Mouthpieces Mouthpiece musings..

[Josh Johnson]

I've been playing an RPC for some time now and am having ideas about something new. At the moment I play the RPC with a Yamaha Custom Z (Tenor) - so the tone is bright.

I'd like something that would give me the projection of an RPC with a slightly darker tone. I was thinking of something like a Vandoren V16 or a Freddie Gregory (if I could afford one).

I did try the RPC on a P Mauriat 76 recently and was very impressed, it definitely gave out a darker, fatter sound than the Custom Z..maybe thats the way to go.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi there!

I play a Yanagisawa T901, which is on the brighter side. Having done a fairly extensive search I settled on a Francois Louis Spectruoso ML chamber which beefed up the sound, had excellent projection and darkened the sound to a pleasant degree (only sold by Howarths of London). I tried the V16 T8 ( 2nd in my trials to the FL, and had a V16 T77 which sounded a little too bright/neutral).

I have a Barone Jazz 8 (used twice) which I am looking to sell. PM if interested. It is certainly a challenge to find a decent mouthpiece to go with a bright sounding sax, if you want darker, without ending up in neutral territory IMHO.

Happy hunting
Tom

 

[daveysaxboy]

I've been playing an RPC for some time now and am having ideas about something new. At the moment I play the RPC with a Yamaha Custom Z (Tenor) - so the tone is bright.

I'd like something that would give me the projection of an RPC with a slightly darker tone. I was thinking of something like a Vandoren V16 or a Freddie Gregory (if I could afford one).

I did try the RPC on a P Mauriat 76 recently and was very impressed, it definitely gave out a darker, fatter sound than the Custom Z..maybe thats the way to go.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Why pay £500.00 and wait for 6 month's for a Freddie Gregory when you can try out Custom hand made LAW'S here in the UK made to your spec.My mate got a FG piece in the past and it was a nightmare ,he ended up just keeping the mp unfinished as it got sent back and forward's for about 9 month and he still dont like it and Spain is a bit of a treck.LAW's cost £260.00 and there monster's,sound's like the LAW LCD Tenor piece would be your choice,like the best LINK sound but great projection and ease of playing.Tailormade for you.Cant get better than that

 

[old git]

Going to be my usual boring self. First Welcome Josh but if you obtained your RPC from Ron, you will appreciate that they are all 'an' RPC and all are unique. If you have time, contact Ron and tell him what sound you'd like and he'll do his best. Am a fan of my RPC 105, breathy and ballady but if not have a look at PPTs on the Home board and ask around here.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Am a fan of my RPC 105, breathy and ballady but if not have a look at PPTs on the Home board and ask around here.

I'll second that of course. The idea of the PPT is to be not that different to an RPC, which I used before, but with the ability to be mellower.

 

[ManEast]

Hi there!

I play a Yanagisawa T901, which is on the brighter side. Having done a fairly extensive search I settled on a Francois Louis Spectruoso ML chamber which beefed up the sound, had excellent projection and darkened the sound to a pleasant degree (only sold by Howarths of London). I tried the V16 T8 ( 2nd in my trials to the FL, and had a V16 T77 which sounded a little too bright/neutral).

I have a Barone Jazz 8 (used twice) which I am looking to sell. PM if interested. It is certainly a challenge to find a decent mouthpiece to go with a bright sounding sax, if you want darker, without ending up in neutral territory IMHO.

Happy hunting
Tom

HI Tom
Shame your so far away...would very much like to try that Barone .

Regards
ManEast

 

[Jules]

Hi there!



I have a Barone Jazz 8 (used twice) which I am looking to sell. PM if interested.

Extra, Extra read all about it "Welsh muso frowns on Mr Barone's famous mouthpieces"... out of pure curiousity, any chance of a quick review of the Barone- ok, it's obviously not for you but an overview of what it's like...?

 

[jonf]

Extra, Extra read all about it "Welsh muso frowns on Mr Barone's famous mouthpieces"... out of pure curiousity, any chance of a quick review of the Barone- ok, it's obviously not for you but an overview of what it's like...?

And Jules, can you add one about your PPT now you've had it a while?

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Guys!

I would be happy to write a brief note on the Barone Jazz in a week or so. I think that I just do not like metal mouthpieces and cannot really imagine playing one on a consistent basis. I also am so happy with my Francois Louis MPC, which is not far off being like an alto size piece so more compact than most HR pieces. But if you want deep, rich and husky sounds the "Jazz" is spot on - based loosely on the Link "New York". It costs $535.00 new, but Phil produced about 40 at a much reduced price. He's a really good bloke - its just that I am tending more towards brass (trumpet and trombone) and felt that it was likely to gather dust, and be a waste.

Review coming at Easter time.
Kind regards
Tom

 

[Lupifaro]

Hi Josh, All good advice so i will add my thoughts,i had the same problem with bright sounding horns i now play P Mauriat horns the darkest being the 66R also another of my favourites is the Swing 55.In fact our very own Dave Keighley got rid of his Custom Z in favour of a 66RUL.If you are anywhere near Abergavenny you are welcome to try out any of the horns mentioned,of course that applies to all BR members.
Birdman


www.studiosaxophones.co.uk


All BR sales carry a donation to Petes charity

 

[daveysaxboy]

I sold my 1st 66R Tenor to get a CUSTOM Z and within a month i knew i made the wrong choice,loved the Z and the feel but missed that dark fat Mauriat 66R sound so of course i sold the new Z and got the Mauriat 66R Unlacquered from Birdman and never been more happy with my tenor setup,66R's are the best Tenor in the world for me and i,ve had the lot,you cant beat that sound you get on them and that's why there the most talked about modern Tenor and that's why so many people have traded in there old horn's.As Mauriat say ;GO FOR THE SOUND; and they nailed it 110% for sure.The 66R's are modern day classic's ,tuning is spot on.

 

[Saxby]

I will second that....
After Yam 62's (Old ones) Selmer MkVII, Super Action 80, Martins, Keilwerth Sx, Beuscher and others, The 66R is by far the best horn I have had. This combined with the very wonderful Law Bzzr Mpce and its a perfect match.
I have done a number of pro-recording sessions with this set up and EVERY Time the Engineers have remarked on how easy to record and how even this sax sounds, from mellow breathy moments, to full on screaming altissmo and all in between.....
more importantly, I feel very secure on this set up, in that I am able to play without thinking about compensation for this and that which I always had on my other horns, flatten this, sharpen that etc...
This is always very personal and subjective depeding on so many variables, but for my physicallity, mouth shape etc...this works for me...

 

[Josh Johnson]

T
Thanks Birdman. Unfortunately I'm about 6,000 miles away in Bangkok. There is a shop here owned by a great sax player named Koh Mr Saxman (well worth googling or youtubing), that specialises in Mauriats. I'm tempted...