[Morph1590]

I recorded this today as I'm testing out a basic recording set up a friend has lent me, and was curious how these mouthpiece sound. I'd thought I'd share in case anyone was interested - I'm surprised at just how similar they sound!

I've named them mouthpiece 1, 2 and 3 for now...Would be interested to hear what people think!

https://soundcloud.com/morph1590%2Fsets

 

[mrpeebee]

They sound very close. I think I slightly prefer number 2, seems a bit more clear and full in the upper register (but the differences are minimal).

Better to do those compares without adding effects, the added reverb will make them sound closer compared to a really dry recording.

 

[Morph1590]

They sound very close. I think I slightly prefer number 2, seems a bit more clear and full in the upper register (but the differences are minimal).

Better to do those compares without adding effects, the added reverb will make them sound closer compared to a really dry recording.

Ah interesting, I hadn't thought of thought - I'll rebounce completely dry

 

[Alex Nyman]

Number 3 on the Soundcloud listening by a country mile.

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

They are all very close with the differences being subtle. I do not prefer one over the other.

 

[Morph1590]

Number 3 on the Soundcloud listening by a country mile.

Thanks for the feedback.

They are all very close with the differences being subtle. I do not prefer one over the other.

It's strange - when I play them I could swear they sound very different in the room. I'm not sure if that's because my perception of the sound (as a player) is not at all accurate, or if it's because of my amateur recording capabilities... I'm just in the spare bedroom, pointing at an sm57 and hoping the for best

 

[buddy lee]

I prefer 1 the most

 

[Nefertiti]

I like one the best because it seems more focused and locked in with intonation. #2 sounds more spread and airy to me. #3 is also spread but also the intonation seems a little off to me. Some of the notes sound flat to my ear on #3 and a bit unstable as far as intonation like the note is moving more than it does for #1 and #2. I didn't listen to the whole clip though but just the first section of each clip.

Just listened to some more with the scale part. Mouthpiece #3 you go flat up high which is in line with my feeling like it isn't locked in as much for you. #2 I like the most up high and # 1 sounds a little thinner up high.

I still dig the focus of #1 the most so if it was meI would work with #1 and practice trying to open up and fatten the higher range.

 

[Rackety Sax]

I like one the best because it seems more focused and locked in with intonation. #2 sounds more spread and airy to me. #3 is also spread but also the intonation seems a little off to me. Some of the notes sound flat to my ear on #3 and a bit unstable as far as intonation like the note is moving more than it does for #1 and #2. I didn't listen to the whole clip though but just the first section of each clip.

Agree I like 3 least for the reasons Neff cites. 2 is my favorite, as it sounds a little "thicker" than 1 to me. If you are using the same reed on all of them I wonder if 2 has the biggest tip opening - not that bigger tip is better, but 1 and 3 (especially) sound like the setup is too light for you (all my subjective opinion of course). You have a really nice sound but, for my tastes, a little timid.

 

[mrpeebee]

It's strange - when I play them I could swear they sound very different in the room. I'm not sure if that's because my perception of the sound (as a player) is not at all accurate, or if it's because of my amateur recording capabilities... I'm just in the spare bedroom, pointing at an sm57 and hoping the for best

Recorded compares always give less differences compared to what the player hears and feels when playing different pieces (I've made a ton of those compares with my big Otto Link collection).

It's also (for me!) a fact that playing loud will reveal more differences compared to playing soft.

I would concentrate on what piece plays the best and easiest for what you are looking for. If you feel confident about what you hear you will play automatically better, and that's for most people listening to you more clear than (sometimes) minor differences between the sound of those pieces.

 

[Guto]

which tip/chamber size is your V16 please?

 

[andre251]

I hear them as very different. I am doing lessons now but am commenting so I can come back and write my guesses later. I am pretty familiar with all three models so I want to see if I can get it right.

 

[Morph1590]

Guys, thanks so much for the feedback. It's really helpful!

