Mouthpieces Passaround: D'Addario TENOR Select Jazz

[Alphorn]

Sounds good to me. However, all three reviews linked above display a very different sound to each other. So question is how you will sound on it yourself. Considering the differences in sound above it will at least be flexible. Hope it is more exciting than the alto version when tested myself. Tried twice to warm to the alto due to the raving reviews on the net but ended up sending it back every time. While workmanship was great to me it had a bland, boring sound. The tenor seems not yet to have arrived at the major online stores in Germany yet.

Alphorn

 

[David Roach]

PS... Northern version ???????????????
northern is Inverness, or at a minimum....Manchester.
Cambridge is almost tropical !!!!

Hence the wink. (and he is quite Northern!)

 

[sdt99]

It will indeed: there are so many medium to high-priced middle-of-the-road sounding ebonite tenor pieces available these days - Navarro's Maestra, Phil-Tone,'s Sapphire, 10Mfan's Merlot, Klum's Tonamax etc etc, - it will be interesting to see if Daddario can produce something machine made to rival them.

I paid $150 for my PhilTone link - high priced it ain't (though a new one would cost just under $300). I'm interested in your comment about "middle of the road sounding". Middle of the road is not a bad thing. I don't want a paint peeler and I don't want something stuffy and tubby sounding. I want something with decent intonation and good response that is neither bright nor dark. Second, middle of the road compared to what ? What can you buy for under $300 that is substantially better than a philtone, a 10mfan etc.

Considering the money some folks throw at boutique horns (which IMO have less effect on your sound and ease of playing than a good mouthpiece) having a wide array of choices in the $300 and below ranges is something of a blessing I'd have thought.

I think the real madness is in the vintage mouthpiece market. Folks pay thousands for pieces that have been refaced, and may now be completely different pieces.

 

[kevgermany]

I think David's middle of the road sound is what you're looking for. But he also said well made. Which is where Philtone and the others he listed fit. If the D'Addario is that we'll made by machine, like the alto, it'll be hard to beat.

 

[David Roach]

........ I'm interested in your comment about "middle of the road sounding". Middle of the road is not a bad thing......

I entirely agree; it was an arbitrary description, not a denigration.

Second, middle of the road compared to what ?

Middle of the road compared to

a paint peeler and....... something stuffy and tubby sounding. ...... something with decent intonation and good response that is neither bright nor dark.

What can you buy for under $300 that is substantially better than a philtone, a 10mfan etc.

My point exactly. Maybe the machine made Daddario at less than £200 is capable of filling a gap that is not necessarily better than, but getting close to, the quality of a Phil-Tone or a Navarro?

Considering the money some folks throw at boutique horns (which IMO have less effect on your sound and ease of playing than a good mouthpiece) having a wide array of choices in the $300 and below ranges is something of a blessing I'd have thought.

I agree entirely.

I think the real madness is in the vintage mouthpiece market. Folks pay thousands for pieces that have been refaced, and may now be completely different pieces.

Nowt so queer as folks eh!?
🙂

 

[aldevis]

I found the alto pleasantly "middle of the road", but with a great potential of development.
Not being an alto player, I use three mouthpieces: a vintage Meyer 5* (the sort of stuff that is badly overpriced), a Pillinger NYA 8 (similar to the Meyer, but on a louder dynamic range) and a D'Addario 6 for teaching, being "middle of the road". Still the D'Addario would an option to explore if I wanted to develop a certain sound, away from the Meyer direction.
After the first day of noodling, I must say that the D'A tenor piece is not in the usual "link-like" direction. Much more character than I would expect.
But it deserves some proper testing, not just Saturday noodles.

 

[Jeanette]

not just Saturday noodles.

Sunday roast?

Jx

 

[sdt99]

Been there, tried it. Keeping the Phil Tone. To be honest I didn't give the D'Addario more than 5 minutes because I could tell pretty much straight away it wasn't for me.

The D'Addario played easily but it seemed rather thin, bright and nasally compared to the fatter, fuller tone of the link. In case anyone is interested this is the link in question:

Otto Link Vintage Series Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

I also have a standard link tone-edge - the vintage series I found to be a much better mouthpiece. Where the tone-edge tends to be rather bloated and very dark the vintage series has more bite but without any buzz. If I had a recording setup I'd post a sample, but sadly apartment dwelling for now (and forgot my recorder at the last gig).

I believe Phil Engleman (of phil-tone) just flattens the table cleans up the rails and adjusts the facing curve for playability none of which makes any substantial difference to the basic character of the mouthpiece.

On the one hand its disappointing as I had very high hopes, but on the other hand I've loved this phil toned vintage link since the first blow so this is just another confirmation that perhaps it's the right mouthpiece for me.

I thought I should add - none of this makes the D'Addario a bad mouthpiece - it just wasn't to my taste. I've previously played a philtone solstice and mouthpiece cafe mouthpieces that were highly regarded and preferred the link for very similar reasons. I do think the link vintage piece is a bit underrated - perhaps because they're quite variable in stock form.

 

[aldevis]

Sunday roast?

Jx

On Sunday, I am now converted to Neapolitan stuff:Ragù alla Napoletana

Been there, tried it. Keeping the Phil Tone. To be honest I didn't give the D'Addario more than 5 minutes because I could tell pretty much straight away it wasn't for me.

Lucky not to be around here: mouthpieces add up, don't replace each other.
I have a Philtone (Sapphire) in the drawer and recently tried the Intrepid. I think that Phil's pieces are like great Links, still with Phil's touch in them (chamber and baffle can make a huge difference). I don't use it, though.

If I had to to choose a mouthpiece for the rest of my life, it would be a, well... not sure.

I recently learned that a mouthpiece needs to be played for a while, to be properly tested, and an appropriate reed is essential. In the forthcoming review, I'll describe my procedure on these new D'Addario pieces.

 

[Jeanette]

On Sunday, I am now converted to Neapolitan stuff:Ragù alla Napoletana

I'll bring the wine if you cook 😉

Jx

 

[trimmy]

I'll bring the wine if you cook 😉

Jx

I'll bring the tiramisu

 

[kevgermany]

I'll bring the tiramisu

You're playing gooseberry.

 

[Ivan]

You're playing gooseberry.

Fool

 

[trimmy]

You're playing gooseberry.

I don't know that one, who sang it ?

 

[Targa]

I don't know that one, who sang it ?

 

[Jeanette]

I'll bring the tiramisu

I'd rather have Zabaglione 🙂

Jx

 

[sax panther]

I'd rather have Zabaglione 🙂

I'd rather have Zabaglione 🙂

Jx

Wouldn't you need a baritone for that?

Oh, Zabaglione...I thought you said Guaglione

 

[trimmy]

I'd rather have Zabaglione 🙂

Jx

If i'm bringing the dessert then I'll choose what i want, did i say I'd rather have beer.....no !

 

[Targa]

If i'm bringing the desert then I'll choose what i want, did i say I'd rather have beer.....no !

If you're bringing the desert you might want to drink this.

 

[trimmy]

Grammar police are out