Mouthpieces Theo Wanne Essentials

[hedgehog]

I just received email from Theo Wanne regarding the new Essentials line. The mail included a linke that didn't work but I poked around a bit and found this link works. I'm not qualified to comment on the mouthpieces at all but wanted to post this to help others avoid confusion.

 

[Pete Thomas]

It’s nice to see a quality mouthpiece maker keeping prices realistic < $200 where they should be.

 

[wakyct]

Interesting, I didn't know they make the pieces not too far away from me. Does anyone know if they give shop tours? I didn't find anything on their site saying so.

 

[greenstripe]

Looks like they're 3D printed according to the blurb - Prices seem reasonable Gear4Music have prices up -£170 for a Baritone seems pretty good.

I thought the cheaper Water ART mouthpiece for alto is excellent but has limited appeal with only the one very small tip opening.

Theo Wanne Essentials Concert Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece, 5 at Gear4music

Theo Wanne Essentials Concert Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece, 5 at Gear4music

www.gear4music.com

 

[mizmar]

Quite nice that they offer only two tip openings per model... Narrowish or wideish.

 

[jonf]

Quite nice that they offer only two tip openings per model... Narrowish or wideish.

Very narrow or medium.

 

[mizmar]

Very narrow or medium.

Fairysnuff.
But it does take out an element of anxiety for the advancing/serious amateur (I'd guess the target market).
A gateway mouthpiece.

 

[Cimarron]

I’ve got a Theo Wanne Essential .110 Baritone coming this week. No other experience with a Bari Wanne. The Water Alto was fabulous with the exception of being too closed. Hope to make it work but it’s going to be hard to compete with my Arnold Montgomery AMSS Ultem Amber 7*. There’s a contemporary model but not for baritone. Stand by, I’ll love it or like it. If the latter I’ll be selling

 

[mizmar]

Happy Xmas too Me!

For whatever reason I felt I was the target market for Wanne, here. And bought an Essential Tenor Jazz 7* for the other half to give to me for xmas.
Ordered it in October, from Gear4Music; got about half a dozen emails "it's on order", "it's coming early" "it's coming late" "it's on its way" - DHL"we on it" - "no it's not"...
Then it shipped from Germany (Sweden is my normal warehouse)...

Anyway, it's here.

My second grown up mouthpiece.

Had a quick run up the scales - gotta be said, high front E too altissimo A (my safe range) just popped right out, which is nice. All the other notes where there feeling really quite frisky.

I have two legere reeds - a sig, 2.25 which is softish for me (on a 6C or Tone Edge 6) and a French cut 2.5 which is stiffer. The Sig was very easy and nice. For French was fine also.
For me - nobodies Mouthpiece sommelier - I felt significantly more engagement with it than the 6C or TE. So I'm looking forward to some solid practice sessions.

ps
Does not include; lig (fair enough) cap or white gloves. Does include thin tooth pad. Which is nice. And a fluffy bag...

 

[mizmar]

Well, after a few playing hours with the Sig 2.25, this

I felt significantly more engagement

Is the big takeaway and surprise, for me. I don't know if that's general for certain styles of MP or what - but, yes, I feel more intouch with the instrument.
I think it sounds great, mellow, round... I'm not a great judge; but I like it.
For reference, should matching MP and horn matter, this is on a Vito/YTS23 with good pads but otherwise proudly shabby.

I'm thinking of copying this for the Alto...

 

[mizmar]

I'm thinking of copying this for the Alto...

... And yet Wanne seem to be struggle with supply. Only EU or statseide also? Too high deman? Problem with the printer?

 

[Greychatter]

I've been playing this Theo Wanne Essentials Concert Alto #4 for a few months. I like the responsive feel compared to my Selmer C** and find it a good all-rounder. Earlier, I tried the TW Water: priced right but an unremarkable performer. I prefer the Concert Alto. Unfortunately, its gold shank ring slips off and on too easily. Both parts look threaded, so I was trying to screw them back together. It wouldn't tighten -- it just turned.

I wrote the Theo Wanne folks who responded in about 5 minutes. I was told the "threads" are grooves meant to "allow compression and thus a better press fit." The rings of the earlier production mpcs were unglued like mine. But TW found the rings weren't tight enough so they're now being glued. I was advised to either send it back for a fix, or to use a few drops of "Goop" or similar. I'll fix it myself. Sharing in case some of you have noted this also.

 

[Greychatter]

Just to wrap this up… the Goop repair worked great.

 

[mizmar]

Just in case anyone should want to compare the Concert with the Jazz baffle.

 

[mizmar]

I'm thinking of copying this for the Alto...

... And yet Wanne seem to be struggle with supply. Only EU or statseide also? Too high demand? Problem with the printer?

Turns out Thonamm had them in stock while G4M is waiting till March.
I have absolutely no knowledge about how these folks do their respective supply and stock management.

 

[Ivan]

Just in case anyone should want to compare the Concert with the Jazz baffle

Nah

You're alright

 

[mizmar]

You're alright

Phew! That's a relief!

 

[eb424]

So how are you enjoying it..

 

[mizmar]

So how are you enjoying it..

The Alto Essential Jazz only shiped today after a panic modification of the order.
Thomann seem to use the plain old Postal service, where as G4M use DHL which gives a really enjoyable tracking experience... Other than that...
... The tenor mp with the 2.25 Legere Signatur suites me well for daily playing.

 

[Ivan]

...a really enjoyable tracking experience...

Delivered by train?