sop mouthpiece suggestions

[saxtim]

I'm considering on buying a new sop mouthpiece when my next pay cheque comes in. I'm currently play on a selmer super session J, which makes a nice sound. The problem is that the tip has several chips (which were there only a couple of months after I bought it) - I have absolutely no idea how they got there, I've always been careful and have used a mouthpiece cover, never dropped it etc. I'm wondering if these mouthpiece are made from an inferior or weak material (I've never chipped any of my other ebonite mouthpieces which I've owned for years.) Anyway, I'm looking for something with a nice round, dark sound, not interested in a metal mpc. (possibly darker than the super session which is actually reasonably bright). Was considering a lamberson, one of the new sugal HR, morgan, a phil barone or possibly a jody jazz.

Any thought on these mouthpieces or any other suggestions?

Tim

[Dave Dolson]

Saxtim: I have many Selmer mouthpieces for soprano and alto, including three Super Session Js. I've never had a quality-issue with any of them. In all my years I've never played a soprano piece that was as good as the Super Sessions. I can't define warm/dark, but my Super Sessions do it all for me, and my sound is definitely NOT the boppish, thin, modern sound most soprano players put out these days. Given my infatuation with Super Sessions, I cannot recommend anything but the SS . . . but I know others may react differently to SS pieces. DAVE

[max]

The Super Sessions just really don't do it for me. I've tried a bunch of them (including the one I traded to Grumps, who loves it), and they just never really sat right with me. For whatever reason, the way I play them gives me a sound that's just too bright and a little strident. I know I'm probably alone in that, but that's just how they play for me.

I have a Selmer Metal Classic that I really like (refaced and opened up by MojoBari). It works great on my Ser III, but not so well on my SML. So, I went shopping again.

I tried another round of SSs and still didn't like them. A Meyer I tried actually sounded pretty good. Then I tried some SR Technologies Legends.

They were great - nice and dark, but still with projection. I tried both the metal and the polycarbonate, and they were really pretty consistent. I went for the poly simply because it cost less. It's goofy looking, but I can't see it while I'm playing anyway, so I got over it.

Just something to try...

[retread]

What's the tip opening on the SR Legend? Their web site doesn't say.

[max]

I don't actually know. Most of my soprano mouthpieces are in the mid-.060s range, and it feels fine to me. It might be a touch smaller (eyeballing it), but it plays well for me.

Sorry I can't be more specific!

[Zman]

The SRTech Pro tip is an 81. Check out the International Music Suppliers online catalog at

http://www.intlmusicalsuppliers.com/

Their mpc catalog is a great pdf with full details on SRTech, etc.

I play an SRTech Pro metal on my Conn Chu sop. I really love this mpc with a Rover Dark and RJS3S reeds. Extremely controllable, flexible, and very contemporary sound. I highly recommend it for overall ease of playing.

[Jody Espina]

Just a note on my JodyJazz Soprano piece. I recently started the first round of prototypes on the ESP metal soprano piece and I have to say that I didn't beat my regular JodyJazz yet. I got some great playing metal soprano pieces out of the first round but they just don't blow me away. The process made me really appreciate the JJ soprano which I think is a great mpc . It may be a while before an ESP soprano comes out because for now it's back to the drawing board.

[Mike Ruhl]

I'll suggest the BARI brand hard rubber soprano mouthpiece.

[MojoBari]

I'd like to see a "fatboy" version of the Runyon Custom or Jody Jazz. I love/use these pieces but they are just so small in the mouth.

[Jody Espina]

That's actually a good idea although that size of the piece never bothered me. Maybe someday.

[MojoBari]

I'm tempted to build up the size of one of mine with epoxy. But it really is not that big a deal for me.

[Morry]

The Bari HR piece is really very nice. I ordered one, and do like it. I just prefer a sub-.060 opening on soprano. I've got a SS coming in an E facing, so we'll see how that goes. I may put the Bari up for sale. It's got about 30 minutes playing time on it.

