Mouthpieces Types of Mouthpieces for Straight Jazz and Bebop

[freddysilk]

My sax teacher who plays classical was on vacation this week and was replaced by another sax teacher. After the brief introduction, he showed me a Selmer Paris alto he plays using a Rico Royal A5 and started to play some jazz.

I noticed that his tone was full and rich which is something I couldn't get on my sax with the same mouthpiece. Now I'm wondering if the sax or the mouthpiece is the major contributor to the rich sound.

What type of mouthpieces are good for a full bodied jazz sound? Not so much the brand but the chamber and baffle types......

 

[Linky Lee]

Taking experience from my Selmer S80 giving the richest sound, and the Ottolink the fullest. You would want something that has a medium baffle, a small shaped area inside (the S80 has a rectangle) and a large open space behind with a reasonable tip opening.

is this for Alto or tenor? both of your mouthpieces are quite subdued, you may find results more like this replacement teacher's with a livelier mouthpiece. Maybe something like a Lawton! to go to the other extreme.

A Berg Larson ***/1 could do the trick maybe?

 

[philthd]

freddysilk wrote:
Now I'm wondering if the sax or the mouthpiece is the major contributor to the rich sound.

the dark art of mouthpiece matching is whats important. its all about the combination of chops, piece and horn. i bet if you played this guys setup you wouldnt sound the same, or if he played yours.

you know in harry potter where he goes into the wand shop and the guy just kind of knows what the perfect wand is for harry to be magical with? sometimes i think every player should be similarly custom fitted with the perfect horn/piece combo for who they are. sadly, we all just trial and error (often lots of error).

 

[Simon]

I like HR Meyers. But philthy pretty much summed it up.
Simon

 

[Saxlicker]

In addition to PhilthD's summary.

I would like to add...but must start with my usual confession.
'My name is Saxlicker and I am a mouthpiece-aholic' 😛

OK thats that out of the way.

The custom fitting of mouthpieces mentioned will indeed take you along the right path to finding the sound you heard/want.

Eventually though, you come through and become the over riding factor on any mouthpiece!
Therefore the emphasis switches with experience.

Initially, and its the reason for your question, the goal is to find a mouthpiece that gives you or helps you get as close to, the sound you want. It steers you down an avenue.

Much later, assuming that play regularly enough, the emphasis swithes to which mouthpiece best supports your tone. Even if the sound you are then trying to acheive is the same as it is today, because of your greater control and technique you will probably be looking for different qualities in a mouthpiece. Some people stick with one....and thats great!