Mouthpiece reviews D'Addario Select Jazz alto mouthpieces

[SaxDon]

When I tried the PPTs I was able to compare to the D'Addario 7 I have. The PPT is a little edgier/brighter, but not much. The D'Addario will keep you going a long time and may be all you'll need. Until GAS strikes of course.

Thanks Kev, I'll probably leave the PPT then. Seems there are still people on the waiting list and I'm actually keen on buying a brighter piece in the very near future.

 

[SaxDon]

Maybe I'll just get hold of a Jumbo Java for those louder electric times. Otherwise the D'Addario is all I need.

 

[kevgermany]

Bit confused as to how to clean it, when it comes. I stick my plastic 4C under the cold water tap and dry it with a paper towel at the end of every day, can I do the same with this one?

Rinse and dry is good. Don't get heat anywhere near it. Lukewarm water is the max heat that's safe, some will say even that's too much. If you get white stuff building up on it, white vinegar, or mild citric acid are good. Citric acid has the advantage that it doesn't have the vinegar smell.

 

[ProfJames]

Bring your mouthpieces to my pub and we'll have a good day cleaning!

 

[GiGi]

Rinse and dry is good. Don't get heat anywhere near it. Lukewarm water is the max heat that's safe, some will say even that's too much. If you get white stuff building up on it, white vinegar, or mild citric acid are good. Citric acid has the advantage that it doesn't have the vinegar smell.

Thanks for that, that's actually what I was confused about, somewhere on here it said, don't use water at all, and I kind of panicked, I couldn't imagine not rinsing it, and just using cold water is fine. I will not allow gunk to build up, I'd hate that.

 

[ProfJames]

Tepid water and a toothbrush! Or..........eight hours in my local as we put mpcs through the glass washing machine..........

 

[aldevis]

Tepid water and a toothbrush! Or..........eight hours in my local as we put mpcs through the glass washing machine..........

How many mouthpieces with a pint?

 

[ProfJames]

How many mouthpieces with a pint?

Three or four at least. I have some very clean mouthpieces that I have never played.......but we talk to each other on the way home

 

[GiGi]

So, the d'addario mouthpiece arrived today, and I must say, I love the look, the feel, the sound, very mellow, like melted chocolate - BUT, I can't get it on well enough over the cork, it's as tight as Pete's PPT, that didn't go far enough down the cork either, - I'm sure stuff has been written about on here, but I can't find it, what's the solution to this? It's got enough cork grease on.. but it's kind of stuck solid now, with still 8mm to go before it's right. I can't even get it off now. Or turn it. I twisted it on, not pushed it one. But. Oops. Help. 😳

 

[Jeanette]

I'm not an expert but you might be able to sand the cork a little then grease it?

Jx

 

[Jeanette]

Here you go @GiGi Neck Corksheet too thick

Jx

 

[GiGi]

I hope so, thanks for that Jeanette, I didn't really think the cork was that thick in the first place. it looks REALLY thin. But I'll see if I can get the mouthpiece off again, maybe just leave it over night, and then have a look. Got a little 5 year old sleeping over for the next three nights, so won't have much time to devote to it. Best distraction ever though. 🙂

 

[aldevis]

That mouthpiece is tight on the cork.
Still within the normal cork thickness.

I personally use plenty of cork grease. In some cases I ream the mouthpiece bore. Not in the D'Addario case

 

[SaxDon]

This is a bit of a pain I must say; the bore is very tight. I have a daily delivery of cork crease! It does ease with time.

I personally wouldn't leave the piece on for a long time as it can be difficult to get it off at all and can cause problems.

Glad the playing side is working for you though.

P.S. If you haven't done so as yet it is well worth getting an accurate tuner to gauge how far your mouthpiece should go down the cork. This can vary wildly between horns/mouthpieces. The further down the cork the mouthpiece is the 'sharper' the note will be.

 

[aldevis]

This is the most slippery stuff.
It easily makes a mess, and it's red.

Bill Wrathall used it on freshly re-corked clarinet joints.

Selmer USA Tuning Slide and Cork Grease: Amazon.co.uk: Musical Instruments

 

[Young Col]

I use the 6 all the time since getting it in December 2014. Never went back to the Jody Jazz that was my usual before that. When I did my write up after the passround I noted that it was tight on the Mauriat's neck. When I got my own, I sanded the neck cork very lightly and since, using cork grease which I always do, it's been a perfect snug fit.

 

[Bernie]

Hey Gigi,

As I think you know I fitted a neck cork for the first time the other day so I am now an acknowledged expert. Two useful things I learned, if you are planning to sand the neck cork:

1. Protect the metal/lacquer of the neck with masking tape before you start.

2. Take a strip of abrasive paper around 1 cm wide and 15 cm long, place it on the cork, put your thumb over it, then pull the strip through, pressing lightly with the thumb. Then rotate the neck (and therefore the cork) slightly and repeat. I found this effectively sanded the cork but didn't create flat spots.

 

[GiGi]

Hey Gigi,

As I think you know I fitted a neck cork for the first time the other day so I am now an acknowledged expert. Two useful things I learned, if you are planning to sand the neck cork:

1. Protect the metal/lacquer of the neck with masking tape before you start.

2. Take a strip of abrasive paper around 1 cm wide and 15 cm long, place it on the cork, put your thumb over it, then pull the strip through, pressing lightly with the thumb. Then rotate the neck (and therefore the cork) slightly and repeat. I found this effectively sanded the cork but didn't create flat spots.

I like the thumb advice, thanks for that, will have a go as soon as our visitor is gone, needs care and attention. I have all grades of sandpapers and emery papers and blocks from my stone carving/sanding/polishing, is there and 'ideal' grade for the cork in this case? I do love the mouthpiece though, it's a bit puzzling why some have to be that tight. There's no way I'd get away with just adding however slippery stuff, I think just a tiny bit of sanding will make a huge difference. Looking forward to getting it sorted. Thank you all. And my ribs are all good, perfect in fact. 🙂

 

[Bernie]

Use fine abrasive paper because (in my extremely limited experience) the cork sands away quickly and easily, work slowly, you are right about the concentration, keep checking that you are keeping the cork round and keep checking the mouthpiece fit. Remember that the mouthpiece will go on easier when you apply grease, but you can't apply grease until you've finished the sanding, so the fit has to be tight. If you have a mouthpiece with a slightly larger bore you can use that as your gauge, and to compress the cork a little.

 

[kevgermany]

I use 400 grade for this. Slow and safe. The advice about making tape is very important.If it is a soprano, mask the octave key as well.