I like one the best because it seems more focused and locked in with intonation. #2 sounds more spread and airy to me. #3 is also spread but also the intonation seems a little off to me. Some of the notes sound flat to my ear on #3 and a bit unstable as far as intonation like the note is moving more than it does for #1 and #2. I didn't listen to the whole clip though but just the first section of each clip.

Just listened to some more with the scale part. Mouthpiece #3 you go flat up high which is in line with my feeling like it isn't locked in as much for you. #2 I like the most up high and # 1 sounds a little thinner up high.

I still dig the focus of #1 the most so if it was meI would work with #1 and practice trying to open up and fatten the higher range.

I agree with everything you said. #3 was my least favorite, I think it differs most in feel compared to the other two mouthpieces and my pitch doesn't sound centred. It's a louder piece I think, and I don't sound in control. I recorded these in one go and just swapped the reed and recorded straight off. It might have been sensible to play for 30 seconds on each to adjust before recording? I'm not claiming that would resolve all intonation issues (if only!) but it might make for a fairer comparison, given that I'd spent the morning on pieces 1 and 2....

I really appreciate the comments RE spread and focussed, I wouldn't have put it like that but listening back I can hear exactly what you're referring to.

Agree I like 3 least for the reasons Neff cites. 2 is my favorite, as it sounds a little "thicker" than 1 to me. If you are using the same reed on all of them I wonder if 2 has the biggest tip opening - not that bigger tip is better, but 1 and 3 (especially) sound like the setup is too light for you (all my subjective opinion of course). You have a really nice sound but, for my tastes, a little timid.

Thanks for the comments. I hear the same, #2 sounds "thicker" to me too which is an aspect I really like. They are all 7* but I've just looked #3 is 266mm, #2 is 280mm, #1 is 266mm... so you're right! Now I'm thinking about it, I actually played #3 reguarly for months but I used a half strength stronger reed when I did. I'm kinda amazed you can hear that from these short clips.

FWIW my own thoughts:

#1 - I like the lighter, slightly sweeter sound but I definitely need to work on fattening up the top end. Probably my favorite overall, I like where it sits in term of bright vs dark.

#2 - A bit bigger sounding, felt the easiest to control but I didn't enjoy the sound as much when I played it. I was pleasantly surprised that that this piece didn't play brighter when I played a bit louder at the end.

#3 - It projects but I think the pitch mars the recording, there is a certain harshness when I played loud which I'm less keen on.

In all clips, I think the playing would benefit from having more conviction and being stronger/bolder. I'd like to lose some of the breathiness in all and add some "tonal mass".

I'm going to do some practice and will hopefully post come improved clips later on!

 

[Morph1590]

It's also (for me!) a fact that playing loud will reveal more differences compared to playing soft.

I would concentrate on what piece plays the best and easiest for what you are looking for. If you feel confident about what you hear you will play automatically better, and that's for most people listening to you more clear than (sometimes) minor differences between the sound of those pieces.

Good point on the volume - I'm going to try recording some clips playing a bit louder to see if that changes things. I always feel a bit uncomfortable playing loud at home (neighbours) but I'm sure they won't mind for the purposes of science/saxontheweb mpc comparisons...

Thanks for the advice. I think with #1 I felt most confident in the sound (as I played).

which tip/chamber size is your V16 please?

T7 with the (regular) medium chamber

 

[andre251]

I hear them as very different. I am doing lessons now but am commenting so I can come back and write my guesses later. I am pretty familiar with all three models so I want to see if I can get it right.

Okay, making sure not to look at other comments, I am going with:
1. Vandoren V16
2. D'addario select jazz
3. Mouthpiece Cafe Espresso

 

[Morph1590]

I just recorded a few new clips - I stood closer to mic this time (more like you would play live) and I think it's a bit better (?). I also played a little louder in the hope that it would accentuate some of the differences as Mr Peebee suggesed!

https://soundcloud.com/morph1590%2Fsets

 

[Dr G]

I recorded these in one go and just swapped the reed and recorded straight off. It might have been sensible to play for 30 seconds on each to adjust before recording? I'm not claiming that would resolve all intonation issues (if only!) but it might make for a fairer comparison, given that I'd spent the morning on pieces 1 and 2...

