Problem With New Sax.

[Linky Lee]

If I remember correctly he bought a Springer from the US. I think they;re hand made so could be a problem with quality control if it is the mouthpiece.

I find many ebonite mouthpieces come with ligatures that make the whole thing redundant. The Ottolinks especially, the metal ligature that come with those doesn't open up wide enough with enough room to be loose with a reed on the mouthpiece which means it's always exerting a decent amount of pressure on the mouthpiece. I find the Rovners a lot more forgiving and a nice improvement in clarity, ease of blowing consistency. I use both light and darks, no need for some silly plates to deaden the reed even more. IMO

 

[jambo]

Griff, The rubbish Lig wasnt the only problem. All the pads were out-of-place. I know this to be true as before repair the sax didnt play at all, after repaire I could play it (while using the same crappy lig). But yes, it didnt help matters. And yes, I intend to get a real rovner soon. I only have the copy as I bought it a while ago.

As for the mp, Linky is right. Its a springer from America. The table isnt perfectly striat, but I dont think it has negative effects on playing. I am doing an order on music123 soon (a new sop mp and rovner). I might get a Beecher Alto Mouthpiece to see what its like as these are cheap on there.

 

[Linky Lee]

can I ask what sop mouthpieces you've been looking at?

tried the Vandoren S35?

have you ordered from music123 before? Is the delivery to UK any good?

 

[jambo]

I have ordered form music123 once before, the service was very good (only took about 1 week to arrive).

 

[Linky Lee]

yeah, I gather there is customs tax to pay on them though as they're bought in from America, how much is usually?

I've been looking into getting a mouthpiece from there as they are so cheap. Means my price range doubles pretty much.

 

[jambo]

[No message]

 

[Linky Lee]

true, but I'd try them out first here in the UK and decide what I want. Then I'd order.

I wouldn't want to risk purchasing one and find it was an unsuitable opening or something for what I want hand have to go through all the hassle with moving them on.

I purchased an Ottolink mouthpiece for tenor (in the yard sale) as I love mine on alto, On the alto it tamed the sound and made it really workable. On tenor it done the same thing but I soon realised this was the exact opposite of what I wanted. I wanted a big beefy dark sound, not the smooth warm slightly fuzzy sound the Links help to provide.

I'm going to go mouthpiece shopping soon and see if I can find something that does what I want in my Tenor to tire me over until I get enough money to buy a Hanson '8 series' as I don't have an urgent enough need for it until October and a summer job could well come in handy. In the mean time I'm hoping to get Pete's soprano to start an adventure down that path. Exciting stuff.

 

[griff136]

Jambo,

I would take your dolly on a day trip to Allegro, Howarths, Myatts or John Myalls (where I work) and spend a morning blowing on different mouthpieces using different ligatures and then you can narrow down to a few you like - then take them on approval to play a bit more at home (using a patch of course) then make an informed decision, and buy what you like.

I agree with Linky re his otto link I have a lebayle metal mouthpice I use on my mark 6 alto. I tried one on my mark 6 tenor and I didnt like it at all!
strange but true.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I agree with Griff

Try out as many as possible in a shop, or if ordering online kake sure you can try the mouthpiece on approval. (Ideally 14 days at least)

 

[griff136]

bear in mind that if you take someting on 14 days approval from the states that time will probably include postage time to and fro so be careful if ordering from the states.

 

[lee_]

If I go to the trouble of going to a store to try stuff out, and I find something I like, I generally try to buy it from the store, rather than going home and placing an on-line order.

It almost always costs more that way, but it just seems a bit dishonest - or maybe disingenous is a better word - to try a shop owners' goods, then buy on-line to save a few bucks (quid?).

Whatever moral component aside, it certainly chips a brick from the guy's brick-and-morter establishment. The end result of too much of that will be no place to go try stuff out in the future.

* End of Sunday Sermon * 😉

 

[Pete Thomas]

Amen to that Lee.

I'm usually happy to pay just a teeny bit more for some backup, a friendly face or voice on the phone.

Buying the cheapest online is OK, but like ebay, as long as you realise it's a gamble.

I know of a couple of UK stores that I recommend whole heartedly because I've spoken to the people, I know you get good service.

Even though I can go to Thomann or somewhere and get stuff cheaper.

 

[Bobby G]

Jambo, if you're interested I have a Beechler mpc I don't use (tip opening is bigger than I like) that you can try if you want. On approval and no obligation of course 😉

Cheers, Bob

 

[jambo]

Hey Bob. That would be great!

What opening and model is it?

 

[Linky Lee]

Yeah it is nice too support the local industry. If I go to a shop and try their stuff I do generally buy from them.

I generally get everything from sax.co.uk though as I don't like dawkes which is my 'local industry'.

 

[jambo]

I dont like metal mp's on my Soprano, but Ive never tryed one on Alto.

If I could 'Try it out' thst be great. If I liked it then I could buy it from you, If not, I know not to buy one from the states 😛

 

[Linky Lee]

Send me a PM and we can discuss it swap info etc.

Enjoy the mouthpiece hunt.

 

[jambo]

For Sale

Visit the Yard Sale

 

[Bobby G]

Before this thread becomes a thing of the past, and referring to some earlier posts, I am also willing to pay a little extra from a 'real' shop. It's very hard to put a price on real face-to-face interaction (even though this forum offers much of that kind of thing) and an online store wouldn't come running down the stairs to invite me to a jam tonight!

I'll go so far as to name names - I can recommend Myatt's in Hitchin, even if they don't stock Alexander reeds. I just wish I could remember where I bought them, I'm going to need some more soon.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Linky Lee]

www.reedsdirect.co.uk?

they seem to have a vast stock of reeds and brands with competetive prices. Apparently the customer service aint 'alf bad either.