Mouthpieces D'Addario Mouthpiece Passround Thread

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Well as first on the list , I thought I`d start a new D'Addario Mouthpiece Passround Thread so we call can relay our opinions on these two Alto pieces ..

First thing I noticed was the lightness, admittedly I`ve not handled gazillions of Alto pieces like the rest of you but they feel lighter than other HRs and more like the weight of a decent plastic piece , they`ve got the authentic HR smell though so no mistaking what they`re made of . Finish is very good ..

I`ve had a quick blow on the YAS21 with two Rico Orange 2.5s (two because one is brighter than the other) and a Vandoren 2 . they`re both easy pieces to play, the 6 very much so, the lay doesn`t seem too steep and neither suffered the spottiness you can get with Links etc . from quick A:B the 7 seems to have a more open delivery , capable of peeling paint on a YAS21 with the overbright sample of the Rico 2.5, the 7 has more control too for me though not as much as the LAW Large chamber I have ..

I`ll post as I progess - remember I`m a Tenor player who` s only been playing Alto a year but they`re looking very promising indeed - a good upgrade from the better plastic fantastics like the Esprit-II, 4C, Hite etc and I found them instantly better than the bog standard link..

 

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The three sax test ........

I`ve got three Altos here at the moment , the RAT21 , the Taiwanese Sakkusu Tick SA80 clone and a very nice example of a Japanese made YAS275 .. these three horns cross the tone spectrum nicely - from the Bright and Raunchy no holds barred YAS21 to the warm and thick SA80 clone - the YAS275 is in the middle ..

I`m concentrating on the 7 piece here , this actually demands some input from the player (the 6 just plays itself like 4Cs do but allows for dynamics as wel) but is more rewarding IMO, with the Orange 2.5 reed on it works well on all three horns, not getting in the way of the player and letting the character of the both horn & player show through ,

the YAS21 remains the brightest but not out of control (unless you blast it with a bright reed) ,like wise the SA80 clone doesn`t lose that thickness and smooch and the piece allows you to make the most of your breath control & embouchure to shape the bottom notes beautifully - as you can imagine it works well on the 275 also and is probably more at home with this horn's middle of the road tone ..

This piece doesn`t quite have the character or shapability of the metal LAW LCM (a 6* that plays like a 7) , but then it doesn`t demand anywhere near as much from the player , it`s far more forgiving too . I`m amazed at the dynamics I pulled from it too . definitely a better step-up piece than a Tone-Edge or similar .. NO issues with Octaving or squeaks.

I`m hoping you Mouthpieceaholics who`ve owned more alto pieces than I`ll ever see in a lifetime don`t think I`m writing a load of cobblers here . but the fact that I can give any kind of opinion in one day on three horns says a lot for the instant playability of these mouthpieces .
I`m sure that a beginner who wants to step up from the likes of the Esprit and 4C will not have an issue with the 6 and it`ll last them a long time (Likely be a keeper for life alongside something more ambitious) ..
The 7 more for well heeled players after an easy blow which will given them a
"Standard" sound but with enough life and dynamics to make things interesting ..

Mouthpieceaholics after a new fix may find them a bit "boring" but for those who just want to play the damn saxophone and get through a gig without issues I`m sure will welcome them . lets face it , there are loads still gigging Selmer S80s and these are more characterful than that .

I`m gonna play some more

 

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Well - pass the mouthpieces moves on a stage .......... Over to you Colin !

 

[fibracell]

just wondering what we're all doing regarding hygiene and cleaning with the mpc. I often use toothpaste to clean and get rid of the white deposits. I assume people are using a patch too?

 

[Ads]

I washed them thoroughly, white deposits take years to form or did in my S80 - I`ve not got any at all in any of my current Mpcs so there won`t be any problem with that ..

they come fitted with thin patches and there are packs of patches in there too , I used a thick one on top of the thin ones Aldevis fitted and transferred it between the two as I was playing them, removed and discarded It before washing and re-packing them up .

Funny thing was that I`d been to the dentist for the 6-monthly checkup the same morning they arrived and they commented on my Excellent oral hygiene, I`ve not been tasting any dodgy women , playing Junk shop brass instruments or kissed any guinea pigs so don`t worry ....... 😀

 

[aldevis]

Good point. I rinse them but not sterylize them. Never got to the point of having calcium marks.

 

[Jeanette]

Are these the sort you shouldn't use hot water on?

Jx

 

[aldevis]

Are these the sort you shouldn't use hot water on?

Jx

I wouldn't run the risk.
If cold water and washing up liquid is enough for a spoon, it should be enough for a mouthpiece.
Apart from never sharing with my young students, players usually share mouthpieces in quite a relaxed way.

Still cleaner than having the face licked by a dog (as in canine animal) after it secretly drank from the toilet.

 

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BTW pics of the pieces (the 7 was on the horn so shot the 6)

 

[jazzdoh]

Ads did you do any sound samples of the pieces,how did they sound compared to your LAW's

Ive played the LAW buzzer,LCD and MCB.

