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by Saxyboy
(52 posts)
17 years ago

New Metal Mouthpiece

Greetings Sax Players. I'm new here but not too new to music. I've been playing for 15 years, part-time pro for 10. My horn is an old 1960 Mark VI Tenor. Here's my question - Does anyone have any sugestions? My first mouthpiece was a Selmer Soloist C* hard rubber. When I got in an oldies rock band, a guy told me I should get a more open piece. So I got a Selmer F hard rubber. For the next 9 years I didn't know any better, but kept hearing that I needed a metal mouthpiece from other sax guys. So recently, I got a lightly used Phil Barone New York brass #7 mouthpiece. It's a good thing I tried it off the bandstand. I've played it only about 25 minutes. It's hard to hit the low notes and generally takes too much air. I tried Vandoren #2 1/2 and #3 and LaVoz medium and medium hard. Now my expensive new mouthpiece is in a drawer instead of in my horn case. Do I sell it, try other reeds, or what? Any other ideas? Thanks everyone.

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  2. by saxmachine777
    (57 posts)
    17 years ago

    Re: New Metal Mouthpiece

    I can't be sure, but to just throw an idea out there, is the mouthpiece sealing? I had an old alto mouthpiece that wouldn't seal correctly, and it caused similar problems to those that you're describing. My other suggestion would be to try a Vandoren of the same strengths but a JAVA, ZZ, or V16. They all have shorter, broader hearts (which you probably know, but I thought I'd drop in there for information's sake), so they might vibrate better against a PB7 opening/facing setup. Hope to help. It'd be a shame to have to lose such a mouthpiece. On the other hand, if it's not a mouthpiece problem and it is just that your and the mouthpiece's styles don't mesh, I'm sure there would be no shortage of demand in this crowd.

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    1. by definition
      (963 posts)
      17 years ago

      Re: New Metal Mouthpiece

      lots of players have a similar problem with their first metal mouthpieces. A few of my advanced students will order one and hate it, but i tell them to stick with it and let themselves adjust for a few weeks. After they've adjusted to it(which is mostly things you will unconsiously do) you'll be hooked and not want to part with it

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