Mouthpieces Mouthpiece options/thoughts for a Keilwerth SX90r tenor please.

[Little My]

I'm in a position to buy 1, maybe 2 new mouthpieces for my sx90r tenor.

I have recently replaced my Hite Premiere with a Lebayle metal LR2 with a 7 tip. I'm still finding my way with it, but do like the tone very much, it's quite dark for a metal piece. I am missing have a HR mouthpiece though. Years back, I was kindly lent a couple of vintage links - one metal, one rubber. I adored the tone on the ebonite, but soon learned that modern links are not the same thing at all - stuffy and hard work. Then I lost my chops through lack of playing, sold the modern links and started again with the Hite. My daughter recently dropped and chipped the Hite, but to be honest I could barely play it anyway after trying the Lebayle. So not another Hite. I wasn't bowled over by the high-baffle Keilwerth piece that came with the sax so would probably steer clear of pronounced baffles.

My preference is for a sound that is full, warm and intimate and that makes me as happy as the old Link did. I'm not necessarily after bags of projection as I think the metal LR2 has that covered. I'm a hobby player with audiences limited to family and friends in my kitchen, though I hope to join a monthly jam session soon.

I'm considering another Lebayle, either the HR LR2 or the cheaper ebonite Jazz (suggested by my teacher). I'm also thinking about a Jody Jazz HR or a Phil-Tone Tone-Edge possibly with a slightly smaller tip size. I know there's one on the Yard Sale at the moment. If anyone has any experience of these mouthpieces or of others that work well on a Keilwerth I would value your thoughts. I'm not keen on changing my setup often so ideally would be playing whatever I bought for some years.

Thank you for reading and for any thoughts.

 

[Saxdiva]

I used to have a Vandoren TL4 which was warm, not as dark as the link but a lot less stuffy. There is a new mouthpiece from Selmer, called the Concept, which sounds like it may be aimed at what you're looking for.

A perfected Link, from Ed Pillinger or Morgan Fry could work well as you will keep the Link sound, but lose the stuffy.

 

[Phil]

Just was dropping in and saw this. I just released a piece that is based on the vintage links of the 60's. Later Florida/early Babbitt..it is called the phil-Tone Sapphire. Steve Neff recently reviewed it.

Sorry if this is unwelcome soliciting. Thanks

Phil

 

[kevgermany]

Agreee with Saxdiva. Get either a customised link or a good quality modern Link based piece.

Morgan's play really well and sound great. No experience of others.

 

[Little My]

Thank you all for these very helpful replies. I have a lesson this week so will talk to my teacher and decide after that. It's good to know that there's a number of good choices and that I should be able to return to the linkish sound.

 

[daveysaxboy]

I had Frys rhodium link type mp.It sure had that great link vibe going on and was very well made.Only let it go as i'm a high baffle guy.I now use 2 PPT tenor mps that he made.

 

[aldevis]

I am missing have a HR mouthpiece though. Years back, I was kindly lent a couple of vintage links - one metal, one rubber.

A perfected Link, from Ed Pillinger or Morgan Fry could work well as you will keep the Link sound, but lose the stuffy.

Pillinger's NYT is a link based mouthpiece. It is the perfect companion for my Florida Link (refaced by Pillinger too: I have the same facing on both). Great price and a lovely guy to deal with.

Just was dropping in and saw this. I just released a piece that is based on the vintage links of the 60's. Later Florida/early Babbitt..it is called the phil-Tone Sapphire. Steve Neff recently reviewed it.

Allegedly Dick Hamer http://www.woodwindsalesandrepairs.com/mouthpiecesales.html will eventually have some in stock on this side of the pond.
I recently tried Phil's Tribute, and it is really close to my Metal Florida 7 (I usually play a 9)

As an alternative to Lebayle, I recently reviewed Absolute Mouthpieces
http://absolutesax.com/store/index.php?route=common/home
Their resin piece has a lot of character and a very low price. If you check SOTW you should find few clips and reviews.

 

[Phil]

Dick will have some Sapphire pieces soon. I am working on his shipment this week.

