Mouthpieces Mouthpiece volume

[Bobby G]

Why are some mouthpieces, even with a very similar tip opening, so much louder than others? My Selmers for alto are very similar in loudness of sound produced, but the Beechler, which is only a bit more open, is much louder - not raspy or harsher or more edgy, just a lot louder. Is it something to do with the size of the chamber, or have I just stumbled on the ideal mpc/reed/horn setup? On the other hand, I find the Link mpc noticeably quieter than the Selmers, and the Meyer about on a par with the Selmer.

 

[greg_strange]

My understanding is, a small size chamber would be louder as you would have air travelling through at a faster rate than a medium or large chamber. A bigger built up baffle and a small chamber would be edgier and louder like Vandoren Jumbo Java, a 7S Meyer would be louder than a 7M Meyer because of the different size chamber but not necessary edgier, depending on the baffle. I would think a mouthpiece with little baffle and large chamber would be mellower perhaps suitable for classical music. This is my educated or perhaps not so educated guess. Perhaps somebody like Griff or Steve Howard would be more qualified to answer. It is an interesting topic mouthpiece or saxophone design. What makes one mouthpiece or even saxophone better or different than another when all the principles are basically the same.
By the way Bob, glad to see you back.
Regards,
Greg Strange.

 

[Jules]

Yup - totally agree, it's all down to chamber size and baffle, plus some really esoteric stuff about chamber shape (square, vs round vs horseshoe- never really got to the bottom of this part of the equation). If you check out clasical player's kit its always big chamber and gentle slope into the mouthpiece chamber. At the other extreme there's things like your Level aire, Mr G.... tiny chamber and a 90% step. These pieces can stun a horse at 50 yards

 

[Saxlicker]

I also agree.
Though be prepared, occasionally you find something with that that breaks the mold with little bit of voodoo magic. :S

 

[Bobby G]

Perhaps my Beechler mps has some voodoo magic then - it's really loud without being piercing, which means I can play at a 'normal' volume with a lot less effort, or I have what in amplification terms is called 'plenty of headroom'. Looking at the chamber and baffle, well, there's very little in the way of a baffle as such i.e. no step, and the chamber, rather than being horseshoe-shaped or round is a kind of slightly flattened round/oval in shape. Perhaps this is the secret of it's magic.

 

[greg_strange]

Bob,
What Beechler mouthpiece have you got? Is it the hard rubber model or the metal one? I have been thinking about a hard rubber Beechler lately, as a good balance between my Meyer 5M and my Vandoren Jumbo Java A35. Something with slightly more edge than the Meyer and not as much as the Jumbo Java.
Regards,
Greg Strange.