Mouthpieces What is the best Alto Mouthpiece that money can buy?

[EDDIE ON ALTO]

I've been looking at some Theo Wanne mouthpieces online, which are very pricey compared to other popular Mp's. Price range is around $450

But if the investment is worthwhile I might strongly consider it. Would love to find a mouthpiece that can play any style of music and the TW Mantra Gold mouthpiece is described as one that does just that. Testimonials and reviews seem to rave about this guy's mouthpieces....

Anyone used? Are they totally overpriced or truly the holy grail of mouthpieces? I'm a tone freak so I will spend the money IF it gets me a better sound than anything else you can get.

One review said their metal ones are even great and I wanna know what you think, because my teacher has told me she dislikes metal mp's on Alto. Why would a player prefer hard rubber over metal on Alto but not necessarily have that preference with Tenor? And why would one company's metal mouthpieces overcome that preference for a player? Thanks!

Feel free to recommend me other great MP's for Alto that can do anything from Jazz to Classical, Soul, Motown, and Rock. I'd love to get one outstanding mouthpiece that can do it all.

 

[Jeanette]

My tutor once told me that you end up sounding like you whichever mouthpiece you choose.

He isn't one for chopping and changing mouthpieces and there is an element of truth in what he says but it was discussed here granted re sop pieces.

I wouldn't spend that kind of money without trying it first, can you have it on trial??

What works for one person won't necessarily suit you.

That said it is fun trying

Jx

 

[saxyjt]

Eddie, have you tried any metal mouthpieces?

What do you play now?

 

[EDDIE ON ALTO]

Eddie, have you tried any metal mouthpieces?

What do you play now?

Saxyjt - I haven't tried a metal one yet. Although Theo Wanne offers both Hard Rubber and Metal. Currently I use an Otto Link 5* Tone Edge with a Yamaha 23, and I prefer Vandoren Java 2.5 Reeds (Green Box) Will a shop let you try a mouthpiece?? I always assumed once you touch it with your mouth it's yours...

 

[Jeanette]

I always assumed once you touch it with your mouth it's yours...

Some shops do have this policy but many will let you try.

Jx

 

[jazzdoh]

There really isn't a mouthpiece thats the the holy grail, its whatever suits you, what you find great another player might hate.
Its not about money either,ive spend £100s try to find that mouthpiece and luckily i've managed to come out pretty much even in money terms after selling mpc's that don't suit, the problem today is that mouthpieces are mega money whereas 10/15 years ago you could pickup cheap good secondhand pieces to try.
Ive tried and owned some of Theo's Wanne pieces but have not kept them, some of the pieces i prefer today cost very little but they suit me and i'm happy with them, so don't fall into the trap that the more you spend the better they are because you might just be disappointed,
Seller's will advertise mouthpieces with the words "Holy Grail" and other wonderful names but trying before you buy might just save you a fortune, good luck with your mouthpiece hunt.

 

[JazzMatt]

Check out Morgan Mouthpieces.

Hand finished and still made the way Ralph Morgan envisaged.

Chat to Teresa, she's very helpful and will point you in the right direction.

Ultimately, it's a massively personal choice and there isn't a one size fits all option.

 

[Phil]

As said, there is no answer to this question. There are crap pieces and very well made pieces. You would be best off starting over sound and color palate you lean towards.

As for the notion of ending up sounding same on all pieces...im sorry but that is a myth. There would only be one horn and one mouthpiece made if this were true. Once you get accomplished your phrasing and general sound concept will always shine theough but tell me dexter sounded the same on his link and selmer as he did on his dukoff and conn and i will tell you that you cant hear.

 

[nigeld]

It would be very convenient if there was a mouthpiece which is "best" for all players and all styles of music, but if there is, it is a well-kept secret. The "best" mouthpiece depends on the player and the saxophone and what kind of sound you want to make.

