Need help with a soprano issue...

[George]

I have been playing my Selmer SA80II for about 10 years. Working my way through mouthpieces I finally felt comfortable with a metal link Tone Master 8* (not STM, no ridge) and a RJS 4S filed reed. I wasn't completely happy with the warmth of my upper register, though.

I recently tried an SX90II in BN and found that although I liked the sound, I couldn't keep it in tune with the mouthpiece I was using. I did, however, find that I could move up to a 4M reed because the setup was more free-blowing.

After a few weeks playing with my band I just can't keep the JK in tune right now, so I've reverted back to the Selmer SA80II.

My next step is to try to find a new mouthpiece setup for the Selmer, that might produce a darker tone with an emphasis on richer harmonics as well. I've been reading and will try the following:

Selmer Super Session J
SR Technologies metal Legend
Pomarico Wood 7J
Lawton SS 7B

I've always felt the Selmer was fairly resistant and that good reed/mouthpiece combinations were a little tough to figure out. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions as to get the warmer richer sound I'm after - or am I destined to buy a different soprano?

[Thomas]

I use the super session J on my serie II with Superial DC 2.5-not a bad set up and no problems with intonation,good control-seems a good fit for the horn.

[Straightsax]

Hi George,

At the expense of thread drift, I've noticed that the SAII are real suspectable to temperature. The warmer the temperature is the better they like it. I never equated a warm horn with a warm sound, but as time goes on it's keeps coming up.

No offense to Selmer, since I'm the proud owner of one myself, but when they are cold they play like a bugle. Well, maybe not that bad, but the warmth is gone rather than when the horn is at room temperature or above. Lately, I've been feeling the bell to see what the temp is. If it has a chill on it, then I close down to low Bb and try and warm it up with my breath if I can't play a note out of it because I'm right there with the group and don't want to horn in so to speak.

On the other hand maybe it's that San Francisco fog.

You might want to check this out at no cost.

Well, back to the shed.

Straightsax.