 

[PaulM]

Pillinger's NYT is a link based mouthpiece. It is the perfect companion for my Florida Link (refaced by Pillinger too: I have the same facing on both). Great price and a lovely guy to deal with.

While mouthpiece preference is an intensely personal matter, I must agree with everything Aldevis said about the NYT and dealing with the Pillingers. The NYT is a lovely mouthpiece to play; subtle, versatile and easy to play in-tune for a large chamber mouthpiece. An added advantage in my opinion is that you don't need hard reeds to get the best out of it. I liked mine so much that I ordered an NYA for my alto and that is just as agreeable to play.

 

[Little My]

Thank you again for all the helpful comments. I'm doing a lot of reading now and have eliminated nothing from the shortlist 🙂 I've ordered a Jody Jazz HR 6* from Howarth to try as a first pass, and there are funds left for one other HR piece once I've tried the JJ.

My plan is to have 2 or 3 mouthpieces so that I have a choice and a bit of security should one get damaged.

 

[Little My]

hmmm. The Jody Jazz arrived today. The sound is fine and I like the design, but I seem to play very sharp with it compared to my Lebayle.

 

[aldevis]

hmmm. The Jody Jazz arrived today. The sound is fine and I like the design, but I seem to play very sharp with it compared to my Lebayle.

In which sense?

 

[Jobylou]

hmmm. The Jody Jazz arrived today. The sound is fine and I like the design, but I seem to play very sharp with it compared to my Lebayle.

I usually play with a Vandoren Java T45 and have my mouthpiece pushed almost right onto the cork, but with a HR Jody Jazz 6* I also play sharp and have to have the mouthpiece only about a third of the way on and because it seems to have a larger opening the cork isn't quite thick enough. I like the sound and find it free blowing but dont really want to get my sax neck recorked to play it!

 

[Chris]

Little My, Could be the two mouthpieces are different lengths??

Jobylou, Use some PTFE tape to build up the cork on a temp basis Does no harm and can be removed easily..

Chris..

 

[Colin the Bear]

Self amalgamating tape might be a better solution. And A selmer S80 would be my back up choice.

 

[Little My]

Thank you for the replies, much appreciated.

Aldevis, it's harder to get it in tune across the range compared to my Lebayle. When I pull it out on the cork to tune on say G or A, the lower notes gradually play flatter and flatter going down and the higher ones become increasingly sharp going up. Granted the Lebayle is metal (and a different length, as Chris suggested), and sits a lot further down on the cork, but even so the tuning is much more consistent across the range and any variation rather less extreme. I did do an internet search that indicated that a few saxes have issues with sharpness with this mouthpiece, it's interesting that JobeyLou found this too. I've sent it back this afternoon and will consider what to try next.

 

[aldevis]

Aldevis, it's harder to get it in tune across the range compared to my Lebayle. When I pull it out on the cork to tune on say G or A, the lower notes gradually play flatter and flatter going down and the higher ones become increasingly sharp going up.

Quite a common occurrence with larger chambered pieces. What surprises me is that I tried an SX90 with my usual large chambered Pillinger and it was spot on. My NYT replaced a JJ HR and I don't remember any major difference in tuning. It might be you, too used to the Lebayle.
Keep us updated about the next one: it might take a bit to find the right position on the cork of a new mouthpiece.
If the issue is the chamber size, you can try some bluetac. If the upper register goes back in place, it is it.
I am a supporter of large(ish) chambers. It is worth working on them; they will give you some warm flexibility.

 

[aldevis]

I'm too lazy to use the search function.

When you try a new mouthpiece/horn combination, try not to use a tuner. There is a position of the mouthpiece that makes the horn play in tune with itself. It the upper register sounds sharp, pull out.
After a while you are playing correct intervals, you can check the tuner.

 

[Little My]

Thank you. The JJ had a smaller chamber than the Lebayle, I definitely prefer the larger chambers. I think my lack of skill is definitely a factor here. You make an interesting point about playing without the tuner too.

 

[koumou]

The JJ has a smallιsh chamber so it needs to be further out on the cork to be in tune. Got rid of mine for this reason.