Mouthpieces Dark Soprano Mouthpiece

[jazzdoh]

Ive been putting a bit more time into playing my smaller saxes and although I'm happy with my TW Gaia on soprano it does play on the brighter side so i'm looking for a darker vibe piece just to offer a change in sound.
Point is i don't know much about dark soprano pieces,so was hoping someone could help to narrow my search.

Anyone play a dark sop mpc who could pass on their comments.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Saxdiva]

I play a TW Gaia and an Aizen Jazzmaster on alto and the latter is darker (I tried Aizen SO, which was even darker). The Aizen is as well crafted as the TW, and Aizen make a Soprano LS model which is described as very dark.

Dawkes do a free 7 day trial if you fancy trying one. If you like TW I think you might like this as much, and achieve the sound you want.

 

[thomsax]

It's not easy to describe a "dark" soprano mouthpiece! I play Dukoff D chamber and Selmer Classical. The Selmer produce a more mellow, lyrical, open .... tone compared to the Dukoff. But the chamber is smaller on the Selmer!! Try Morgan, Caravan, Bilger .... if you want a modern soprano mouthpiece to sound in a more traditional way on a modern soprano (like mk 6, Yani, Yamaha ...)!!! Hope you understand what I mean.

 

[jazzdoh]

I play a TW Gaia and an Aizen Jazzmaster on alto and the latter is darker (I tried Aizen SO, which was even darker). The Aizen is as well crafted as the TW, and Aizen make a Soprano LS model which is described as very dark.

Dawkes do a free 7 day trial if you fancy trying one. If you like TW I think you might like this as much, and achieve the sound you want.

Thanks,i might have a try on an Aizen on sop,tried them on alto and they didn't suit me but they might be fine on soprano.
On alto I'm settled on a Francois Louis Spectruoso Sp which is the best I've had in 25 years.

 

[jazzdoh]

It's not easy to describe a "dark" soprano mouthpiece! I play Dukoff D chamber and Selmer Classical. The Selmer produce a more mellow, lyrical, open .... tone compared to the Dukoff. But the chamber is smaller on the Selmer!! Try Morgan, Caravan, Bilger .... if you want a modern soprano mouthpiece to sound in a more traditional way on a modern soprano (like mk 6, Yani, Yamaha ...)!!! Hope you understand what I mean.

Yes i total agree its hard to describe,strangely i had a dig into the my mouthpiece draw this morning and found a few soprano mpc's i forgot i had,came up with a Yamaha 6c and a couple of really vintage pieces which were closer tip openings but darker/mellower but really struggled with projection,which you don't get with the Gaia.

 

[aldevis]

I settled on two Pillinger models: NYS and PJ
NYS has quite a large chamber. Of course tuning needs to be controlled.
PJ is beautifully in tune but a bit less flexible.

I seem to remember that 1 was NYS and 2 PJ.


Wav files are heavy to load. Mp3 should give an idea anyway.
www.aldevis.com/sequoia/wellyouneed1.wav
www.aldevis.com/sequoia/wellyouneed1.mp3
www.aldevis.com/sequoia/wellyouneed2.wav
www.aldevis.com/sequoia/wellyouneed2.mp3

 

[jazzdoh]

I settled on two Pillinger models: NYS and PJ
NYS has quite a large chamber. Of course tuning needs to be controlled.
PJ is beautifully in tune but a bit less flexible.

I seem to remember that 1 was NYT and 2 PJ.


Wav files are heavy to load. Mp3 should give an idea anyway.
www.aldevis.com/sequoia/wellyouneed1.wav
www.aldevis.com/sequoia/wellyouneed1.mp3
www.aldevis.com/sequoia/wellyouneed2.wav
www.aldevis.com/sequoia/wellyouneed2.mp3

Thanks will have a listen,never had a Pillinger but i know they come well received.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Thanks will have a listen,never had a Pillinger but i know they come well received.

Drake `Son of Slant is brilliant as a dark sounding mouthpiece: http://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2010/11/drake-son-of-slant-soprano-saxophone-mouthpiece/

Dick Hamer at South Wales Woodwind will probably loan you one to have a blow.

 

[jazzdoh]

Drake `Son of Slant is brilliant as a dark sounding mouthpiece: http://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2010/11/drake-son-of-slant-soprano-saxophone-mouthpiece/

Dick Hamer at South Wales Woodwind will probably loan you one to have a blow.