[MojoBari]

Ponzol's HR and Barone's Vintage are clones of the Bari sop, without the metal banding. You should be able to find one in a .058" facing or so. These are very nice. I like them around .065".

[Mike Ruhl]

If you're on a budget, the BARI Esprit plays very well for less than $10. www.bari-assoc.com

[bsnmanrob]

So I play on a Yamaha soprano which I think is rather bright to begin with.I am not fond of the Meyer 6 I am using. Is the supersession really too bright on that many horns? It seems to be the newest craze and other pieces don't seem to be much bettter. I love my SR for tenor, never thought about it for soprano. Is it that good?

[max]

bsnmanrob, I'm the only person I know that thinks Super Sessions are too bright... try one to see how you feel about it.

The SR Tech Legend is a good match for me on my vintage sops - again, you'd need to see if it works for you... :?

[Andrea]

if you are lucky and have some money to spend for, look for a >selmer soloist short shank with either size on table or on the top. they are fantastic, I have two a C* and a E, and they are superb on my Yamaha custom sop.

there are two on ebay right now, a D and a c* with the size on table.

[super20dan]

i second the idea of a "fat boy" version of the custom. i think it would sell very well.

[retread]

I have a SS "I" and a Tenney HR Link 7. The Selmer is a fine piece, but I find the Tenney Link darker, if such a term can be used on soprano, and a better player.

[FWB]

I've tried a lot of soprano pieces thinking that there must be something better out there but kept coming back to an old Bari .064 on my Buescher True Tone. The Bari is a free blowing piece that really allows me to shape the sound and doesn't turn the soprano into a harsh sounding lazer, like just about every metal piece I've tried. I did try a super session once that was good, but in the end I just came back to the Bari because it gave me the sound and playing characteristics that I wanted.

[MitchP]

The Selmer SS does not work for me either, too thin and generic to my ears and taste. I know people love them but they just don't do it for me. Same with the Bari. I'm currently using a Lamberson that I had Fred custom make to an 80 tip opening. My next choice would be a Tenney Link if I can get him to make one a 80+ opening and I save some $. I play on a Keilwerth so I use things that might not work on a Selmer or Yamaha.
Others to try:
Morgan
Berg (my former piece)
Yanagisawa metal
Selmer metal new or vintage
Selmer vintage short shank soloist
current HR Link, not crazy about the metal but Bootman digs it

[sax4christ]

I am currently using a Yamaha 4C on my sop and am feeling choked off when playing pp in the lower registers. I want something that is free blowing with a darker edge to it.

Any ideas?

[Dave Dolson]

sax4Christ: Last week, I tested five sop pieces at a store. Two Bari 66, two Vandorens (25 and 35), and a Beechler 7. All played nicely, but when I put on the Super Session J I use regularly, the difference (better) was noticeable to everyone in the store. I'd estimate the SS-J was maybe a third bigger, warmer, and livelier. I could just imagine someone testing one of those I tried and thinking, yeah, they work. Well, they did - but oh my what a difference for me on the SS-J.

We are all different, but I've never cared for those narrow stock pieces (like your Yamaha 4C). Try the bigger Selmers (S-80s and Super Sessions), metal Link (mine is a 6*), JodyJazz (mine is a 7). While they may not work for you, they work for me - and they are not close like your 4C. DAVE

[Kritavi]

In the past six months I have tried about 20 soprano mpsc, various selmers, runyons, baris, lawtons, meyer,yana and more. But I finally found one that I love. The pomarico wood blew them all away. It is simply great, vibrant, flexible, wails throughout the range of the horn. Not cheap and they need periodic oiling but well worth considering.

BTW I have several of these currently listed on ebay under seller name "listentomusic".

[xuanvu]

Kritavi,
Do you interest in a trade of your pomarico mpc with 2 high-end alto mpcs?

Thanks,
Kenny.

[Kritavi]

Kenny-they would have to be pretty darn good because I love this thing.

[solflare100]

Morry, are you interested in selling the Bari HR? What tip opening is it?