Mouthpieces Looking to upgrade my mouthpiece to a Selmer S80 C* for my tenor.

[Chubbertate]

Any views from the more experienced?
Cheers

 

[Jeanette]

Welcome to the Café 🙂

Why not go say hi on the doorbell section of the forum, you'll get to know our members quicker that way.

Jx

 

[Nick Wyver]

Depends on what you're using now and what you want to do with it.

S80 C* is the boggest of bog standard classical mouthpieces. So, if you want to sound like you're playing classical sax, that'd be the one for you.
If you want to play in a rock'n'roll band it's a bit crap.

 

[Colin the Bear]

The S80 is a marmite piece. There's no middle ground. People love it or hate it. I love it on bari. Was very happy with it on tenor till I found better. Same on alto. I don't play classical.

Some find it stuffy but I think that may be more about the perception from behind the mouthpiece than the sound it projects. It will whisper and blast. Darker than some pieces but rich and full at the same time.

I think it's a good choice of mouthpiece for a newish player looking to upgrade from a student piece as it's reliable and predictable to play, which is welcome early on.

When you find your voice you may want something with a little more edge or personality but untill then it will school and prepare your chops well. It's a bit pricey new but there's lots of second hand knocking about and if you look after it, it will hold it's price.

 

[Jeanette]

If you can get to a shop you could try a few, a day well spent 🙂

Jx

 

[Nick Wyver]

It will whisper and blast

It'll certainly whisper but your definition of blast must differ radically from mine.

 

[aldevis]

I hated it until I heard a refaced one (not a C*) played by a colleague. I think that is an exception.

I would rather recommend you 10 different pieces in the same price range.

 

[Justin Chune]

I use the C** on tenor and baritone and they suit me just fine. I gave a C* to a friend that I play with in a couple of bands and she sounds good on it. Try them both. Happy hunting.

Jim.

 

[Chubbertate]

Welcome to the Café 🙂

Why not go say hi on the doorbell section of the forum, you'll get to know our members quicker that way.

Jx

Will do Jeanette just finding my way around today. Cheers

 

[Chubbertate]

Depends on what you're using now and what you want to do with it.

S80 C* is the boggest of bog standard classical mouthpieces. So, if you want to sound like you're playing classical sax, that'd be the one for you.
If you want to play in a rock'n'roll band it's a bit crap.

I'm not into classical for sure. What would you recommend for rock music?

 

[Chubbertate]

The S80 is a marmite piece. There's no middle ground. People love it or hate it. I love it on bari. Was very happy with it on tenor till I found better. Same on alto. I don't play classical.

Some find it stuffy but I think that may be more about the perception from behind the mouthpiece than the sound it projects. It will whisper and blast. Darker than some pieces but rich and full at the same time.

I think it's a good choice of mouthpiece for a newish player looking to upgrade from a student piece as it's reliable and predictable to play, which is welcome early on.

When you find your voice you may want something with a little more edge or personality but untill then it will school and prepare your chops well. It's a bit pricey new but there's lots of second hand knocking about and if you look after it, it will hold it's price.

Thanks for that I have only been playing for 9 months

 

[Chubbertate]

I hated it until I heard a refaced one (not a C*) played by a colleague. I think that is an exception.

I would rather recommend you 10 different pieces in the same price range.

What would you recommend? I have only been playing 9 months

 

[ProfJames]

Where do you live? Go and try some out.....

 

[MandyH]

All my mouthpieces are Selmers - 2x S80 C*, 1x S80 D and a Selmer soloist D

I can't fault any of them. They all work very well for me, but I am probably a "middle of the road" sort of player.

I play classical and Jazz, but I am looking for a mouthpiece that I can play, rather than aiming for a particular sound.

They are not cheap - at around £100-£150 each.

As others have said, it would be a good idea to get along to a shop and try as many as you can, but for a mouthpiece that you can play straight off the shelf, you probably can't go wrong with the Selmer S80 C*.

 

[Greg Strange]

I'm not into classical for sure. What would you recommend for rock music?

Berg Larsen 120/0 - plenty of rock 'n' roll there - and peel the paint off the wall from 150 metres...

Greg S.

 

[aldevis]

Berg Larsen 120/0 - plenty of rock 'n' roll there - and peel the paint off the wall from 150 metres...

Greg S.

With proper training you can also hurt or kill small animals. The passage from a Selmer C* to this, can be a cultural shock.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Not totally out of order, though. My first tenor mouthpiece was a Berg 105/0 - as seen on the left in 1974(?).

 

[Colin the Bear]

For an inexpensive rock mouthpiece the Rico Metalite is worth a look. Quite bright and edgy and easy to control. Raucous sound and a complete contrast to the S80.

It'll certainly whisper but your definition of blast must differ radically from mine.

We're all different. I play mostly in acoustic situations and don't have any problems being heard over the Rhythm section or street noise.

 

[Shorty]

Any views from the more experienced?
Cheers

A view from the very inexperienced - I went from a beginners plastic MP to a C** on alto and liked it a lot; not a massive jump in playability as a beginner. I went to Woodwinds (?) in Nottingham and took my old MP and went through about 8 in an hour or so. Very helpful shop and time well spent.

 

[Nick Wyver]

I went to Woodwinds (?) in Nottingham

Windblowers probably. When I lived in Nottingham I spent a lot of time in there.