[sleepless]

I have been forced into trying new pieces today to temporarily replace the Runyon Quantum #5 that just disappeared. (hope to get it back, its black rubber and probably rolling around on the floor of the club...) I say forced, believe me I do not really enjoy tinkering with other brand mouthpieces - Rousseau, Jody Jazz, Yamaha... they all disappoint me after 8 years of Runyon! The Rousseau, for the music I play, was the only one that even came close. (it felt kinda like a Dukoff)

Well, this is temporary I hope. I'm ordering another Runyon.

Just need the affirmation. Runyon still rocks.

 

[zorrosg]

Right on!

 

[sleepless]

OMG please say its not true !! (Re: Runyon... .it rocks (still))

I ordered a new one online at runyonproducts . com . Credit card and confirmation and all. The next morning I get an email. Basically saying this: The product you ordered is not in stock, we don't know when we will have it. Contact us sometime later.

!?!?!?!?!?

Does this mean Runyon is winding down? There is _no_ indication on their site that they are out of anything in particular.

Meanwhile I have a show Friday and I need a loud rock type piece, like now. The Rousseau I am trying is _not_ working out. I've just pushed it to the limit and it can't handle my music - it doesn't cut through at all. I sanded and sanded the reeds and they just muffed and buzzed and often squeak in the high ranges, when I don't do anything much different than what I did before...

This has been an eye-opening experience. The day I have expected and long dreaded arrived much sooner than I had ever thought: I need to replace my piece, and I can't, because it isn't available (!!) and there isn't much out there that's like it and can replicate that sound.

I have also become more aware how complacent I was with my setup, and that my whole sound pretty much dialed into that one piece. It's like a single point of failure. Losing it meant I have lost 80% of my sound. I remember I tried a LOT of pieces before I settled on that one.

Does anyone have a similar piece that they can sell me, like before Friday, in San Francisco? If not, I think i'm going to cry.

:crybaby::crybaby::crybaby:

 

[StanVI]

I have a Runyon quantum alto in stock (runyon dealer), are you looking for a tenor piece?

 

[Grumps]

I would look for a second hand RPC high baffle piece, and not be afraid to try one with a bigger tip opening than what you're used to. You won't be able to get one made in time, but the less open ones (in the .115" range) come up for sale every so often in the Marketplace here.

 

[MojoBari]

I think Runyon has production runs and then gaps. They use the same machines for several different designs. It may be difficult to find a Runyon Custom Quantum 5 since the tip is fairly small for tenor (.080"). The modern Brilhart Level Air 5 is made by Runyon. It is metal and has a more conventional bite, but the interior design is the same as a Quantum.

http://shop.weinermusic.com/BRILHART-LEVEL-AIR-TENOR-SAX-MOUTHPIECE/productinfo/MBRTM/

But there are other high baffle fish in the sea. You may also get by with adding a temporary putty baffle inside one of your other mouthpieces.

 

[super20dan]

hard to imagine the runyon factroy being out of stock-esp on a popular mpc like the quantum. mojo is right as they have the machiens doing other things now instead of making quantums. i would call other places like to see if one is in stock but finding a 5 will be diffacult. try weiner music or steve goodson and of course wwand brasswind. my dream is to take over runyon and return them to the former glory days like when santy was alive as i am a firm believer in their mpcs. there is nothing better on the market (except metalite)for the $ than a runyon mpc. and as usual grumps never misses a chance to bash them

 

[super20dan]

ps-if you do find a quantum somewhere-dont be afraid to go to a bigger size. they are super easy to play-even the larger size. i use a 10 on tenor and i hate big tips you would be happy with a 7-8 or 9 i bet. i bet you can find a rico metalite in sanfran . this would work fine as a sub and cheap too!

 

[Grumps]

...and as usual grumps never misses a chance to bash them

How did I bash them? I simply offered an alternative as the OP couldn't find a Runyon substitute. I know after I experimented with Runyons, including the metal Quantum for tenor, I found RPC a more preferred substitute myself. But don't bother answering my initial question, as I will not be able to see another word that you write here on this site. Just thanks for the reminder to update my ignore list.

 

[rhythmisking]

Sleepless, check your email. I have some pieces I could let you try if ya want.

 

[super20dan]

i am shure she can waltz into any san francisco music store and pick up a used rpc mpc........... by friday

 

[sleepless]

thanks for all your great suggestions. the putty-temp-baffle is a new idea, i've not heard that before. i wonder what kind of putty. Maybe modeling clay or something might work for that.

Runyon was able to find a #5 metal version of the quantum. I'm not a metal person much, but i've got it in my hands now and i'm going to try it. Closest thing to the original. They are also sending me a hard rubber #7 of the quantum as well, that was absolutely the last rubber tenor quantum they had in stock though.

In any event, I checked Bronsteins SSF and had pretty much rejected _all_ of their tenor mouthpieces. (didn't see an rpc there) For those who aren't familiar with the area, Bronstein's is the main band/wind place within a 10 mins radius of my home. I figured that any more drive time to a similar band-oriented store was going to produce the similar results, as they don't usually have these boutique mouthpieces unless they do a lot of consignment sales (I can tell you I picked up my all-time favorite clarinet mouthpiece on consignment from a flute store... it happens) I mean, when you are looking for an extremely specific type of tenor sound and it's _not_ a jazz sound, you'd be surprised how hard this is to find in a typical music store.

I then hit up Lee's place in sunset and tried a bunch more pieces there, with better results. I picked up a dark-blue vintage Vandoren Jumbo that I am told was played by the late sax player of Big Bang Beat. If its who I think it is, Morey Goldstein (RIP), I have see his videos on youtube with multiple bands and Morey was an awesome, awesome rock-n-roll sax player and I'm truly honored to have this piece with so much history behind it (!) it has a great big sound just like i was looking for, it'll probably be my backup piece since I am not able to rock it out presently as well as Morey did ! BTW the length of the baffle on the Jumbo is shorter than the Runyon, by almost 1/2 inch.

SJ

 

[MojoBari]

For a temporary baffle. you can use clay, Dental wax, poster-hanging putty, Play-Doh, Silly Putty. Just make a shape similar to what is in mouthpieces you like.

FYI, the non-metal Quantum is made out of Delrin, not hard rubber.