Rubber pad on mouthpiece

[nick_cook]

I was reading 'The Art of Saxophone Playing' last night, and in the mouthpiece section it recommended sticking a rubber pad on the top of the mouthpiece if you are affected by mouthpiece vibration on your teeth.

Well, I noticed this when I was playing the other day, and didn't really like it.

Is this solution something anyone else has tried? Is it to be recommended, or avoided? Is the problem because I'm not biting down on the mouthpiece hard enough?

Any thoughts on the matter gratefully received!!

Cheers, Nick

 

[scooch]

Hiya Nick,
As I am a complete newbie too don't take my advice to heart, but you can try putting some squares of tape on the mouthpiece first to see how U get on with it.
The extra 'cushioning' does make a big difference and I've now bought some mouthpiece patches to stick on.

They are really cheap and if you don't get on with it, you can just peel em off!

all the best.

 

[philthd]

bad sides - it can make it a bit harder to get a good seal and it makes me feel a bit detached from the piece

good sides - it can improve the life and resalability of the piece (especially if you bite too hard) and protect your teeth from vibrations.

my wife has had real trouble with her front teeth aggravated by the vibration effect of clarinet and sax playing. she wouldnt dream of playing without a patch.

 

[frankb]

I have some BG patches that came free with my sax. I didn't bother with them at first but after a while thought, "Well, seeing as I've already got them..." and stuck one on.

I find it much more comfortable to play with them than without them and they also stop me getting toothmarks on my mpc. YMMV!

 

[Pjonah]

Speaking personally, its a must for me on Baritone, the vibs make my nose tingle!

Its so not kewl! having to scratch your nose after each phrase gets tedious.

Pukka Pads are really good I now use them on tenor and alto.

Simon

 

[Saxlicker]

I had far too much testosterone to use pads for 18 years!!!
I marked many mouthpieces and was sure that the pads dictated some elements of sound that I didn't care for.

In the end I felt the need to protect my handmade Guardala and started using good pads.
I say good because they are not too thick and they stay on for a decent amount of time without becoming un-sticky!
I bite through them in the end.

Anyway...I soon got used to them and have never looked back! They don't dictate sound like I thought.

 

[Bobby G]

I find the vibrations a little unpleasant, so I use the pads. I can't be biting too hard, because even after some months there's barely a mark on the pad. I prefer the thinner ones, although either will do.

Cheers, Bob

 

[nick_cook]

Thanks for all the info - in fact the vibrations weren't too bad last night. I'll see about getting some pads after my holiday (and after discussion with my teacher!!)

 

[Simon]

Hi Nick

I've tried mouthpiece patches and ...

* they stop the vibrations through your top teeth and you have an 'anchor point' for your teeth (ok)
* they make you bite down with your top teeth (not ok)
* beginner saxophonists end up taking less mouthpiece in their mouths because of the wider jaw position, which negatively affects tone (not ok)
* you soon end up going through the patch anyway (not ok)
* to a limited extent, they stop some of the vibrations through the mouthpiece (muffling) (not ok)

We're pickin up good vibrations! That's what the sound is.
5p,
Simon

 

[fecklesseric]

I'm self taught (and probably wrong) but I thought that biting the mpc is a sign that your embouchure is a bit tight or uncontrolled. I try to just rest my upper teeth on the mpc - the main support is given by the lips.

So a pad should only be needed to avoid the occasional mark on the mpc rather than resisting a constant grinding. I know that if I do bite, the vibrations are too much for me.

Or am I completely wrong?

 

[bobk]

Some beginner's observations. I've tried thick patches which must must have been a couple of mm thick at least made of black spongy stuff and thin clear plastic ones (less than a mm thick). The thick one felt odd and I'd imagine would affect your embouchue. I peeled it off and replaced it with a thin one after a few days. To me the thin ones are hardly noticable sizewise and I'd be surprised if they had much effect on embouchure at my beginnery stage of playing. I try not to bite them but I guess they are a bit less shiny than ebonite so my teeth feel a bit more firmly located at one position on the mouthpiece.

cheers,

Bob

 

[richard_mac]

[No message]

 

[aquatic]

i have to use them, i have a slightly crooked and sharp edge on one of my top front teeth and it just kills any mpc i use,. i used to use the thicker pads,, thinking they would last longer, getting through about 3 a week.. but now i use the thinner ones and they lst longer... i only use 1 a week.

but with the price of mouthpieces its better i use a patch i think.

i get mine mail order from sax.co.uk... i dont know if theres anywhere cheeper .

 

[Greywolf]

I use the thick ones, and have them on all my mouthpieces. One of my front teeth is a crown and part of the reason I use them is to cut down on the vibration which my dentist thinks has contributed three times to the crown having to be re-fixed. Having said that I have had no problem with the crown over the last 18 months- 2 years.

 

[pjmorris]

My teacher put my pad on. Actually its a piece of bicycle inner tube (Bulgarians are very resourceful!) which was stuck on using contact adhesive. Its thinish rubber, firmly fixed that has certainly helped me make sure i have the mp held in the correct position.

I would have no hesitation is using it, but then i haven't really known anything different.

Peter - learning for 5 months.

 

[Linky Lee]

I have used them and not used them.
I think you get used to whatever it's like either way. I haven't noticed any difference in tone, embouchure with or without.

I never used one on my selmer which was my first piece and heavily used. I never dented the mouthpiece but you could see it was worn to a matt finish.

After having my braces off I noticed a bit change in sound, for the better! but the baritone playing didn't help and I'm sure it's contributed towards some of the movement since. It's not bad but slightly annoying.

From my experiences I'd say:
If you like them use them, If you're curious give one a go, if you think their satan's work avoid them.

 

[impulse]

I`ve never experienced any of this. My teeth never make contact with the MPC. I find I`m folding my lip a little under the top teeth. The only discomfort is, like Pjona my nose itches sometimes. Russ

 

[kirky]

I bough some vandoren pads and stuck them on today very pleased with them 😉

 

[saxteacher_com]

I've always used the clear mpc patches. One tooth is a tad longer!
I found the Yamaha orange packet x4 lasts longer than their thinner green packet x4 patches.