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what reeds give a warmer tone on Dukoff D7* Soprano Mouutpiece ?

284 views 10 replies 10 participants last post by  reedsburn62  
#1 ·
I have a Dukoff D7* soprano mouthpiece and I amsearching what reeds gives a warmer tone , as you know this mouthpiece gives a bright tone. May you helpme , pleae ?
 
#3 ·
A warmer tone on a Dukoff D? Here is the description from the website:

"The baffle and the chamber are built high and deep which gives it a sound that’s bright, clear, and concise. It is characterized by focused projection, a huge mixture of overtones, and deep rich color. The D chamber embodies the infamous “Dukoff” sound that really cuts through; ideal for solo playing, lead playing, or any situation where you want to be heard!"
 
#5 ·
Why did you get that piece in the first place if you need a warm tone. Was it gifted to you? Kenny G uses a Hemke reed known for being dark and you heard how bright he sounds even at 2 - 2.5 strength. I use Hemke or La Voz if I want to go dark. Maybe something hard like Liebman does can get make it woody but it can sound like sh*t too. If you can I would change your setup if you are going for a warm sound ASAP.
 
#6 ·
the best of all is to try every available reed for the mouthpiece, because all of them will interact differently.
you can go for DDario Select Jazz reeds, they are all-around reeds, "not particularly bright", LaVoz same, and also you can try a trick of Erik Marienthal combining the dark classic reed "Vandoren Traditional" with bright Beechler Bellite mouthpiece...
hope it helps
 
#7 ·
they say there are no weird questions but this must be one of those which are getting really close

you take a very bright mouthpiece then you want to darken it (instead of getting a darker piece).

Anyway, the reed may help you getting a less projective sound BUT really the biggest change in tone comes from you.

That is if you are in control of YOUR sound as opposed to let the equipment,ent do what you are supposed to do

Many players blow directly into the mouthpiece doing little to the sound and letting the equipment do SOME of the work for them

Really you can play a rounded subtle sound (through the whole range but that requires a lot of control) even on a bright piece.

I plan now for many years on a Brancher J27.

This mouthpiece can play bright if you want to and much louder If you CAN (you need to work on this won't come to you without work!)

Some time ago when I played in a workshop " orchestra" there was someone whom liked my sound and decided to buy the same mouthpiece, se was horrified that she couldn't get the sound that I got from the same mouthpiece ( let's not even discuss reeds, the point isn't that), she had an harsh and forward sound which wasn't " round" and filling space as in subtonic sound .

The thing is perfectly described by Don Menza in this famous video. Pay attention to what he says and more than anything learn to work on sound production.

YOU are the most important factor, way more than a reed or other, to achieve a sound which, first of all, has to be in your ears ( and brain)

watch, listen and DO WHAT HE DOES really

 
#8 ·
Like Milandro says, its more you than the reed

If you want to experiment with reeds find your oldest, worn out, and most dead heavy reed.

If that doesnt help pretty much nothing will...save your money for a different mouthpiece.

Of cousre a new dark reed will have better response than a dead reed but tonally you will get at least an idea.
I always felt like Hemke tenor reeds sounded like my worn out reeds but not as ugly

Im shooting a little in the dark here but maybe take one of your brighter sop reeds and put it on. Practice making it dark.
When you can make it darker then consider changing reed types to go even deeper.
There is nothing like a glass cutting sound to inspire you to control the piece.
 
#9 ·
For me at least, it's easier to get a bright cutting sound out of a moderate design piece than to get a lush rich sound out of a bright high baffle piece.

In my experience reeds have little to do with it. I adapt to a different reed rather quickly, if it's not TOO far off what I was using before.

I can understand the desire to have one MP do it all, but I'd suggest that for soprano a Dukoff D may not be that piece. I'd be thinking Link, Meyer, Vandoren classical, that sort of thing. Heck, the soprano's so cutting and powerful, those high baffle pieces seem overkill to me. I've had no trouble outblowing lead trumpet players using a Buescher True Tone and a Selmer S-80 C* mouthpiece.