Tomorrow I'm going into Brisbane, Brass and Woodwind Shop, looking at Mouthpeices.
Last time I tested out mouthpieces (two years ago) in Singapore at the Yamaha Dealer/Shop
My procedure is to ask the assistant for advice telling them what I'm currently playing, and what sort of sound I'm after.Then get them to recommend mouthpeices. When I have a selection, I head to the practise room. I set my mini disc recording and trial test for volume and clarity with my basic (current set up) Once I'm happy...
I take notes starting with the basic set up!
I play a basic scale, arpeggio.
Next Lowest to highest notes.
Simple tune in 2 octaves (Pink panther)
then softest, to loudest and back to softest.
Ease of starting a note. Low and High notes
Overtones on C, low to high, high to low.
Alter distance into mouth, long notes & vibratto.
I give each one of the above a 1-5 score (5 being fantastic) as I do them, also note lastly (general comments) how this Mouthpiece performs in relation to the Standard set up.
Once I have my top three, I then shoot out which one of these is the best...select that one, then shoot this one out with my current mouthpeice.
Although I haven't done allot of mouthpeice testing, sometimes I've found nothing better than my current set up.
I have the luxury of not needing to make a decision there on the spot and can and will return another day to shoot out my possibles then choose one.
Any suggestion and ideas? ... anything I've missed?
I see this shop is getting in the new Bauhaus Walsteins, I'm hot to try out the new Soprano's (they arrive late August), so I'll return to Brisbane before I head back to NZ
I will stick with only one reed and ligature set up....although sometimes my Rovner may not fit some mouthpeices.
All advice greatfully received.
Cheers
Jimu