My personal experience is that I had a mouthpiece that was great on my last alto sax, but doesn't really suit my new one. So the mouthpiece depends on the saxophone. And for bari I use different mouthpieces for classical quartet and big band. (Maybe I wouldn't need to do this if I were a better player.) And I have tried an Otto Link 5 and an Otto Link 7 on bari that sound completely different. And even supposedly identical mouthpieces can sound different.

And in any case, the sound I want to make on alto is probably completely different from what you want, so my "best" mouthpiece might not suit you at all. Mouthpiece recommendations are interesting (at least somebody likes it!) but should not be taken too seriously. And I am sceptical when I come across small groups of fanatical mouthpiece fans saying THIS IS THE GREATEST MOUTHPIECE EVER!!!!!!!

I would certainly not spend serious money on a mouthpiece without trying it. The shops I know will all let customers come and try out mouthpieces (they have disinfectant for them). If you are not close, some shops and mouthpiece makers will send you one or more mouthpieces to try, and you can send back the ones you don't like. Typically they will make you pay for all of them up-front and give you a refund minus a return fee if the mouthpiece is returned undamaged.

I have bought quite a lot of second-hand mouthpieces to try, in the hope that I would be able to sell them for more-or-less what I paid for them. This has meant that I have ended up with a lot of mouthpieces that don't really suit me, but it has paid off in the last few months.

 

[sax panther]

sax.co.uk let you try out mouthpieces in their practice room. I went there a couple of years ago, tried about 4 different pieces and bought one. Dawkes will let you try through the post, but charge a small restocking fee (only a few quid for each piece) for the ones you send back. My local shop (Hayes) also let me try a few out. I haven't come across a bricks and mortar retailer than won't let you try a mouthpiece out in the shop. And take a tuner!

I haven't tried a theo wanne, but bear in mind that the advertising blurb for many mouthpieces will tell you you can play any style on it. Check out the list of styles on the jody jazz pieces on the sax.co.uk website, it's pretty specific - everything from smooth jazz to cumbia! Ignore the hype and find a place you can try some out. The other method is to buy second hand and just sell on the ones you don't get on with it. You may even make some money... Always worth a look in the yardsale section of this forum.

 

[Rob Pealing]

Regarding @Jeanette 's comment

My tutor once told me that you end up sounding like you whichever mouthpiece you choose.

He isn't one for chopping and changing mouthpieces and there is an element of truth in what he says but it was discussed here granted re sop pieces.
..................................

Jx

Have a look at this page from Taming the Saxophone. Listen to all the demo's and see how much difference you can hear. The differences are subtle and they all sound like Pete Thomas

 

[kevgermany]

If you're looking at spending that sort of money, talk to a mouthpiece maker.

Otherwise something like the Selmer soloist (if you find one that plays well), Vandoren AL series, PPT are all flexible enough to cover most styles. When it comes down to it, unless you get an extreme mouthpiece, most of the sound comes from you.

 

[Ivan]

Something that isn't mentioned much is whether a mouthpiece is handmade/handfinished. Maybe this is something worth considering?

The most stable and suitable mouthpieces of mine have been handmade or hand adjusted

(This is not a clumsy endorsement for Phil-tone, above, because I haven't tried his pieces)

There's nothing better than discussing with the maker your requirements

 

[brianr]

“The best mouthpiece you can buy “ ?

according to Bob Reynolds, it is................................................“The one you have now.”

what he means ( and I agree ) is that - find a decent, quality mouthpiece and work on it alone, and make it “the one”

