[jswers]

I tested several SYOS mouthpieces at the International Saxophone Symposium at George Mason a few weeks back and was very impressed. Of course, the opinion I form in the noisy vendor room may not be the same as the one I would have at home or while performing. I decided to order three of the models, the Chad Lefkowitz Brown (the Chad LB for short), the Leland Whitty, and the James Arben. They arrived last week and now I am able to form a better opinion of them. I remain impressed. The play easily, the response is quick, the altissimo pops nicely, the intonation is good, and the sound is nice and full. I find the Chad LB to be very powerful but too bright for my tastes. The others are more well rounded. The one thing that seems to be missing is a certain warmth, the sound is think and rich but not warm. They offer a 30 day money back trial period so I figure I will send back the Chad LB and maybe pick up one of their other models (they have so many plus a custom option). I am currently deciding if there is another model I want to try or if I should stop with the Whitty and Arben pieces.

To help me decide, I watched several video clips and found this one which I think is very well done.

They all sound subtly different, the differences in this particular set not being as great between the SYOS pieces as between SYOS as a class and the Selmer Soloist and Otto Link Florida. My guess is that if I were to be able to play through all of the SYOS pieces, the biggest difference would be in my comfort producing the sound I am trying to produce rather than the sound that is heard by the listener. Do you hear a real difference between the SYOS pieces? I am posting because 1) this is a well made video that will inform those thinking about SYOS 2) I am curious if others have a similar impression to my own regarding the SYOS sound.

Even if you do not dig SYOS now, I would expect that they would continue to evolve the custom mouthpiece business in exciting ways in the future.

 

[barisax_beamon]

Hello, I currently use the Daro Behroozi 6* on my tenor saxophone, and am trying to become a baritone saxophone artist for SYOS myself. I hear a difference in the mouthpieces but it seems that it is more of a personal difference. The Behroozi mouthpiece is great all over in my opinion, and can really pop those low notes! The only thing I would change on this mouthpiece is that the altissimo is a little more wobbly than usual for me (I can do better on my Otto Link). SYOS is a great brand and I can definitely see myself using these all throughout my saxophone career.

 

[ConnorTsax]

I've played on a custom 6* tenor piece since October, and I think it's fantastic! If I've noticed anything about it, it's that it is SO EASY to change your sound. While I requested a darker, Mark Turner-esque design, I've found that I can alter my tone to anything from Ben Webster to Michael Brecker to Clarence Clemmons. I totally wish that Saxspy video existed back when I first ordered my mouthpiece, but I was able to test out the SYOS pieces at Virtuosity Music in Boston so no harm done. I do notice a sound difference in the video, but for me it seems to be more of a resonance difference that a change in the timbre. I think that Derek's sound doesn't change all that much between the different mouthpieces he plays. I've noticed that it is always unequivocally "Derek Crane" no matter the piece. That being said, if you can determine how your sound concept relates to his in the mouthpiece tests, you might be able to project how you might sound on a mouthpiece. This concept is better explained in the Steve Neff episode of the Everything Saxophone Podcast, (Also check out the SYOS episode while you're there).

UNRELATED: I was also at the Navy Band Symposium this year! Stopped at the SYOS booth myself to meet Thomas and compliment their groundbreaking work. Also learned so much from the lectures and performances.

 

[barisax_beamon]

Is it worth spending the extra 100 bucks to get one custom or should I just purchase another artists mouthpiece but for the baritone instead of the tenor?

 

[ConnorTsax]

Is it worth spending the extra 100 bucks to get one custom or should I just purchase another artists mouthpiece but for the baritone instead of the tenor?

I tried out various models on tenor, and I couldn't settle on one that gave me the sound I wanted. I figured that I'd rather spend a bit more money on a piece that was fitted to me than be only 75% satisfied with my mouthpiece. A couple months later, and I am still confident that I made the right choice.

Another thing to think about is tip opening. A mouthpiece's sound might be different for someone who plays a 9 tip opening than for someone who plays a 5. I'm no expert, but I wanted to be sure that my mouthpiece would be as close to perfect as possible.

 

[barisax_beamon]

I am still confident that I made the right choice.

I hope I get the same result you did with my custom mouthpiece.

 

[ConnorTsax]

I hope I get the same result you did with my custom mouthpiece.

Even if you don't on first go, SYOS will allow you to send back the piece with comments so you can get an improved version. Ideally you won't have to use it, but the option is there if you need it.

 

[PoorButSaxy]

Even if you don't on first go, SYOS will allow you to send back the piece with comments so you can get an improved version. Ideally you won't have to use it, but the option is there if you need it.

You can do that as often as you want by the way. You'll get to keep all the pieces until you settle on one. Once you decided you are happy you send all the pieces back and just keep the one you want.

 

[barisax_beamon]

Just purchased the mouthpiece I'll let you guys know how it is when it arrives.

It is said to come with a "curved baffle and large chamber bright, with a bit if resistance, well balanced, and more of a tip opening than your Yamaha (2.38mm)"

 

[jswers]

I ended up ordering a custom piece. I just got it and am trying it out. My first impression is that I like the James Arben piece better than the first try at a custom piece I received. The Arben piece is a really nice piece with a decent power, a medium to medium dark tone, and easy altissimo. I was trying for something a little warmer than the Arben piece and what I got was a piece that was similar with a slightly smaller chamber and a slightly steeper rollover baffle. The custom has a bit more resistance than I like which is unusual in the SYOS pieces I have tried. It also has a more compact, focused tone than I am looking for. They will send more versions to me for no additional cost, so it is likely I will have them try again. I am still very intrigued by this concept, the ability to fine tune the piece to my liking is really cool. I have been working with Sylvie at SYOS and she has been great to work with.

