But, as a downside, high-baffle mouthpieces are more difficult to control. Cheap plastic, in particular, is looked upon with great disdain. Ebonite is also used to make expensive fountain pen casings. Top 7 Saxophone Mouthpieces Review 2023, 1. This versatile and well-balanced unit is a wonderful choice to play different music styles. This video documents my first attempt at making a saxophone mouthpiece by hand from a solid piece of hard rubber. Have you already chosen your music style? i used to take it out every so often , play it and put it away. The Classic NC is available for all saxophone models (S/A/T/B) and can provide a consistent tonal base for . The flat baffle also allows people to hear your instrument over others, and it can be amazing for playing solos. If you are playing contemporary styles that are more soloistic or playing in a jazz band, there are hard rubber jazz mouthpieces and metal mouthpieces. The price. [7] Some recent designs by Van Doren, Bari, and Saxgourmet reflect the theory that the mass of metal over the shank of the mouthpiece, which contacts the neck cork, stabilizes the connection and enhances the integrity of the harmonic series. If you are a beginner, you want to consider the step baffle, especially if you are buying a mouthpiece for alto sax. It is somewhat similar to the previous unit, although it has a bit longer facing, and shorter tip opening. Although I had one during my first few years of playing, I certainly dont pretend to be an authority on these. All Rights Reserved. Our team used articles written by music industry experts, read a detailed analysis of products, and made sure to take care of every part that will help you pick the right unit. Mainly because he was Michael Breckers mouthpiece maker. Rick, Hi Johnny, As for this product, it is versatile and suitable for beginners and pros alike. Both units chambers have square cross parts, and that makes them unique. Depending on how quickly you progress, it may very well be time to try something a bit different in design. The hard rubber combined with the elegant black finish makes the product both durable and attractive. The saxophone mouthpiece is outwardly similar to that of the clarinet but has no tenon. What is a baffle? The mouthpiece is reasonably durable, but it may take a while until you pick the right ligature. 2. Appreciate this site and Commercial ligatures are commonly made of metal or plastic. For tenor and bari saxes this is especially desirable because they can feel much slimmer or narrower. You have two ways to go here. Vandoren SM711 AL3 Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Editors Choice Avoid hot water, but feel free to use alcohol as it can kill microbes. "If you are looking for a jazz saxophone mouthpiece, then this model is an astonishing pick. The argument being that if there is a difference its in the design of the mouthpiece, such as the baffle shape, along with the tip opening and chamber. A lot of musicians use it and point out its impressively strong and durable design. Like any mouthpiece though, care is needed so as not to damage the facing or tip from dropping or bumping it. On top of that, some players find their lower-register notes might sound weak. 7. Hi Johnny. Single-reed mouthpieces are basically wedge shaped, with the reed placed against the surface closest to the player's lower lip (the table). Sulfur is kneaded into natural rubber, which is then fired in an oven. A buildup of this can be very difficult, if not impossible to remove if allowed to grow for long periods of time. He altered the chamber and baffle size and shape to appeal to a wider range of players. Dimensions: 4.4 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches The tones it delivers are bright and rich regardless of your playing style. [2] Different facing lengths have different response properties. It is a perfect pick for all musicians, from beginners to professionals, to perform at a concert hall or when marching. Facing length: medium long facing 23mm The manufacturer used superb rubber materials to ensure optimal longevity and consistent performance. The distance between the tip of the mouthpiece and the tip of the reed is known as the tip opening. The result is excellent durability and premium quality of the mouthpiece that you will love. The saxophone is capable of a wide range of styles and sounds. Sweetwater has a legion of experienced sax players ready to help you with all your saxophone needs. S-80C features medium-long facing, and the preferred material used by the company was hard rubber. This would be the best way to ensure your embouchure is well enough developed before moving on to any mouthpiece, metal or ebonite. It may be one of the highly recommended ones or it may be terrible and liable to give you problems going forward. When Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone, he specified the shape of the interior of the mouthpiece as being large and round. About - Drake Mouthpieces 2. Dimensions: 3.9 x 1.4 x 1.4 inches What type of saxophone is King Lemaire saxophone is