[tomsch]

I recently saw a Gaia 3 soprano mpc for sale that was advertised as and improvement over the Gaia 2 with "shark gills", improved projection, and flexibility. Has anyone seen any additional info on the 2020 Gaia 3 release?

 

[tomsch]

I'll answer my own question since I received a reply back from Bryan at Theo Wanne. Here's his reply:

Thanks for your message.
The new version will have a bigger sound and more projection than the previous versions. It will also have a slight body shape change to make it more comfortable.
They should be ready in around 4-6 weeks.

 

[Vanadiel]

Yes, they already are on Theo Wanne website:

https://theowanne.com/product/gaia-3-soprano-mouthpiece/

I'd be curious, I've read only good things on Tenor version of the Gaia 3

 

[reedsburn62]

I love the tenor Gaia 3 and will be testing the soprano at some point.

 

[tomsch]

I'm sure I'll pick one up since my main mpc is a Gaia2 7 and would like to check out the differences.

 

[tomsch]

As a side note I just received a Gaia 3 "Dark" special release model from Bryan at Theo Wanne. It has the Gaia 3 shark gills but does have chamber/baffle changes to make it play bigger and darker than my Gaia 2. I've only played it for an hour but it passed my A/B comparison with my wife It's going to be an amazing option given that I'm 100% addicted to the Gaia on soprano. I'll report back once I've spent more time on the mpc. Overall Theo and company just seem to pushing forward with a stream of great incremental changes!

 

[reedsburn62]

I just received a 7,8 and 9 GAIA 3 to try. I'll follow up after I play them for a few days.

 

[reedsburn62]

I played through them a bit today and the 9 is really something special. It's a .75 opening which is what I've been playing for many years. My main pieces have been a Sakshama Post bop and a Drake Liebman, before that was a vintage Beechler .80. The GAIA 3 has plenty of projection yet retains a sweet easy to control sound. It can be bright or mellow, versatile. I'm using D'Addario 3S unfiled. I also ordered the 4 different pressure plates, they do make a difference to me. I'm digging the titanium so far.

 

[Ken]

I had a Gaia 1, 7 opening. My only beef about it was that it is too bright for my preferences even with a dark reed. Has anyone tried the 2 and 3 as well? Just wondering whether they get progressively darker or not.

 

[reedsburn62]

I had a Gaia 1, 7 opening. My only beef about it was that it is too bright for my preferences even with a dark reed. Has anyone tried the 2 and 3 as well? Just wondering whether they get progressively darker or not.

I do find them to get a bit darker with a larger tip, but these are brighter than say a Soloist type of soprano mouthpiece. What mouthpiece do you play now? Maybe get ahold of Joe at Soprano Planet, he's great and can help.

 

[reedsburn62]

Ken, also what horn are you playing? I'm playing a Keilwerth SX90 which is quite different from a Selmer, Yani, Yamaha, etc. Playing the GAIA 3 more today, I'm finding it plays very well on my Keilwerth. It's the most even mouthpiece I've played so far on this horn, which I've been playing since 1997. Intonation is more even from bottom to top, it's easier to control volume soft to loud etc. bottom to top of horn. My horn is in excellent working order, just had a go over from my tech before the world went to hell.

 

[Ken]

Mitch, I play a Couf Superba I with a Lamberson Fma7 mpc with a .062" opening which I'm happy with. As a backup have a Selmer C# short shank Soloist which I find to be on the bright side. I've been thinking of trying a Soprano Planet but was also curious about the later versions of the Gaia.

 

[reedsburn62]

Ken,
I really love the GAIA, it works for me but might be too bright for you. I guess the only way to know is to try one. I like a big open expressive mouthpiece that can get bright so it works great for me. When I go back and try one of my more reserved mouthpieces, they just tend to feel limiting when I try and push them. This means I'm working against something rather than the piece allowing me to use a full palette of dynamics, etc. I hope that helps.

 

[reedsburn62]

I'm loving this mouthpiece more everyday. Full disclosure, I am a new endorser but I would not play it if it didn't work for me, same with D'Addario.

 

[tomsch]

Hi Mitch - Since you are an endorser have you tried the Gaia3 Dark? I have one and it is yet another great option.

 

[reedsburn62]

Hi Mitch - Since you are an endorser have you tried the Gaia3 Dark? I have one and it is yet another great option.

No, I haven't. Maybe later, things are not great right now.