I played a metal tenor 8 for many years, i thought it was great but I now play a Wanne Durga and can't for the life of me remeber what I like about the Lakey since the Durga does everything so much better.
Who's playing a Claude Lakey mouthpiece out there?
I am interested to know what players both pro's or not are playing Lakey's out there? I was just introduced to them here in Seattle, both the Hard Rubber and Metals and I am really enjoying it so far. Great projection and control. I am curious to know of others playing them out there? I think i found my new piece!
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I've played a Lakey on my alto for about 6 months now and loved it, granted I had to live with it for a while (after switching from my Meyer piece) to get the sound I wanted. Most people think they are just loud and harsh pieces but you have to be patient with these pieces at first because they will be that way initially (especially after switching from a meyer type piece). My lesson teacher and I both play a 5*3 and have completely different sounds, his more like phil woods and mine a cross between kenny garrett and will vinson. It just has so much flexibility in tone and also the fact that it is very freeblowing is why I like it. I dislike my tenor setup at the moment and was thinking about trying a Lakey on it. How well did it play for you? (I would definitely prefer to get a theo wanne model if I had the money though)
A friend loaned his 5* 3 for alto to me last week and I got a 4*3 to try on Saturday. The more I played it, the less I liked it. I'm sending it back. I've heard some players who sound good on them. I'm guess that I'm just not one of them.
What are the internal dimensions like on the metal lakeys? I heard they are quite different from the rubber ones...
The metal Lakeys I have seen are very nice CNC made mouthpieces. On par with the Jody Jazz DV, the Guardala LTs, Branchers, and the SR Techs. Much nicer than the HR/plastic Lakeys. I have not seen a recent metal Lakey though. Are they still in production?
I play tested one of the HR/plastic pieces and hated it. Way too bright, way too easy to play.
charlie mariano played on a lakey and sounded awesome.
The Lakey is way too easy to play? Should a mouthpiece be difficult to play?
I'll clarify my statement by saying it was so easy to play that it was hard for me to control.The Lakey is way too easy to play? Should a mouthpiece be difficult to play?
Some people like a little more resistance in their mouthpieces...The Lakey is way too easy to play? Should a mouthpiece be difficult to play?
You play tested ONE.I play tested one of the HR/plastic pieces and hated it. Way too bright, way too easy to play.
Okay...
I didn't care for those models on alto either. In 1982, Claude sent me a box o' mouthpieces to choose from - I selected a 7* sop, 7*3 alto, and 6*3 tenor. Those worked well for me in the context of an electric fusion combo.A friend loaned his 5* 3 for alto to me last week and I got a 4*3 to try on Saturday. The more I played it, the less I liked it. I'm sending it back. I've heard some players who sound good on them. I'm guess that I'm just not one of them.
i've been useing a 7*3 on alto for about 15 years works great for me. reason i tried it in the first place is i saw George Young playing one on SNL
Yes, it was enough. It was enough to realize that what they are about is not what I'm looking for. Like with Links, even on a bad one I learn enough to know that if I can find a good one that it's got what I want in a piece.You play tested ONE.
Okay...
A sampling rate of one is rather small.
I own a 5*3 alto and find it somewhat too bright and playing somewhat sharp in the upper register. It is quite loud, if that's what you need. I also trialed a 6*3 and a 7*3 tenor piece back in the 90's. I was able to get a nice dark tone from those but was playing on Bari plastic reeds and the tone was not interesting to me which may have been a function of the reed as much as the mouthpiece.
"Most people think they are just loud and harsh pieces"
I own one tenor and an alto piece, and that's a pretty accurate description. They're fine if you need a cheap loud mouthpiece, perhaps for marching band.
I own one tenor and an alto piece, and that's a pretty accurate description. They're fine if you need a cheap loud mouthpiece, perhaps for marching band.
I play a 7*3 on alto (ever since I bought it new in 1980). It's actually difficult/tiring to play, but I can't find another alto piece on which I can get such a "phat" sound. It's not just about loud & bright. IMO, the design of the baffle/chamber on these is similar to the old metal slant sig Bergs.
i use a 4* on clarinet-its pure lakey loud ,bright and sharp-everything you need in a rock clarinet gig-sop i play a 5* -only cause for some reason it works on my horriable king staight sop . but this mpc only works for me on the king. alto i use a 4*3 for rehearsal only! pitch and intonation are to wild for public. i have 2 great 5*3 alto,s that stand with the best of them . i used to play a 8*3 on tenor that i loved -again loud and bright but i no longer have the wind for it so will look for a 5*3 for the now rare times i play tenor
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