Miscellaneous Comparison strategies

[BertieBut]

I’d like some advice, please!
Up until now, when time’s come for a new mouthpiece, I’ve tried candidates out individually, comparing them to the one currently in use until I come across one to keep.
Now, this week I’m awaiting delivery of two 10MFAN pieces to choose between and I’m asking for strategies and tips.
My inclination is to unwrap just one and play it for a week or so before testing the other. (Yes, I know…)
But I wonder if it might be better to do alternating sessions. Or even swap ’em around in the same session.
What do you think?

 

[Woodpad]

My strategy is: you have to kiss a lot frogs before you find a princess.

 

[eb424]

My advice would be if one of them is a hr classic open that and return the other one..

 

[Saxlicker]

Not much information on the pieces there.
I think that matters, for us to understand why you have chosen them.
If we know whether its about mouthpiece designs as opposed to say tip openings you might get some different answers.
People will have a general approach of their own and typically I'd say for most that is to back to back them with the same reeds, same tunes, same practise sessions first. This could be 5-10 mins on 1 then swap over and keep repeating this over the time you are playing. Perhaps that will happen for days in row.
Then longer spells of concentrating on 1 piece at a time but thats done with an eye on all the things you are looking for which you haven't elaborated on in your post. You may wish to chose specific styles of music now to see how you manage or keep up with all the differences and see how versatile it is, how resistant, how comfortable, how reed friendly.
But a long time on one piece leaving the other is not a comparison. You'll not recall exactly the traits of the other and you circumstances won't be as close as they are if you back to back them.

 

[dexdex]

My experience is that you have to play those things in real life. Rehearsals and/or gigs, to really get the full picture. How does it project, response, dynamics, how can it blend, does it kill your endurance ?
You could play one at one rehearsal, and the other one at the next one.

 

[thomsax]

My first impression often decided.

Or even swap ’em around in the same session.

I used to swap quite often. Both mouthpieces and reeds. The room/place, horn section/only sax player, kind of performance ..... decided. I've been playing Selmer metal on soprano, the standard Martin** alto piece that came along the sax in 1958, Rovner Deep-V with different tip openings, SG "low Rider/Metalite on bari. for 20 years ago I played Dukoff D-chamber on all saxes. Easy to buy and not so much money compared to other mouthpieces/brands.

An interesting question is what decide your choice to try a certain mouthpiece? Marketing (ads, endorse player .... ), friends , good/nice comments on internet, players that you listen to, teachers recommendation, shop/sellers recommendations ..... .

I use to se ads from private sellers that bought an expensive mouthpiece direct from the manufacture. 3000.00 - 4000.00 just to realize that it's not the right mouthpiece.

 

[BertieBut]

My strategy is: you have to kiss a lot frogs before you find a princess.

That sounds more like a philosophy than a strategy!

 

[BertieBut]

My advice would be if one of them is a hr classic open that and return the other one..

I picked at random the first one to play (Robusto 7*). The Classic 7* is still in the box!

 

[Nick Wyver]

About 30 seconds on each is usually enough.

 

[eb424]

My advice would be if one of them is a hr classic open that and return the other one

I picked at random the first one to play (Robusto 7*). The Classic 7* is still in the box!

I love the classic tbf not tried the robusto. Works for me with a 2 legere. End of my mouthpiece journey always thought i prefered metal pieces..let us know your thoughts.

 

[BertieBut]

Not much information on the pieces there.
I think that matters, for us to understand why you have chosen them.

Thanks for your thoughtful response; it's just what I was hoping for.
I didn’t occur to me to say more about the pieces (Robusto 7* and Classic 7*) because I was initially thinking simply about that “general approach” to comparing. What I am actually doing is seeking a long-term piece to cement my relationship with my 1935 10M.

People will have a general approach of their own and typically I'd say for most that is to back to back them with the same reeds, same tunes, same practise sessions first. This could be 5-10 mins on 1 then swap over and keep repeating this over the time you are playing. Perhaps that will happen for days in row.

Then longer spells of concentrating on 1 piece at a time but thats done with an eye on all the things you are looking for which you haven't elaborated on in your post. You may wish to chose specific styles of music now to see how you manage or keep up with all the differences and see how versatile it is, how resistant, how comfortable, how reed friendly.
But a long time on one piece leaving the other is not a comparison. You'll not recall exactly the traits of the other and you circumstances won't be as close as they are if you back to back them.

Very helpful comments. I had considered a binary approach: either long spells (say a week) on one to get used to it before doing the same with the other, or shorter periods within one session. You idea of combining the two is, well, obvious now!
Cheers

 

[BertieBut]

An interesting question is what decide your choice to try a certain mouthpiece? Marketing (ads, endorse player .... ), friends , good/nice comments on internet, players that you listen to, teachers recommendation, shop/sellers recommendations ..... .

I was so impressed with an 10MFAN Infusion 7 on my budget Zetland bari that I thought I’d explore how a sister model would help develop my relationship with my 1935 10M. Further influences were other players’ recordings, comments, and a conversation with Mark.

 

[BertieBut]

About 30 seconds on each is usually enough.

Yup. Within roughly that time I decided it was worth keeping on with the Robusto for a while. I’m surprised I have managed to keep the Classic in its box.

 

[eb424]

Yup. Within roughly that time I decided it was worth keeping on with the Robusto for a while. I’m surprised I have managed to keep the Classic in its box.

Get it out the box a perfect match...

 

[Saxlicker]

@BertieBut
Glad it helped.
I can now also say that the more obvious synchronisation would be the Classic but by no means is that set in stone.
I had a Robusto (1st generation) but now have the 10Mfan Classic.
I enjoyed the Robusto for a few years but my own opinion is that the Classic is nicer and fantastically capable all round.
I never back to backed these 2 pieces as I am living off memory about the Robusto.
Have fun