Mouthpieces Rafael Navarro Bop Boy Metal Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

[David Roach]

Actually, now I think about it, I know Navarro puts a concavity into the tables of his pieces, as does Ted Klum. This is something I am very doubtful about; I am not a technician and I bow to the expertise of these master mouthpiece makers, but, I can't help thinking that it's a dodgy thing to do. Looking back to my recent 'romance', I remember seeing water (i.e. spit) on the table when I took the reed off on a few occasions, perhaps the table had shifted....who knows, onward and upward

 

[Jamesmac]

You won't have that problem with a JJDV.

 

[David Roach]

Ha! Yes quite so, but, I thought that reeds dried out quicker on those pieces - if you had to put the horn down for a while...

 

[Ivan]

I just got a black ebonite Maestra tenor piece... It's damn fine I can tell you...They are worthy of whatever hype is out there. This Navarro has something else. So far, I would recommend it well above anything else.

Actually, I'm going to qualify my last post a little...

I'm sending the Maestra back...

Mouthpiece speed dating

Somehow I feel a tad guilty and ashamed for the jilted Maestra

 

[David Roach]

Yes, I'm a little shamefaced about it. But, I can't cope with a mouthpiece that squeaks, however good it is. All I can say at this point is - if it had been squeak free I would definitely have kept it because I really loved it otherwise!

 

[Jeanette]

Yes, I'm a little shamefaced about it. But, I can't cope with a mouthpiece that squeaks, however good it is. All I can say at this point is - if it had been squeak free I would definitely have kept it because I really loved it otherwise!

Is it worth trying another one of the same in case that was just a bad one?

Jx

 

[ProfJames]

Yes, I'm a little shamefaced about it. But, I can't cope with a mouthpiece that squeaks, however good it is. All I can say at this point is - if it had been squeak free I would definitely have kept it because I really loved it otherwise!

Did you test it first?

 

[David Roach]

Is it worth trying another one of the same in case that was just a bad one?
Jx

Definitely. I actually tested the facing with some feeler gauges and I found that the thinest gauge sat very very lopsided indeed and dropped below the start of the table. I have also seen this on Wanne metal pieces. I would have thought that the flexibility of the reed would accommodate this inaccuracy, but maybe not.

Did you test it first?

??? Did I test what? Sorry not with you. I bought it by 'tinterweb if that's what you mean.

 

[ProfJames]

Definitely. I actually tested the facing with some feeler gauges and I found that the thinest gauge sat very very lopsided indeed and dropped below the start of the table. I have also seen this on Wanne metal pieces. I would have thought that the flexibility of the reed would accommodate this inaccuracy, but maybe not.



??? Did I test what? Sorry not with you. I bought it by 'tinterweb if that's what you mean.

Did you test it first? The mouthpiece! You bought off Dawkes website?

 

[David Roach]

Did you test it first? The mouthpiece! You bought off Dawkes website?

Sorry, still not clear what you mean. How could I have tested it before I bought it, since I ordered it on the web?
I tested the facing with a feeler gauge after I had been playing it for a day or so.

Anyway, upshot is that I spoke this evening with a very pleasant bloke from Dawkes who is going to send me a #7 Maestra, the only other Maestra they have in stock. Hopefully it will play well.

 

[ProfJames]

I did not know you had ordered the mouthpiece off the net without trying one first! The guys at Dawkes are excellent chaps, I know Sam and Matt very well as they are my local store. Professor Anton Weinberg also designs the Windcraft range os mouthpieces and is extremely helpful.

 

[Phil64]

Yes, I'm a little shamefaced about it. But, I can't cope with a mouthpiece that squeaks, however good it is. All I can say at this point is - if it had been squeak free I would definitely have kept it because I really loved it otherwise!

Hi Dave, I picked mine up from Dawkes almost a week ago. Absolute killer mouthpiece! Gets better everyday. I'm doing long tones and thinking about my air flow a bit to get the most out of it, but it's easy. Tried both V16 and RJS reeds (I think I prefer RJS 2h filed on my 7*). No squeaks, just an amazingly dark, powerful sound that stands out from all the rest. I did find that the Ishamori ligature was a big step up from the Rovner light that I was using though.

 

[David Roach]

Hi Dave, I picked mine up from Dawkes almost a week ago. Absolute killer mouthpiece! Gets better everyday. I'm doing long tones and thinking about my air flow a bit to get the most out of it, but it's easy. Tried both V16 and RJS reeds (I think I prefer RJS 2h filed on my 7*). No squeaks, just an amazingly dark, powerful sound that stands out from all the rest. I did find that the Ishamori ligature was a big step up from the Rovner light that I was using though.

Did you get a 7* Maestra in Black Ebonite?

 

[Phil64]

Did you get a 7* Maestra in Black Ebonite?

Yes, I tried them all but I bought the Maestra 7* in Black Ebonite. Was there (Dawkes) for 2 days because I had bad reeds on the first day. I bought fresh v16's and RJS, changed the Rovner lig to a Ishamori and it worked.

 

[aldevis]

Welcome to the café Phil, why not introducing yourself in the doorbell section?
Your big experience will be much appreciated on this forum.
(note: I know Phil64 personally and we often sat together in big bands)

Back to topic... I suspect that Phil's piece might be the very same that David sent back.

 

[aldevis]

I should do a sax mouthpiece review buzzword generator that will create instant reviews using phrases such as 'free blowing' 'lush low end' 'warm and full' 'effortless altissimo' 'scooped side rails' 'great projection' etc -
in a similar vein to this -
http://pitchforkreviewgenerator.com/
http://www.artybollocks.com/
..
or I could charge £25 an hour plus reeds to review your mouthpieces for you to save you the effort of actually playing them

I thought projection had to be "terrific"
You might be employed by Sequoia UK: our marketing department is stuck with "play it, like it, buy it".
Art statement generator is pure genius.

 

[Phil64]

Welcome to the café Phil, why not introducing yourself in the doorbell section?
Your big experience will be much appreciated on this forum.
(note: I know Phil64 personally and we often sat together in big bands)

Back to topic... I suspect that Phil's piece might be the very same that David sent back.

Thank you Al, Yes I think you may be right. Rafy didn't send a large stock of his mouthpieces to the UK, but I think he wants to do more. I was going to order a Bahia or Bop Boy online because I need to play loud, so I emailed him with some questions and that's how I ended up getting the Maestra from Dawkes. I didn't play a Bahia but the Maestra's for me. Any one that has questions should email him, he's a good guy and deeply passionate about his mouthpieces.

 

[ProfJames]

Thank you Al, Yes I think you may be right. Rafy didn't send a large stock of his mouthpieces to the UK, but I think he wants to do more. I was going to order a Bahia or Bop Boy online because I need to play loud, so I emailed him with some questions and that's how I ended up getting the Maestra from Dawkes. I didn't play a Bahia but the Maestra's for me. Any one that has questions should email him, he's a good guy and deeply passionate about his mouthpieces.

Is "Rafy" the designer of the mouthpieces?

 

[Phil64]

Yes he is.

 

[ProfJames]

What was your verdict on the other mpcs? Are you a playing professional?