it student or Pro sax. A big thanks ! There is a variety of models with different richness and quality of tone. One saxophonist and teacher, Sigurd Raschr, spoke out against this change in mouthpiece design. This permits control of the reed by the lips without appreciably affecting the amplitude of its vibration. ", "Easy blowing mouthpiece with the magnificent response is what all musicians desire. If youre a beginner or out of practice, then we recommend trying a mouthpiece with a smaller tip opening. Jazz mouthpieces are an incredibly diverse group, coming in either ebonite or metal. Anything that can hold the reed on the mouthpiece may serve as a ligature. The most common materials utilized in mouthpieces earliest to present are: Mouthpieces can be a wide range of sizes depending on the type of saxophone it is used on, or what style of music it is intended to be used for. Its the most significant determining factor in tone quality. 9.4 A baffle, or section of the mouthpiece roof sloped close to the plane of the reed, became a design feature for enhancing volume and projection . If you have been playing on your first saxophone mouthpiece for some time and feel very comfortable, but are interested in refining a more personal sound, upgrading your mouthpiece is an excellent next step. Materials For sax mouthpieces the common rule is that softer materials produce a darker sound with less projection, while harder materials just the opposite (brighter and more projection). More features: balanced, clear, and focused tone in any octave, ideal for professionals and beginners, moderately narrow sized tip opening, perfect for every genre The Berg is a very slim design and this is really apparent when you switch over from amore typical bigger, fatter hard rubber model. If you are able to try several mouthpieces first, this will confirm if you will achieve the sound you are after. This idea has been explored quite a bit over the years with clarinets, and what has generally been observed is that a plastic clarinet that is machined to the same specs as a wooden clarinet will sound the same to the folks in the vicinity, even those with a refined professional ear. For the most part, mouthpieces with smaller tip openings are easier to play, which makes them ideal for student mouthpieces like the Yamaha 4C. But the biggest influencer on your sound will be you. Let's dig into the detail of how and why sax mouthpieces make a difference. There can also be a ring around this part for extra support, but not all the time. If you see a number included in the name of the saxophone mouthpiece, it typically corresponds with the size of the chamber, tip opening, and a few other related factors. It is somewhat similar to the previous unit, although it has a bit longer facing, and shorter tip opening. More specifically, the Selmer S80 C* is generally regarded as one of the best choices for starting out on and even taking you to the next stage during your first year or two of playing. Our unique physical shape and structure of our face, bone structure, teeth, size and thickness of the lips all have an influence. More features: bright and even sound, compatible with different brands, free blowing and easy to play, handcrafted, made from high-quality composite, created for jazz, also perfect for a variety of genres. Resin. It is important to mention that you wont only get a mouthpiece for saxophone, but also a cap and ligature. Daily care You should wipe your mouthpiece dry, inside and out after each use with a soft cloth. Its taken me nearly 4 years, now ive finaly taken to metal. Turn the mouthpiece around and look at the window (the square-like front opening) to see if there are any manufacturing imperfections. The reason lies in favoring high partials. Sax mouthpieces come in countless varieties that match any players needs. The most common route is deciding if you need a classical or jazz mouthpiece, then choosing a brand within your budget, and finally deciding on a model number. Thank you for your request. Selmer S-80 C-Star Mouthpiece for Alto Saxophone Customers Choice So to get there will require some time, and everyone moves at a different pace. The only difference is in the material they are made from. The product could be more durable, but keep in mind that it is an affordable model. A wide tip opening will give you a brighter, bigger sound but is harder to play as it requires more air to make the reed vibrate. The problem is that concave tables cant handle the humidity. After all, it's one of the most important pieces of gear in any saxophone setup. 