[densbel]

Hi all!
For about 6 months I was playing on Guardala MBII mouthpiece. I like the sound very much. But... I noticed that my embouchure started getting tired quicker and quicker every time I practice, especially these last days. I don't know, maybe I overplayed my embouchure or whatever else, but this is the idea that came to my mind and I want to submit it to you to have your opinion.
How about practicing with different mouthpieces? For example when I am really tired and still need to practice - pick up Selmer S80 C*, that has really small opening and is extremely easy to blow in. Then another day when I am relatively tired, pick up let's say Rico C7, and when I am in a good form use Guardala MBII that has a huge tip opening and requires more effort both on embouchure as well as overall effort.

I don't know if someone tried it, but would appreciate your opinion, as well as cautions, advices etc.

 

[mayho]

What size reed? what condition is your sax in? Mayho

 

[FawltyTenor]

I switch mouthpieces sometimes, but generally not during the same playing sesssion.

If you're playing regularly, like hours every week, I'm more concerned about the fatigue you mentioned. If you're playing multiple times a week more than an hour each session, I'd think you would have pretty good endurance and be able to play for up to a few hours (off an on, like you would in a usual playing situation). Maybe your reed is a little hard, or opening a bit wide.

 

[densbel]

I am using a pretty soft reed, Vandoren Java 2.5. The instrument is in a pretty good condition, no leaks etc.

 

[densbel]

I used to practice 4-6 hours almost every day. But these last days 40 minuts and I am done. The opening of the Guardala MBII I suppose is identical or close to that of Dukoff D9, it's big. The reed I am using is Vandoren Java (green) 2.5.

 

[SaxTMan]

Change to the mpc which you can play more time, take a few time to analyze your embouchure (exercises and so on), and stick with it more time. Changing can be bad if you have a embouchure problem that you didn't notice before. You also need to understand what is better for you...play more time or fewer time with other mpc.
I have MY answer, for ME.

Good luck

 

[densbel]

Well, it's true that the last time I started practicing a lot the overtones by Rascher's book, but I don't go too high. Don't know if that exercise may exhaust the embouchure...

 

[A Greene]

I guess you have to decide if the larger tip sound is what you really want. But if you're saying you've gone from 4 to 6 hours a day practicing to 40 minutes - something sounds wrong. Instead of a C* - why not a mouthpiece in the .095 to .100 range? I spent time trying to play a Berg piece YEARS ago. I tried everything to like this thing. It was supposed to be the 'right' piece for my style but I couldn't stand playing it and had to play really loud all the time. Now twenty years later, I play what's comfortable. Good Luck

 

[densbel]

Well, must admit I like MBII, not so because of the loudness (rather it's a problem, my family is complaining about a yelling sound!), but more because of the sound color, and the big tip opens lots of possibilities for lot more expression, allowing bends etc...
Don't know, maybe I should downgrade to the reed #1? What do you think? I never tried such a soft reed with this MPC.

 

[SaxTMan]

Maybe it's better a comfortable mouthpiece in a comfortable opening and a lot of sound exercises than a monster mouthpiece in uncomfortable opening and 30 min gigs imo


PS. why sabotage yourself that way?

 

[reedsburn62]

Reed is too soft for the mouthpiece for one, especially a Java. Try a different cut/brand of reed. You need to find the right balance of freeness and resistance. A too soft reed which allows for little resistance can actually be taxing on your embouchure as you over compensate for it's weakness. Too hard of a reed obviously is hard to control as well, so you need to find the right balance which should be somewhere in the middle. Can you play the low notes soft but with a full tone (not sub tone)? You should be able to play the entire range of the horn at any volume comfortably, articulate with ease and have over-all control without feeling like you're working too hard. The thing about mouthpieces is YOU make the sound and it's about what is the most comfortable to play which will allow you to make YOUR sound. The MBII can be a great piece but maybe the tip opening is too much. I use to play a Dukoff 9, thought it was great but I really had little control and had to work far too hard for my skills at the time. Maybe try a Dukoff type piece in a 6-7 opening, I've heard some killer players on this type of set-up.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I don't know if someone tried it, but would appreciate your opinion, as well as cautions, advices etc.

Bad idea IMO. Always practise with the same set up you perform on. I would think that maybe the reed is too hard? There's no harm in learning to play a slightly softer reed, I always try to do that.

 

[jlima]

Always use the same mouthpiece, it's the only way to become totally natural when playing the instrument (by this I mean that it's the way to forget about the mouthpiece and just concentrate on the music). Besides, different mouthpieces have different intonation challenges, different articulation demands, and so on.
If you're not able to play on the same mouthpiece and reed as long as you used to, I only see two explanations (either one, or both): (1) (most likely) there is a problem with your sax or (2) your physical shape is worse (maybe you have not been eating well or resting enough lately?). Maybe you need to consult a doctor or engage in some kind of workout regime. Being physically in shape is important to be able to play well.

 

[Blonski]

I use all the mouthpieces of my signature. When we get tired too fast, it is because we are using much more force than necessary. Keep this in mind, use as little force as possible, with the passage of time will find the reeds that allow this, to you, keeping the pitch. Play Saxophone must be an act of pleasure, not an arm wrestle with the setup.​

 

[MojoBari]

I think there was a tip opening change in the WW&BW MB2 LT sometime in 2010. Older LTs were .116". Newer ones are .122", which is farily large You can try dropping down to a #2 reed, but the sound might get a little buzzy.

Since the tip opening is large, you probably are closing off the tip opening some with your embouchure to make the notes speak easier for you. Constanly trying to make a .122" tip opening into a .105"-.110" or so tip opening is fatiguing. You can do it occassionally for a soft attack but as a standard embouchure, you will tire out. This may or may not be your problem. I'm just tossing it out there.

You mentioned a Dukoff D9. I do not know if you played on one or not, but they vary a lot in tip opening from wht the charts say. So a D9 can have a smaller tip opening than a MB2.

Since you like the the sound (design) of the MB2, you may just need a similar mouthpiece in a smaller tip opening. Or, you could get the MB2 refaced to a smaller tip opening. It is a shame DGs only come in one tip opining size.

 

[KeithL]

Interesting - I have one on order from WW&BW that should be here in a few days. At $169.00 plus an extra 15% off with the holiday weekend coupon- it came in at under $145. At that price I figured I'd see what all the who-ha was about. I'll measure it when I get it and let you know.

 

[reedsburn62]

Nice avatar KeithL, I grew up about a 150 miles from GP.

 

[densbel]

Interesting - I have one on order from WW&BW that should be here in a few days. At $169.00 plus an extra 15% off with the holiday weekend coupon- it came in at under $145. At that price I figured I'd see what all the who-ha was about. I'll measure it when I get it and let you know.

Yes, do please and inform me about the sizes.

 

[densbel]

You mentioned a Dukoff D9. I do not know if you played on one or not, but they vary a lot in tip opening from wht the charts say. So a D9 can have a smaller tip opening than a MB2.

 

[KeithL]

Nice avatar KeithL, I grew up about a 150 miles from GP.

Yeah- for shear beauty nothing beats Yosemite IMO but Glacier is pretty darn close and A LOT less crowded. I've done motorcycle tours all over the west and for me western Montana and eastern Idaho is as good as it gets in terms of weather, roads, scenery, and traffic.