 

[barisax_beamon]

My custom has not arrived yet, and I am glad to hear that you like your custom mouthpiece too. Did the tracking for you on the website they sent to you stop working halfway because mine has supposedly been stuck in France since the 21st of this month, which is unusual because my Daro Behroozi 6* tenor mpc kept tracking through its journey into the States.

 

[jswers]

I would think you would get it soon. Mine took about a week after I got the notice that it shipped from France. International tracked shipments are sometimes weird. More than once my package has said it is stuck somewhere for what seems like forever only to show up at my door and still say it is stuck somewhere on the tracking website. The day after it arrives several tracking information line entries including the delivery appear on the website. What good is tracking if the tracking info is only updated after the package is delivered?

 

[barisax_beamon]

I agree, SYOS is amazing but they should at least get a better shipping company/website to ship their products.

 

[barisax_beamon]

I ended up ordering a custom piece.

The only words to use that would define this mpc is complete crap. Had to push in ALL the way till the cork on the neck was hitting the middle of the mpc and it was still flat. Also, with my Vandoren strength 3 reeds, the mouthpiece would play low B, Bb, and A as multiphonics. With my regular Yamaha 5c it never did that (used same reed). Complete waste of time and money. Just buy an artists mpc don't make a custom one. It took me 1-2 hours of playing to realize this was a mistake of a purchase.

 

[TomOhio]

The only words to use that would define this mpc is complete crap. Had to push in ALL the way till the cork on the neck was hitting the middle of the mpc and it was still flat. Also, with my Vandoren strength 3 reeds, the mouthpiece would play low B, Bb, and A as multiphonics. With my regular Yamaha 5c it never did that (used same reed). Complete waste of time and money. Just buy an artists mpc don't make a custom one. It took me 1-2 hours of playing to realize this was a mistake of a purchase.

You say it's playing flat. Is it a bigger chamber piece than what you've been playing on? If so, you may need to make some adjustments in your voicing. I've played some large chamber pieces before where I played flat if my tongue position was too low.

 

[jswers]

The only words to use that would define this mpc is complete crap. Had to push in ALL the way till the cork on the neck was hitting the middle of the mpc and it was still flat. Also, with my Vandoren strength 3 reeds, the mouthpiece would play low B, Bb, and A as multiphonics. With my regular Yamaha 5c it never did that (used same reed). Complete waste of time and money. Just buy an artists mpc don't make a custom one. It took me 1-2 hours of playing to realize this was a mistake of a purchase.

Why was it a waste of money if you have a 30 day trial period where they will refund you all your money if you do not like it? Also, if you provide feedback they can try again. You have nothing to lose by providing feedback and having them send another piece. That is what I did. The first custom was not exactly what I am looking for so they are working on another.

 

[LateNiteSax]

I was thinking this sort of thing could happen. Like taking stab in the dark... I Chad Lefkowitz Brown gets a great tone on his. Just bright enough with good foof underneath. Good Sonny Rollins 50s vibe IMO. I would definitely order a CL Brown model if I was going to get one.

The only words to use that would define this mpc is complete crap. Had to push in ALL the way till the cork on the neck was hitting the middle of the mpc and it was still flat. Also, with my Vandoren strength 3 reeds, the mouthpiece would play low B, Bb, and A as multiphonics. With my regular Yamaha 5c it never did that (used same reed). Complete waste of time and money. Just buy an artists mpc don't make a custom one. It took me 1-2 hours of playing to realize this was a mistake of a purchase.

 

[barisax_beamon]

I am a very impatient person and it seems weird for the mpc not to even be able to play the low notes correctly as it normally should. I just saw it as the reason to get a refund and not wait to see what the next mistake they will make trying to fix it.

 

[saxspy]

I made a second video detailing the Chad LB mouthpiece. That foofyness, or what I call air curtain, is something that he himself alluded to as well. For me, the Chad piece is quite dialed in. I would recommend having flat, cane reeds. A couple great players came over today and found that Legere didn't have the same free-blowing feeling as a cane reed with these mouthpieces, though Scott Paddock uses Legere and makes it work.

 

[Dr G]

Hello, I currently use the Daro Behroozi 6* on my tenor saxophone, and am trying to become a baritone saxophone artist for SYOS myself. I hear a difference in the mouthpieces but it seems that it is more of a personal difference. The Behroozi mouthpiece is great all over in my opinion, and can really pop those low notes! The only thing I would change on this mouthpiece is that the altissimo is a little more wobbly than usual for me (I can do better on my Otto Link). SYOS is a great brand and I can definitely see myself using these all throughout my saxophone career.

The only words to use that would define this mpc is complete crap. Had to push in ALL the way till the cork on the neck was hitting the middle of the mpc and it was still flat. Also, with my Vandoren strength 3 reeds, the mouthpiece would play low B, Bb, and A as multiphonics. With my regular Yamaha 5c it never did that (used same reed). Complete waste of time and money. Just buy an artists mpc don't make a custom one. It took me 1-2 hours of playing to realize this was a mistake of a purchase.

There goes that cherry endorsement deal...