1. Vulcanized Hard Rubber. Narrow tip openings also offer a more focused sound, making them perfect for classical sax mouthpieces like the Selmer S80 C*. This helps the sound project much more and cut through other sounds in the mix, making it more easily heard. Best Metal Mouth Piece: Otto Link OLM-404-NY-8 "Made of metal and finished in a vintage tone, it is created for professional saxophone players." Budget Pick: Yamaha Alto Sax Mouthpiece 4C "A budget-friendly clear-tone sax mouthpiece suitable for any category of musicians. Jazz players took to it immediately. After that time period, say a year or two. It can be an ideal choice for both marching and concerts. Because of saliva, it can be a breeding ground for germs. . However, short-faced mouthpieces are often harder to control. In band shawms, it is carried on the staple on which the reed is mounted[8] On the European shawm, the pirouette replaces the loose disc of the oriental surna, presumably to secure lip-control over the cane reed. Back then, in the mid 1970s there were really only a handful of saxophone metal mouthpieces on the market. Features This is the best detailed information on mouthpieces Ive ever seen. There is some debate over whether the material affects the tone, or whether tone is shaped only by the internal shape and dimensions of the mouthpiece. He was always trying to fill a niche for many individual tastes. The mouthpiece, neck, and body are the three main parts of a saxophone. If you scanned the market, you might have noticed a huge number of products and manufacturers. MBI (Michael Brecker original) this is the one that started it all for Dave Guardala, MBII an alternate baffle design of the MBI, MBII Fatboy an alternate bigger, fatter design of the MBII, King brighter sound, named after rock & roll legend King Curtis, Crescent darker, designed for the Coltrane sound. So a Berg Larsen mouthpiece that falls into a medium would have the numbers 115/1 or 115/2. I liked this slimmer feel, although later I found it too slim compared to other models I tried later. The best authority on Otto Links in my opinion is Theo Wanne. It is hard to get the best option, especially when you have so many amazing products on the market. I can honestly tell you that our saxophone mouthpieces are the most important and influential part of our setup(equipment) that can alter your own personal sound for better or for worse! Vandoren is a well established company known for its saxophone reeds and mouthpieces. Here is another mouthpiece for alto saxophone, but this one was designed by Yamaha. Which are the Top 10 Best Selling Mouthpieces? As for this product, it is versatile and suitable for beginners and pros alike. The chamber size is measured from 0 to 3 0 being a smaller chamber opening giving you an edgier tone and 3 being a larger chamber opening giving you a mellower tone. I demonstrate two hard rubber mouthpieces. Please note that there are six facings and three bores available to choose in this series. If you only focus on listening and dont see the instruments, you could hardly tell which piece was playing. The product will deliver impressive sound quality and consistent performance. What are saxophone mouthpieces made out of? Jazz units have a convex baffle, which has the goal of accelerating the air when it goes inside. Beechler Diamond Inlay Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece can be a wonderful solution in this category. Anatomy of a Saxophone Mouthpiece | Woodwind & Brasswind - WWBW For starters, tables can be concave from side to side or front to back, although the latter ones are more popular. When held in your hand you can hardy feel its there. Tip opening: AL3 1.52mm, AL4 1.63+mm, AL5 1.68mm If you are ready to take things to the next step, you can consider big tip openings, too. If youre just starting out, you probably havent given this subject much thought if any. The most common ones are hard rubber (ebonite) and metal. Its the typical Dukoff sound that was originally made in the 1970s. What effect does the mouthpiece material have on the sound of the saxophone? However not all materials are as easy to work with, and certain materials and manufacturing processes can impose geometric choices. Beginners should stick to narrow or average tip openings. They feel good and there are several models to choose from in all four of the most popular saxes: soprano, alto, tenor and bari. Thanks to his knowledge, he actively helps musicians with technical problems, improving their audio quality and even promoting their tracks so that thousands of listeners could enjoy some really good music. By 1970, narrow-chambered mouthpieces had become nearly universally popular for playing in an environment with amplified instruments, and virtually all new designs featured a narrow chamber, high baffle, or both. The metal ones are actually made from stainless steel. The higher the number, typically the more open the chamber and tip are. The sax mouthpiece is compatible with reeds designed by the same company, and its performance cannot be compared with other reeds. To learn more about our cookie policy, please visit our Privacy Policy. The Most Durable: Tip openings are closely related to the facing, which is where the mouthpiece meets the reed. Theyre a great starting point, but they wont excel at any one style. The bore is the opening inside the bottom of the mouthpiece. Both metal and hard rubber (even plastic) pieces can produce quiet and loud, as well as dark and bright sounds.
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