Mouthpieces Soprano Yamaha 5CM comparison to Selmer S80 D

[CliveMA]

Branford Marsalis reportedly plays a Selmer S80 D soprano mouthpiece. This has helped make the Selmer S80 D popular. The Yamaha 5CM is physically similar but cheaper. This post compares the two mouthpieces.

Yamaha 5CM soprano custom mouthpiece tip opening 1.30mm, facing length 19mm.
Selmer S80 D, tip opening 1.30mm, facing length 21mm. Both have a square chamber. In all photos, Yamaha mouthpiece is on the left.

I paid $A119 for the 5CM and $A235 for the S80 D. Sax.co.uk lists them for 99 gbp and 125 gbp.

 

[CliveMA]

Yamaha's tip opening curve is more pronounced. S80 more gradual over the longer facing length.

 

[CliveMA]

Window is narrower and longer on S80. Tip is thicker.

 

[CliveMA]

Square chamber is narrower on S80.

 

[CliveMA]

Rails are flat on both. S80 has more rollover baffle that can be felt with finger but is difficult to see.

 

[CliveMA]

Closeup on Windows.

 

[CliveMA]

I have played the Yamaha 5CM since June so for 5 months. I just received the S80 and have played it only once at time of writing.

My initial impression is that the S80 plays very similarly to the 5cm. Perhaps the S80 has better response and focus/clarity in the palm keys and front E/F. (Reed D'Addario jazz select 2M and Red Java 2.0 and 2.5. For me, the S80 requires a slightly stronger reed, perhaps a quarter strength harder).

The Yamaha shank tip is thicker and perhaps less prone to breakage than the tapered S80 shank.

 

[EdJ]

I tried a 4CM as a cheaper alternative to the C* as one became available at a good price and I wanted a back up. The differences and similarities are much as above for the 5CM and D but both 4CM and C* have less wide tip openings in their specification. I have played C* almost exclusively on soprano for years (and alto and sopranino). I am very accustomed to it which may make my comments poorly representative but I found the 4CM more difficult to play I had to put more air through, I had less dynamic control. Sometimes there was a slow response on 4CM compared to C*. Softer reeds on the Yamaha did help but I eventually got another C* as back up and should never need another soprano mouthpiece again unless I become more adventurous.

 

[Colin the Bear]

The S80 was a revelation to me. I play a G. When I play sop.

 

[alexandermathias]

Nice comparison! I always recommend my students to start on the 4C or 5C and move on to the S80 C* as they progress.

 

[JoeSSA]

Love the pictures and the description, but looking at the Selmer website and other sites selling the S80 D, they have the tip opening at 1.27mm and facing length at 18mm.