Thanks Tom i had forgot about Steve Neff site,will have listen over the course of today and compare.
I think when i feel upto to it i will have another trip to London and try a few out as many as i can,i know sax.co.uk now do Drake's and Howarths have a vast stock of mpc's,i do have a sound in my head that i want to reproduce with the aid of darker piece,I'm not replacing my Gaia,i just want a darker sounding piece probably more old school than modern sounding.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Thanks Tom i had forgot about Steve Neff site,will have listen over the course of today and compare.
I think when i feel upto to it i will have another trip to London and try a few out as many as i can,i know sax.co.uk now do Drake's and Howarths have a vast stock of mpc's,i do have a sound in my head that i want to reproduce with the aid of darker piece,I'm not replacing my Gaia,i just want a darker sounding piece probably more old school than modern sounding.

Exactly why my Soprano Planet Via Coro is my main piece. Last time I saw Jan Garbarek (St. David's Cathedral) he was playing a Gaia.

Tom

 

[Saxdiva]

Drake `Son of Slant is brilliant as a dark sounding mouthpiece: http://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2010/11/drake-son-of-slant-soprano-saxophone-mouthpiece/

Dick Hamer at South Wales Woodwind will probably loan you one to have a blow.

Have just had a good chat with Dick about mouthpieces for vintage vs modern sound and bought my TW Gaia from him. He sent me a Drake to try (alto again) and I liked it a lot. Similar to the Aizen but I preferred the Aizen.

If you call him, he may make some suggestions too. Very helpful and knowledgable.

 

[aldevis]

Thanks Tom i had forgot about Steve Neff site,will have listen over the course of today and compare.
I think when i feel upto to it i will have another trip to London and try a few out as many as i can,i know sax.co.uk now do Drake's and Howarths have a vast stock of mpc's,i do have a sound in my head that i want to reproduce with the aid of darker piece,I'm not replacing my Gaia,i just want a darker sounding piece probably more old school than modern sounding.

What facing do you play? I have some pieces here in London for you to try, if you fancy it.

 

[jazzdoh]

Exactly why my Soprano Planet Via Coro is my main piece. Last time I saw Jan Garbarek (St. David's Cathedral) he was playing a Gaia.

Tom

i nearly bought a Soprano Planet missing link,Howarths had one in their May secondhand sale but while i hesitated Rhys popped up and bought it.:crying:
Like the saying he who hesitates.

 

[jazzdoh]

Have just had a good chat with Dick about mouthpieces for vintage vs modern sound and bought my TW Gaia from him. He sent me a Drake to try (alto again) and I liked it a lot. Similar to the Aizen but I preferred the Aizen.

If you call him, he may make some suggestions too. Very helpful and knowledgable.

Thanks that might be helpful.

 

[jazzdoh]

What facing do you play? I have some pieces here in London for you to try, if you fancy it.

On the Gaia its an 8 0.070.
Thanks but it will be sometime before i can get to London due to recovering from back surgery,very nice of you to offer and will keep this in mind when i am able to come down.

 

[aldevis]

On the Gaia its an 8 0.070.
Thanks but it will be sometime before i can get to London due to recovering from back surgery,very nice of you to offer and will keep this in mind when i am able to come down.

Good news: all my pieces are in that sort of facing. I think my main current pieces are 072.
Whenever you can, I will just have to clean them. Bring your own reeds though. 🙂

 

[TomMapfumo]

Joe Giardullo recommends that certain reed manufacturers seem to produce the best quality reeds for soprano - Marca, Alexander and Hemke. http://www.sopranoplanet.com/learn/about-soprano-reeds/
For a dark sound he recommends the Hemke.

For a darker sound I use the Marca American Vintage reeds which are superb on the Son of Slant mpc. but may get some Hemke for a try.

 

[jazzdoh]

Good news: all my pieces are in that sort of facing. I think my main current pieces are 072.
Whenever you can, I will just have to clean them. Bring your own reeds though. 🙂

Great really nice offer,but it will take time before i am up and running but there is no rush.

 

[jazzdoh]

Joe Giardullo recommends that certain reed manufacturers seem to produce the best quality reeds for soprano - Marca, Alexander and Hemke. http://www.sopranoplanet.com/learn/about-soprano-reeds/
For a dark sound he recommends the Hemke.

For a darker sound I use the Marca American Vintage reeds which are superb on the Son of Slant mpc. but may get some Hemke for a try.

I am using Fibracell which is a little buzzy which i like and RJS 2m,will have to look at others.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Have just had a good chat with Dick about mouthpieces for vintage vs modern sound and bought my TW Gaia from him. He sent me a Drake to try (alto again) and I liked it a lot. Similar to the Aizen but I preferred the Aizen.

If you call him, he may make some suggestions too. Very helpful and knowledgable.

Which Drake alto did you try. I have a Drake NY Jazz alto, which I like - but not quite as much as my Phil-Tone Aurora.