Mouthpieces New Baffle/Spoiler for Vandoren V16 Metal mouthpiece!

[TomMapfumo]

Hi there!

I have been concerned for a while about my V16 metal mouthpiece on my Yani T901 - just doesn't project enough and perhaps not quite enough edge for my taste. Until now......

I have thought several timesabout what to do with my old Rico Royal Soprano reeds.
Until now......

I have converted one into a baffle/spoiler for my V16 - I removed most of the tip to approx 3mm from the heel. I then rounded it off using a file, so that it is mildly curved like a "D", with the front edge also filed to a tip. With a slight filing of the sides it slides perfectly into the front of the mouthpiece. I have just been play testing and it has a much punchier sound with greater projection!! I have decided to leave it in for the time being to see what I think after a few days. Cost of 'improvement'. at least to my ears, is about 96p. It is a cane baffle/spoiler and seems to impart an interesting character to the sound.

More to follow, and be interested to hear of any other mouthpiece improvements others have tried.

Kind regards
Tom

ps. Don't tell nachoman! 😉

 

[Taz]

Ah yes, the home improvement section! I too have improved the sound and playability of the standard mpc that came with my Elkheart series II alto (also to my ears alone perhaps). With great care and precision I manufactured a spoiler to fit precisely to the internal dimensions of the mpc. Outcome? a slightly brighter, slightly louder and more responsive piece! Materiel used? Smurf poo! :laugh: (No offence Silver Smurfer)

TomMapfumo wrote:

ps. Don't tell nachoman! 😉

Jules need never know!

 

[TomMapfumo]

Oh ye of little faith!

I have produced two other designs - one with a V shaped front, and one with a flat(F) front (filed rather than unfiled!). The F is a beefier sound but not quite as complex as the D. The V shaped has complexity but is thinner sounding than the D, which is my current favourite. In the morning I will work on something between the D and the F.

I will also try some V16 and Java reeds. The cane does eem to add something quite distinct to the sound, and I will certainly keep the D - insert in for the time being. It is so much cheaper than an alternative mouthpiece, and quite a bit of fun. I will also try attaching some pins to the back of the heel at some point.

Kind regards 😉
Tom

 

[Jules]

Ha- you don't get away that easily! I'm back! after a week at the European Children's Film Festival in Amsterdam (the other half's job) I am returned.
This threads got me really intrigued, I've got a V16 T75 and love it to bits for less raucous moments (problem is that it doesn't have the umph for Fat45 gigs). I'd toyed with the idea of a baffle but not considered making a removable one- the idea of using Epoxy putty on it seemed a bit drastic, seeing as I'd have been experimenting from the get go, and would have stood a pretty high chance of wrecking a very nice bit of kit...
Have you got any photos of your spoilers?

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hiya!

Not clever enough with photos yet to produce one for you to see. If I describe it, that may help.

I cut a Soprano sax reed 3.5cm's from the heel and filed a D shape, with a rounded, sloping edge. To fit it in I filed the sides down at the heel end
until it could be inserted in the mouthpiece and stay put. The reed sits in the mouthpiece, with the bark showing, and sits about 1.5cm's from the tip.

I have so far fashioned 3 such spoilers - a D, a V, and an F(flat front). I am torn between D and F, the V sounds less appealing to my ears. Its certainly a non dangerous way of altering the sound IMHO.
Of course it has only been tried onmy T77

Glad to know you're back safely, to continue to wreak musical havoc on the ears of the South East!

Kind regards
Tom 8)

 

[jonf]

nachoman wrote:
I'd toyed with the idea of a baffle but not considered making a removable one- the idea of using Epoxy putty on it seemed a bit drastic, seeing as I'd have been experimenting from the get go, and would have stood a pretty high chance of wrecking a very nice bit of kit...

Hi Jules, welcome back.

I've experimented a few times with home-made baffles, including recently turning a mild C Mel mouthpiece into a screamer. I usually start with a blob of bluetack, as it's infinitely malleable and can be removed without a trace if it doesn't work. Then, if I think I'm going to use the mouthpiece a lot I make one out of epoxy. For occasional use, such as the c-mel one, I just stick with the bluetack.

Incidentally, the reason I only use the C mel modified piece occasionally isn't that I don't play the C much. It's just that I've obtained an Aquilasax neck that allows me to use a tenor mouthpiece, so I use my Berg 120/0 Duckbill now. On a C Mel. Hahahahahahaha!

Jon