What are you playing on?...

2415 Views 23 Replies 16 Participants Last post by CountSpatula, May 22, 2007

calisax

Discussion Starter · May 11, 2007

Hey everybody! Name is Scott, new to the forum. You probably get newbie questions like this all the time, but here it goes... I've been playing mostly tenor since high school jazz band, that was over ten years ago. I just purchased another alto and decided to invest in a good mouthpiece to really push the horn to its max. I use Dukoff D7 on tenor, however this piece doesn't work as well for alto, too bright. Can I get some recommendations for a good mouthpiece that'll deliver good volume, altissimo, tone control, etc?? I prefer metal for projection. Like I said, been a while since I played around on alto. I tried a lot of different setups several years ago, but now I'm simply drawing a complete blank. A lot of the popular pieces have undergone some changes in the way they're being produced. Can somebody help me out? Thanks!

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

J.Max

· #2 · May 11, 2007

We kind of need more perimeters here...everyone's just going to throw out their favorite pieces otherwise:

1. What kind of music are you playing? (Jazz, Rock, Classical, Studio, etc.)

2. How much are you willing to spend?

3. What level of player are you? (Pro, "weekend warrior", intermediate...I assume that you are not a beginner since you said that you played in high school.)

4. What brand/model horn are you playing?

bruce bailey

· #3 · May 11, 2007

Selmer Super Session D on Alto, Link HR 6* on Tenor and Super Session E on Soprano. All vintage Conn and Martin horns.

luispa

· #4 · May 11, 2007

I'd go for a Runyon Quantum or Smooth Bore, a metal Yanagisawa or a metal BARI.

joelsp

· #5 · May 11, 2007

At the moment, I play a Dukoff D8 on alto for funk/fusion.

If I am playing light combo jazz, I will throw on my old trusty Meyer 5M.

Dave Dolson

· #6 · May 11, 2007

Hi Scott6: Welcome to SOTW.

Lately I've been using a Don Sinta alto piece (told the tip opening was similar to a C* Selmer) with a Fibracell 1 1/2 reed. I also use a Meyer 6S-M, Selmer Super S3ssion F, Selmer Soloist F, Morgan-Bilger 6M (to name a few). All of these on a Buescher Big B Aristocrat, Buescher TH&C, and a Selmer Reference 54.

I don't think the mouthpiece's material makes any difference.

As you can see already, your question results in a popularity contest, mainly because no one can determine what will work with your saxophone, personal embouchure, tonal concepts, and playing goals. Unfortunately, you just have to keep trying pieces until you find the one (or many, like me) that works for you. DAVE

patseguin

· #7 · May 11, 2007

Dave Dolson said:
Hi Scott6: Welcome to SOTW.
I don't think the mouthpiece's material makes any difference.

You certainly know your stuff, but I can't say I agree with that statement. Sorry.

Anyways, my main pieces currently are Jody Jazz DV's. 6 on alto and 7* on soprano. I've been using a Morgan Jazz alot on Alto lately but the DV is still my main piece. It projects well and the altissimo is unbelieveable. I had a Dukoff years ago and never liked it. The DV gives a nice reach tone.

Lament

· #8 · May 12, 2007

I use a morgan 6e for everything but classical playing. I have used it in small combos, big band lead, and even pep band at school, go Salukis! It can reach to the back of the room and nail someone to the wall and still play soft and warm when I want it to. Low end is great just like the altissimo. I would probably use something different if I was playing in a funk band but a friend of mine borrowed it for that purpose and loved it, he blows different then I do though. He then bought an 8e and loves it but I haven't played it or heard him playing on it yet.

blindside398

· #9 · May 12, 2007

patseguin said:
You certainly know your stuff, but I can't say I agree with that statement. Sorry.

Anyways, my main pieces currently are Jody Jazz DV's. 6 on alto and 7* on soprano. I've been using a Morgan Jazz alot on Alto lately but the DV is still my main piece. It projects well and the altissimo is unbelieveable. I had a Dukoff years ago and never liked it. The DV gives a nice reach tone.

Hey man, I don't mean to call you out on it, but I disagree with YOUR statement!

I personally don't think, as well, that material makes MUCH of a difference (aside from the feel), as I've heard from refacers such as Mojo and some others on these forums (I believe it was Mojo, I apologize if it wasn't), that technically it wasn't the material that made the difference, just how it was made.

Just what I heard, and go by - It may be absolutely wrong =].

And to the OP, good luck with your search. Personally, I think HR Morgans are
the way to go for alto.

calisax

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 14, 2007

Cool, thanks for all the info everyone! I went to Tim's music in Sacramento while there for the weekend and tried out a whole bunch of different pieces, both new and used. Don't remember exact specs on all of them, but they included Selmer C*(metal short shank), Bari Hawk, Otto Link STM (6,7,&8), Beechler 8, Meyer 6, - bout all I can remember right now. I was extremely fond of the Selmer short shank, so I bought it without thinking twice, then I blew on a Dukoff D8 and ended purchasing it as well for its amazing altissimo abilities. It's a very bright piece, but after learning to control the tone on it, you can make some pretty good music, mostly in the rock category. I love the Selmer C*, this was a great buy for sure! Now I've got mouthpiece fever, and am looking at purchasing a couple more possibly when I get paid next. Let's just hope my fiancee doesn't start to ask questions when opening the bank statements. Hey Dave, how does that Don Sinta piece play on a standard reed, like say a Hemke 2 1/2? Thanks again for all of the recommendations everyone! Oh ya, by the way - the alto that sprung my sudden need for a decent mouthpiece is a Selmer USA AS-100. Great horn, was skeptical at first, but it really does deliver. Hope to invest in a Mark VI eventually.