A few thoughts
1) there is no mouthpiece out there that will cover all the genres in the opening post.
Mouthpieces DO have tonal tendencies. Ie bright/dark. Etc etc
2) identify the genre that suits you most and get a middling mouthpiece with those tendencies.
3) If you are in the early stages of your playing, Say 3 years or less playing time....forget all about this stuff.
Find a decent mouthpiece and get on with it. Your tonal concepts and needs will change. Until things settle down embouchure wise and tonal concept wise, I feel it would be crazy to start buying expensive/boutique mouthpieces in the hope of great things.
It isnt going to happen.
4) unless you are loaded. And money is no object, buying $500 mouthpieces, brand new, is crazy.
You are throwing money away. You WILL want to change again down the line. I promise......ive been there.
If you must try different stuff, buy second hand
5) I have a Theo Wanne mouthpiece. Its a Gaia hard rubber for tenor. It is really nice. Beautifully made.
It is his version of a vintage Otto Link.
Many mouthpiece makers say that their mouthpieces are copies of vintage mouthpieces. it seems to be a standard selling ploy. it must work, as people seem to buy them.
In my view it is a selling strategy.
My Gaia is a nice mouthpiece. it plays great. But I never play it.
[BGCOLOR=transparent]I prefer my original florida Otto Link. i have a friend who also plays a supposed copy of a vintage Otto link. He also likes my Gaia.[/BGCOLOR]
BUT.................... guess what ..........he also prefers my vintage Otto Link. Sadly for him, it isnt for sale.

My point..............dont believe all you read on the internet about boutique mouthpieces.

So depending on playing time/experience get a middle ground mouthpiece .
[BGCOLOR=transparent] Job done.[/BGCOLOR]

[BGCOLOR=transparent]whatever, dont buy big money mouthpieces based on reviews on the internet. [/BGCOLOR]

[BGCOLOR=transparent]Good luck[/BGCOLOR]

 

[Colin the Bear]

There's a lot of rich people in this world. Expensive things aren't for the poor.

The only way to improve your sound is to practice. A good mouthpiece lets you be you. It needs to fit your unique physiognomy, whatever it costs.

 

[Rob Pealing]

I have a further thought. I see from your profile that you have been playing for about 6 months, which is a short time. I suspect that many tutors and experienced players would suggest that you stick with your present mouth piece and learn to play it well before changing. The sound comes largely from you and the way you play. My tutor who studied sax at Montreal many years ago and played professionally in jazz bands in the states is using a phenol Yamaha 4c ($25) and sounds better than all her students who have Selmers and Eugene Rouseau's etc
Think very carefully before you spend your $400-$500

 

[Targa]

I used the mp that came with the sax for four years, bought another one, two years later bought a third.
Strange things mouthpieces they seem to get better every week and the more I play them, maybe they mature with age.

 

[nigeld]

“The best mouthpiece you can buy “ ?

according to Bob Reynolds, it is................................................“The one you have now.”

As a member of The British GAS Society I deprecate the above statement.
The members of The Society know that the best mouthpiece is always . . . . the one you haven't bought yet.

 

[jbtsax]

The style and sound comes from the player---not the mouthpiece. You can't buy a great tone, it is a result of a great concept, air pressure*, and embouchure. The embouchure includes the oral cavity, tongue and throat as well the lips around the mouthpiece.

It is the player's concept (and ability) that determines the sound. All the set-up does is to help facilitate producing that concept of sound. In other words the player does not have to work as hard to match his/her concept.

This statement could be proven by having someone who has played the saxophone for---say six months, play a song, and then hear a professional player play the same song using the player's mouthpiece, reed, and saxophone. (sanitized of course)

No one mouthpiece can facilitate a characteristic sound to play Jazz, Classical, Soul, Motown, and Rock. The mouthpiece that produces a "classical" tone lacks the volume and edge to play in a jazz or rock group. The mouthpiece that works in these styles produces an "edge" to the sound that is unsuitable for classical playing. All of the great players I know who can play all styles have at least 2 or 3 different set-ups.

That said: the alto mouthpiece I like for jazz playing is the Vandoren V16 A9 S and for classical the Rousseau 5R.

* I have never liked the term "breath support"

 

[Jazzaferri]

I have never heard a mpce that works for all occasions. If one has a high baffle mpce, it might be possible with great chops to fake a classical setup in an emergency or fit in with a big band OTOH it is easy to get a sound that works with R & B.

Once you have a clear idea of the sound you want to get, then get a mpce type and size that will assist you in that sound.