Mouthpieces If you use a metal mpc, why?

[Dr G]

I played metal mouthpieces when I was a kid because they were cool.
Now I play hard rubber mouthpieces... because they're cooler.

I played a Brilhart Levelair because my high school band director thought it was a good idea for the whole section to play them. Yeah…. She meant well. She was a bassoon player and didn’t know any better at the time. My next mouthpiece was a Otto Link STM that I personally selected after I graduated. That was my #1 for many years.

 

[Vlad]

I've got one as well, I play it using my metal Yanagisawa 7. When I play the Grafton with the Yanagisawa, it sounds, well, just like me playing an alto sax.

I had a Grafton for a bit, when they could be picked up for 50 quid or less. I agree they just sound the same as any other alto saxophone, in fact they sound very decent ...ditto when I've heard others play one, there's no way a listener would pick up on the fact it's made of plastic.

 

[Pete Thomas]

The reason was because it was the best mouthpiece I could find at the time. Metal or not seemed irrelevant.

Although the above answer is true, there was an element of it looking cool. Thinking back to when I bought my frst metal mouthpiece, I probably veered towards it (Lawton) also because of the looks. I cannot deny.

But I have to say it never occurred to me to think that the fact that it was metal was not the reason for it sounding good.

 

[LostCircuits]

I played a Brilhart Levelair because my high school band director thought it was a good idea for the whole section to play them. Yeah…. She meant well. She was a bassoon player and didn’t know any better at the time. My next mouthpiece was a Otto Link STM that I personally selected after I graduated. That was my #1 for many years.

If you find a good one, they are great. I had a few alto metal STMs, sold the one good one to a student who came and tried a few pieces and that one stood out like somebody opened the curtains and let the sun in. The other "identical" STM was at the very bottom of the pack - he tried a few times going back and forth and it completely matched my expectation.

The first time I noticed this was when I had both of them with me at a gig and the reed split so I grabbed the second one (preloaded), slapped it on my horn and couldn't figure out WTH was going on.

Problem solved, I don't play alto anymore
😎

 

[Woodpad]

I think it can possibly make a slight difference, but only when the material at the tip is thin enough, ie when there is no significant baffle. This is something Ed Pillinger has noticed but it isn't necessarily metal vs HR

When that spot is thin enough you can deform the mpc with embouchure muscles.

Haha yes. I also am aware that Phil Barone did some comparisons but IIRC it was a high baffle design so not relevant to what Ed Pillinger was mentioning.

The crystalite Dukoff was also made in metal. The rumor is that the plastic one is brighter.

 

[jazzdoh]

The crystalite Dukoff was also made in metal. The rumor is that the plastic one is brighter.

I can believe that I have owned all 3 Dukoff's metal or silverite, black plastic and crystallite but not at the same time so couldn't do a side by side test but from what I remember the crystallite was the brighter of the 3.

 

[mrblackbat]

I think the chamber profile typically used in metal pieces more suits me, along with the beak profile.

Plus I quite like how they get warm….

 

[Woodpad]

I can believe that I have owned all 3 Dukoff's metal or silverite, black plastic and crystallite but not at the same time so couldn't do a side by side test but from what I remember the crystallite was the brighter of the 3.

I only play a crystalite and can't compare, but it is a nice idea that there is a plastic one, brighter than any metal piece. It is not very flashy, once someone thought it was a cheap asian mouthpiece. They have also the tendency to show small cracks.

If is a sensitive blow, if there is any leak in my saxophone it squeaks. Probably because the distance from tip to throat is small. Its doubles as a leak detector.

 

[jazzdoh]

I only play a crystalite and can't compare, but it is a nice idea that there is a plastic one, brighter than any metal piece. It is not very flashy, once someone thought it was a cheap asian mouthpiece. They have also the tendency to show small cracks.

If is a sensitive blow, if there is any leak in my saxophone it squeaks. Probably because the distance from tip to throat is small. Its doubles as a leak detector.

I had all 3 in the 80's, yes the crystallite was a challenging piece for me too, very sensitive to squeaks and it was a mouthpiece I never mastered.

 

[MD0483]

Goldbeck (metal) works best on my Martin, Vandoren (HR) works best on my Noblet !!

 

[LostCircuits]

For clarification, I just want to reiterate this again. I don't believe that there is a difference that is caused by the material.

There are many mouthpieces that are available in HR-plastic-metal with the same internal geometry.

That internal geometry may look different in the perspective of the outer geometry

There are a few "internal" styles (baffle, etc.) that lend themselves to be manufactured using one or the other material.

The shape of the beak is different between metal and HR/composite MPCs which results in different embouchures.

But, at least in my own experience, there is no causal connection between the material and the tonal characteristics of a mouthpiece.

Unfortunately, Phil Barone's website is no longer up but he had a nice paper on this subject, comparing shape ve. material.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Phil Barone's website is no longer up but he had a nice paper on this subject, comparing shape ve. material.

However IIRC he was comparing high baffle mouthpieces which wouldn’t lend themselves to the type of difference Ed Pillinger has found.

 

[LostCircuits]

However IIRC he was comparing high baffle mouthpieces which wouldn’t lend themselves to the type of difference Ed Pillinger has found.

Yes, but see my post at #36.
That's really what I consider a corner case

 

[Pete Thomas]

Yes, but see my post at #36.

Ah yes. Ed likens the tip vibration to a double reed like situation. Yes a corner case.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Goldbeck (metal) works best on my Martin, Vandoren (HR) works best on my Noblet !!

Good day,
Are you using one of those old metal Goldbeck Superb, Pat Feb 10 1920?
Alto or Tenor?
Thx,
PP

 

[MD0483]

Good day,
Are you using one of those old metal Goldbeck Superb, Pat Feb 10 1920?
Alto or Tenor?
Thx,
PP

Hello

Yes, that is the one, alto and it's in excellent condition, I had one a couple of years ago which played nicely but was a very close facing, so when I saw this advertised opened up by Sakshama (an excellent mouthpiece tech) it was a easy decision. I use it on my Martin, lovely deep tone even with me at the sharp end.

 

[JSL]

I don’t any more but I have done. The reason was because it was the best mouthpiece I could find at the time. Metal or not seemed irrelevant.

That's the bottom line for me. I really can't think of anything useful to add to that.

 

[Pete Thomas]

That's the bottom line for me. I really can't think of anything useful to add to that.

Well I did add later the reason may also be to do with the Lawton looking very cool. I was young and impressionable.

 

[Woodpad]

I had all 3 in the 80's, yes the crystallite was a challenging piece for me too, very sensitive to squeaks and it was a mouthpiece I never mastered.

It still challenges me in multiple ways.

 

[rhysonsax]

Well I did add later the reason may also be to do with the Lawton looking very cool. I was young and impressionable.

The Lawton still looks cool in ebonite, but not quite as space-age (whenever that was).

I bought a Link Super Tone Master by mail order from Leslie Evans in about 1982. In the package he included a Lawton leaflet and my 20 year old self was very impressed by the look of the Lawton. I now have something over 30 Lawtons in a shoe box.

Rhys