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king koeller

· #11 · May 14, 2007 (Edited)

It sounds like you have a full blown case of...
GAS
Gear acquisition syndrome
Find what you like and stick with it.
In the long run, you'll grow faster, and will be more consistent with your sound.
I used to know a guy with a bag full of trombone pieces. He never could decide which one to play on, and as a result, sounded like crap on all of them. He was always fighting his piece.
His embouchure was all screwed up from never getting set on one piece.
Please pick one and spend time with it. Get to know your piece inside and out.
I personally was not a metal alto guy, I dig Hard rubber alto pieces the most. like Old Links, Meyers, and Morgans, But if you really feel that a metal piece is for you, go for it!
You might be the next Dave Koz!

patseguin

· #12 · May 14, 2007

blindside398 said:
Hey man, I don't mean to call you out on it, but I disagree with YOUR statement!

I personally don't think, as well, that material makes MUCH of a difference (aside from the feel), as I've heard from refacers such as Mojo and some others on these forums (I believe it was Mojo, I apologize if it wasn't), that technically it wasn't the material that made the difference, just how it was made.

Just what I heard, and go by - It may be absolutely wrong =].

And to the OP, good luck with your search. Personally, I think HR Morgans are
the way to go for alto.

Hehe, I've been known to be wrong once in a while.

I do maintain that material makes a difference. Otherwise, why not just make all pieces hard rubber? Take the JodyJazz DV for example. Why would he chose metal instead of hard rubber?

dpmusic

· #13 · May 16, 2007

calisax:
a good piece to try(if you're willing to spend the money) is the rovner eagle. i've been playing on one for about a year and it's bright but not dukoff bright...and it's very flexible...and extremely free blowing(cause of the badass window)..in fact i've decided to sell mine because i've discovered that i like more resistant mouthpieces....rovner hasn't been making mouthpieces that long so it seems like not many people are playing them yet....come to think of it i've never met anyone else who plays on one......

and: the material of a mouthpiece DEFINITELY affects the sound... i don't buy the acoustic argument that it's only the dimensions of the inside of the mouthpiece that determine the sound. people have made the same statement about instruments....but i hear a difference!

Carl H.

· #14 · May 16, 2007

“Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music”. George Carlin

This quote just seemed to fit here.

Material makes a difference, ask a refacer how much they charge to work on a stainless steel mouthpiece. Metal also holds up better to abuse.

As a player you may perceive a difference, but as a listener it is pretty much impossible to hear any difference due to material.

Homer

· #15 · May 17, 2007

I've got a vintage Meyer Bros New York 6M from around the 1950's era on a Ref 54. Sounds great but I'm still fiddling around with different reeds. Vandoren ZZ's at the moment.

ChuBerry47

· #16 · May 17, 2007

I don't have my conn tenor or bari at the moment, but soon I will be buying a tenor and a bari, I current;y play on a "King Zephyr," tenor. I am hoping to buy some of the new Bari Otto link WTII facing for Alto Tenor and BAritone.

luispa

· #17 · May 17, 2007

ChuBerry47 said:
I don't have my conn tenor or bari at the moment, but soon I will be buying a tenor and a bari, I current;y play on a "King Zephyr," tenor. I am hoping to buy some of the new Bari Otto link WTII facing for Alto Tenor and BAritone.

I have an alto Bari WT II #8 for sale. Are you interested on it? Just PM me.

calisax

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 18, 2007

king koeller said:
It sounds like you have a full blown case of...
GAS
Gear acquisition syndrome
Find what you like and stick with it.
In the long run, you'll grow faster, and will be more consistent with your sound.
I used to know a guy with a bag full of trombone pieces. He never could decide which one to play on, and as a result, sounded like crap on all of them. He was always fighting his piece.
His embouchure was all screwed up from never getting set on one piece.
Please pick one and spend time with it. Get to know your piece inside and out.

Fellow sax players love to say things like that. However, I'm immune to this kind of generalization. I've been away from alto for several years, now on my return I am searching for the right mouthpiece for projection and tone control. A lot has changed since high school jazz band. Believing that there's one piece out there that'll compliment my embrochure and sound preference is not so far fetched. If I decided to keep things simple, I'd just say throw me an otto 8, cause it always worked for me before. But if that were the case, what would I need you guys for? Let me help you, help me!

king koeller

· #19 · May 22, 2007

An otto link 8 on alto would be a pretty large tip opening.
It seems that the most popular alto tip openings for jazz
and rock tend to fall between .075" and .090".
For a Link, metal or rubber,
.075"...6
.080...6*
.085...7
.090...7*
.095...8
You can always play a slightly smaller tip and use a harder reed.
If you currently play on an 8 Link with a 2 1/2 reed,
you could play 7 tip with a 3 reed,
a 6* tip with a 3 1/2 reed,
or even a 6 tip with reed strength number 4's
Each variation will give you a different level of center or focus to the sound, and also a different feeling of resistance.
You'll be surprised at how each piece feels so completely original.
Good luck!!!

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CountSpatula

· #20 · May 22, 2007

king koeller said:
or even a 6 tip with reed strength number 4's

Sorry King but your making me think your crazy.

Is your lip made of steel?? Does it bleed after practice?? :? :?

Have to ask, what's wrong with playing on soft reeds instead of 2 x 4s?

And as why Jody chose metal over hard rubber on his DV is beyond me, same with the outrageous $450 he charges for them...besides I've played louder mouthpieces for half that price

and not metal either...

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