprise a Vandoren Perfecta (.70). On gigs I am miked of course however during rehersals I play unmiked and have
to compete with drums, amplified string bass, electric guitar and electric piano. It sure takes some air and with the right reed (not too thick either)
and the right technique they can get nasty loud. However I don't need to blow my brains out like on larger tipped mouthpieces. Neither of them do have a piercing edge to cut through though. Which I admit I sometimes miss. The Perfecta is even more bright and louder then the Brilhart.The strenght of the Brilhart is that it is able to cut through because of the thick and pronounced mid core. I just love the sound I can get from these mouthpieces.

 

[buddy lee]

I mean, with a microphone and a sound engineer who knows what to do you can play rock on anything.