 

[aldevis]

BTW pics of the pieces

Much better than the pictures on the D'Addario website.

 

[Ads]

Thanks Aldevis ...... it wasn`t a light tent setup as I`d use for work stuff but it worked 🙂

Ads did you do any sound samples of the pieces,how did they sound compared to your LAW's
Ive played the LAW buzzer,LCD and MCB.

Firstly, I don`t do sound samples as they are meaningless due to way too many variables.

The LAWs are brighter and richer in harmonics , less veiled, and have more control too at the lower end .. the Addarios are an easier play through the range than either LAW, the 6 plays itself, the top end is sweet where the Buzzer can get coarse (even when NOT mounted on a 21 or 61 LOL) and where the LCM needs to be worked ...

I see it as one of those cases where I liken pieces like the LAWs to a 70s Ferrari and the two test HRs to a modern Focus-ST .. the Ferrari demands more of the driver and of course gives more whereas the ST is an easy drive but delivers less - the biggie being that the amount less isn`t as much as you`d think - I think these two Rico pieces offer an easy play to those who want more than the bog standard stuff gives but haven't the time / inclination / skill / whatever to learn and master a less than friendly piece ........... Even the LAWs are easy compared to some, some Dukoffs for instance.

Whether anyone else (especially those who major in Alto) agrees is another matter but this is how I felt they worked .

 

[Nick Wyver]

Interesting. The only LAW I've got (Buzzer - tenor) is a really easy blow.

 

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I`ts not a hard blow on the Alto but for me it took some learning to make the most of and also controlling the top end . though as I`ve said (countless times - LOL), I`m a relative newbie in Alto, I`d probably find the tenor version a doddle too 😉 . it didn`t take me long to adapt to the PPT.

I found the D'Addarios played themselves straight out of the box end to end with no effort .

 

[Colin the Bear]

Can't wait

 

[Colin the Bear]

The postman came early today before I was ready to go out , so I changed my plans and stayed in.

First impression was that the packaging is very nice.

I slapped a reed on the 7 and found it too wide for me so rooted out the 6. I had a selection of different strength reeds to try. My first impression was it is very bright and the tone breaks easily if pushed. I was trying rico royale and vandoren blue, my usual choices. It occurred to me that being a Rico it might suit an american cut reed so went looking in the box. I had a part box of rico orange 3.5 which I ordered by mistake ages ago. I fished one out and slapped it on.

The difference was astounding. The 3.5 was a little too hard but the tone was sweet from top to bottom. As loud as you like when pushed without the tone breaking. No screaming up top. Sweet, clear and full, almost Desmondy right up to F#. Rich and full down to low Bb without being too dark. Soft and breathy throughout the range or full bore in "trumpet competing" mode, it doesn't mind.

I was getting a little face ache after an hour and went looking for a softer reed. I remembered a box of flying crane, that came with a £4.99 cutter, were at the back of the drawer. I found it too soft at 2.5 so I clipped it up. Wow. Beautiful.

I put the backing tracks on to see how it would perform doing what I do. It's very versatile. I like to impersonate different instruments to compliment the range of numbers I do. I like to get a sort of trombone feel on "In a sentimental mood" and it did that fine. I try to be Desmondy on "Skylark" and it did that too. Full bore mexican trumpet on "Sway" and it did that too. Skipping lightly through jolly numbers or being moody and serious through ballads it seems to have something for each one, and that at this early stage.

It's a pleasure to play

I've stopped for some lunch and to scrape down a rico orange and then I'll be back at it. I'll have to order some different reeds. The usual suspects are useless on this piece. I'll probably have another go at the 7 with some different reeds.

 

[David Roach]

Guys, under no circumstances should you wash an ebonite mouthpiece in water, even cold and definitely not hot: it can warp the ebonite. Any germs will die very quickly in transit, but do wipe the pieces after each play test gently with a soft cloth to remove any spit or condensation.

 

[Ads]

Hmmm, I know you know your stuff David but I washed my Selmer S80 for decades by running it through under the cold tap and drying it straight away and never had any warps - been doing it since with others ..

I don`t leave the piece out ringing wet, I dry it, I`m sure the thing gets wetter for longer inside during playing and there are loads who don`t even dry them out after - some working pros who leave the reed on the thing did it needs changing !

 

[Ivan]

Hmmm, I know you know your stuff David but I washed my Selmer S80 for decades by running it through under the cold tap and drying it straight away and never had any warps - been doing it since with others ..

I don`t leave the piece out ringing wet, I dry it, I`m sure the thing gets wetter for longer inside during playing and there are loads who don`t even dry them out after - some working pros who leave the reed on the thing did it needs changing !

Water's dangerous enough but don't leave in John Innes No.1 or you'll grow a hard rubber plant in next to no time

 

[aldevis]

Water's dangerous enough but don't leave in John Innes No.1 or you'll grow a hard rubber plant in next to no time

Or this
http://cafesaxophone.com/threads/the-mouthpiece-drawer.13575/page-2#post-174416