My Antigua 582 experience...

[SaxxyThing78]

Hello everyone. Got my Antigua Winds 582-LQ on Thursday (3/31). Damn my luck, I developed a cold most of the week, but got to play it a few hours each day since Friday. I bought it from Dave Kessler, and the sax arrived safely in roughly 5 days. Overall, I enjoy the look and feel of the sax. I've been experimenting with the stock 4C mpc, and a new Selmer S-80 D mpc. I'm looking for a "warm", Kenny G like jazz tone. Dave didn't recommend the stock mpc (but I find it a little easier to play). The high 'B' key seems a bit sharp, but the lower register is easily reached with no squeaks. I had some Hemke 2.0 reeds that I'm using, and the tone is fairly easy to get out. It came with a 2.5 Rico, but I found that a little too hard to use. I've been doing a lot of research on the forums, to educate myself on mpc facings and the like. It appears a more "open" (or higher letter) mpc facing may be what I'm looking for. I started with a Selmer S-80 C* on my previous sop (which I sent back to purchase the Antigua). Sent that back, and got the D. Didn't notice too much difference. It appears that line goes all the way up to G, which is the most "open". I got the mpc from Musician's Friend, and they have a pretty good return policy, but not much of a choice on mpc's. They don't have the Selmer Super Session (which I've read good reviews on the 'J' facing). Some opinions here folks, 1) my upper register (G on up to F, if I can get it out) are a little sharp.
Do I need to adjust my emb., mpc, and/or reed to make these high notes more in tune? 2) Should I exchange the S-80 to the G facing? 3) Perhaps a different mpc (I'd like to just credit towards a new purchase at Musician's Friend). wwbw has a great selection of mpc's, but there's the budget to consider. Appreciate any feedback.

Thanks - Jim

[zadu]

Often things settle in with practice time, familiarity with the tuning characteristics of the horn and a thorough check of embrouchure tension.
A couple of thoughts:
You could try changing the mouthpiece angle to a more straight one, and also softening up on the embrouchure tension and pushing the mouthpiece on further to see if that will work to help even out he tuning for you. That may lead to trying some different kind of reeds. Keep using your ears like you indicate in your post; use a tuner too. Do you play wide tip mouthpieces with soft reeds on your other saxes?

[DaveKessler]

Jim,

We have noticed intonation issues with the stock mouthpiece, one of the many reasons we do not like that mouthpiece. The Super Session J is a good mouthpiece... I keep that in stock.

The morgan protone should be more open then both of those mouthpieces (stock and selmer D) and in my opinion, made better then both. if you like, I send mouthpieces out on trial as well.

[SaxxyThing78]

Great! Just give me some details on how to proceed with trying out the Morgan, pricing, and suggested openings (facing). I've also submitted a private email to you concerning this.

Thanks Dave!

[Dave Dolson]

Jim: I love my Super Session J pieces but for someone just getting into soprano, it may prove to be TOO much of a good thing. I've also tried the Protone and while it plays for me (and a friend who had it) on all of my sops, including an Antigua (and my friend's Antigua), I prefer my soprano pieces more open than that. I suspect that Protone may work for you, given the other pieces you mentioned.

By the way, Selmer soprano pieces go all the way to J, even though WW&BW may not list anything beyond G. I have two S-80 pieces in J, as well as three SS-J pieces. DAVE

[chising]

Hi Dave,

I am glad to know that the S80 is available in J also, for a long while and I still like the S80 G but found it a little too close compare the Super Session J.

I have a hard time looking for it in Montreal, maybe I should order it online directly, any suggestion where? wwbw?

Thanks.

George a.k.a Chising

[Dave Dolson]

George: I've had my S-80 G's and J's for a long time - don't know if current sources are carrying them. Try WW&BW (call them since they don't list it in the catalog; and maybe their Paris, France store has them), Scimonetti's in Lancaster, CA, and Dave Kessler in Las Vegas. There may be others who either have them or can get them.

As far as comparing the S-80 with the Super Sessions, yes, the S-80's come off a bit stuffy (maybe darker is a better term, but that is SO subjective). The SS is just so much stronger than the S-80 in the facings I've tried. The reason I still keep an S-80 J in my Buescher TT case is because I had the shank cut down a long time ago so I could push on further in "sharp" environments (the vintage sops have a rib on the neck-octave key which prevented a long piece from going on far enough). DAVE

[tomsch]

I use a metal Link on my 582 soprano with great results. It is one mpc that does not require it to be pushed all the way in, over the entire cork, to tune. If you find the right mpc the 582 is very in tune and easy to play.

[Jimmy Scimonetti]

George: I've had my S-80 G's and J's for a long time - don't know if current sources are carrying them. Try WW&BW (call them since they don't list it in the catalog; and maybe their Paris, France store has them), Scimonetti's in Lancaster, CA, and Dave Kessler in Las Vegas. There may be others who either have them or can get them.


Thanks Dave
We do have a ton of Antigua soprano's in stock. We also got some nice shipments of Selmer super-sessions, Ponzols, Jody Jazz, BARI, and Yani soprano mouthpieces in. It's not up yet in our new web-site http://www.scimonetti.com
but you could call us toll free at (866)LA BAND1 for our current inventory.