Perform Rock/R&B on quieter low baffle etc. mouthpieces. I dare you.

901 Views 3 Replies 4 Participants Last post by buddy lee, Mar 31, 2020

LateNiteSax

Discussion Starter · Jan 27, 2020

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.

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jazzznbluezzz

· #3 · Mar 31, 2020

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.

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