"Relaxed" tenor mouthpiece?

[stoltp]

Hello all,

I am currently using a Selmer S90 / 180 mouthpiece with SJ 3S reeds. I like the sound of this setup and I think it is a very forgiving and easy played combination. On to my question...

I have the feeling though that this mouthpiece requires a lot of "side pressure" (the O has to be pretty tight) to produce a good tone for the lower notes. I would like to get any advice on a more, in this aspect, "relaxed" mouthpiece that is a bit more forgiving. I get the feeling that as I keep this tight O I sacrifice some of the flexibility I like to have for pitch bends, vibrato etc...

Any comments are welcome.

[MojoBari]

Sounds like you are close to what you want. A hand reface would probably make the piece more free blowing (less resistant). Lengthening the facing curve slightly would help those low notes (providing it is not already a long facing).

[Zman]

Try a Jody Jazz 4. Very free-blowing piece. Likewise forgiving and easy to play.

Runyon Custom 4 might also be good. (Same basic mouthpiece without Jody Espina's magic mods breathed on it.)

[stoltp]

Thank you for the suggestions, it is not long facing. I will try both (when will this search end???)

[Dr G]

Maybe when you get a Morgan? :wink:

[super20dan]

the runyon custom tenor mpc is the easyist playing mpc i have ever played

[Razzy]

Naturally, large opening/soft reed will be easier on the high notes, and close opening/hard reed will be easier on the low notes. Maybe you should go a little closer and a bit harder in the reed. Judging by what you have, that would not be a very big jump. And you can always build your chops to get the strength for those high notes on a hard, close setup. However getting the lows on an open setup is another story. They lose a lot of depth regardless of how hard you work at it.

[MojoBari]

I generally find the opposite. Large tips usually are matched with longer facings so they play great for low notes whaen using a softer reed.