A more fair comparison would be to get the best you can out of each mouthpiece and then record it. They may not play equally well with the same reed, and you certainly need to adapt to the differences of how each mouthpiece responds.

 

[Nefertiti]

I just recorded a few new clips - I stood closer to mic this time (more like you would play live) and I think it's a bit better (?). I also played a little louder in the hope that it would accentuate some of the differences as Mr Peebee suggesed!

https://soundcloud.com/morph1590%2Fsets

I'm not sure if I agree that volume accentuates differences in every regard. Depends on the mouthpieces I guess. In these clips they sound more similar to me but the scale at the end sounds more even on mouthpiece #1. When I listen to that one, I don't really notice the change of register or middle D area. On # 2 and #3 it has that change of tone at the middle D. Seems more prevalent on #3 and a little less on #2. #1 I don't hear it at all. This is neither good or bad as a lot of great players play and seem to like that difference in tone around the middle D. I have reviewed tons of mouthpieces that have it more than others. In a way it is characteristic of the tenor sax tone. On the other hand, #1 sounds more uniform and even in tone to me through the scale. This is all a personal thing and what you prefer though like I said. I didn't hear the intonation issues on this clip with #3 like I did on the first clips. Mouthpiece #1 sounds like it is tuned slightly sharper than 2 and 3 to me which can also affect how we perceive it. (I tend to think sharper is more lively and tend to like that for some reason when I don't know that I am sharp.)

 

[Morph1590]

I'm not sure if I agree that volume accentuates differences in every regard. Depends on the mouthpieces I guess. In these clips they sound more similar to me but the scale at the end sounds more even on mouthpiece #1. When I listen to that one, I don't really notice the change of register or middle D area. On # 2 and #3 it has that change of tone at the middle D. Seems more prevalent on #3 and a little less on #2. #1 I don't hear it at all. This is neither good or bad as a lot of great players play and seem to like that difference in tone around the middle D. I have reviewed tons of mouthpieces that have it more than others. In a way it is characteristic of the tenor sax tone. On the other hand, #1 sounds more uniform and even in tone to me through the scale. This is all a personal thing and what you prefer though like I said. I didn't hear the intonation issues on this clip with #3 like I did on the first clips. Mouthpiece #1 sounds like it is tuned slightly sharper than 2 and 3 to me which can also affect how we perceive it. (I tend to think sharper is more lively and tend to like that for some reason when I don't know that I am sharp.)

The diameter of the shank on Mouthpiece 1 is largest, and my corks is quite compressed, so I may have pushed on a little further than the other two mouthpieces. Mouthpeice 3 especailly fits very tightly on the neck.

What I find interesting is that I believe the Espresso is considered a dark mouthpiece, whereas the V16 and D'addario are thought to be medium bright and therefore more versatile. In fact, when I bought the Espresso I thought it wouldn't be the kind of mouthpeice I could play out on, and would only be suitable for practicing or quiet acoustic settings. Listening to the clips I actually find the Espresso the brightest (although it's not exactly a Guardala....)

For anyone wondering:

Mouthpiece 1 is Mouthpiece Cafe Espresso 7*
Mouthpiece 2 is Vandoren V16 T7 medium chamber
Mouthpiece 3 is D'addario Select Jazz DM7

 

[mrpeebee]

I just recorded a few new clips - I stood closer to mic this time (more like you would play live) and I think it's a bit better (?). I also played a little louder in the hope that it would accentuate some of the differences as Mr Peebee suggesed!

https://soundcloud.com/morph1590%2Fsets

Thanks for the update.

I still didn't hear that much difference and also still preferred the second mouthpiece. The first one is (in my ears) brighter and thinner, the last a bit softer and muffled.