Looking for a new MPC for my Zephyr Alto

[mr00420]

I'm going back to the U.S. for a few weeks in July-Aug. and am planning on getting another MPC while I'm there, since they're prohibitively expensive here in Japan. My usual set up on my Zephyr 323xxx Alto is a Lakey 6*3 w/ La Voz med. reeds and I forget the brand of ligature I've been using since I was in highschool I think (it's solid piece of black p/leather held with one screw-pin through two bars.) I also use a Meyer 5 med., but am like the Lakey best for what I like to play.

I know a lot of people are probably against both of my choice MPCs (not a NY Meyer,) but they work very well for me. Though I practice more straight-ahead jazz, my true style is more in the avant-garde school. I really have very few control problems w/ my Lakey. The reason I like it so much is that it blows very freely, is easy to change tone/voice on, and hits multi-phonics nicely.

I'm basically looking for something w/ similar qualities in either hard rubber or metal. I tried a dukoff and I think a guardala when I bought the horn, but I have to say I didn't like either (but I only tried one of each, and I know they're supposed to be hit or miss.) I saw the suggestions for the Zephyr special, but they all seem pretty much be-bop set-ups. I guess what works well on S20s should also be compatible since the body tubes and necks are basically the same.

I remember when I bought the horn and asked to try out some metal mpcs, the dealer said, "You wanna' play a metal mpc on a VINTAGE horn?!? No you don't...." I know that a narrow chamber mpc kind of negates the depth of the sound of vintage horn, but I've seen plenty of guys using them on older horns.... Are the only vintage horns that they work well on Selmers?

[Mike Ruhl]

Try a Runyon Custom Jazz, in an 8 or 9 facing. The Custom Jazz has a higher baffle than the regular Custom, and has the biggest sound of any alto mpc I've ever tried. I play-tested by Custom Jazz 8 against a Lakey 7*3 a couple of years ago, and it simply blew the Lakey away.

[mr00420]

Is it a step or roll-over baffle? I believe both my Lakey and my Meyer are both roll-overs. Is the chamber on the Runyon large then? I don't want o sacrifice tone for projection.

[Mike Ruhl]

The Customs and Custom Jazzes have a long, sloping baffle. The chamber is medium-sized. The Custom Jazz gave me a nice full tone - I was actually surprised at how full the sound was considering how loud it was. It made the Lakey I tested sound thin in comparison.

[mr00420]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for one when I get back to the U.S. Are the Custom Jazz's metal or HR?

[Mike Ruhl]

They're made from the hard rubber/acrylic mix that Runyon uses. You can get this mpc in a variety of colors: black, red, amber, or blue. chekc the following websites for more info:

http://www.runyonproducts.com
http://eastcoastwind.co.uk
http://www.gigdust.com
http://www.jodyjazz.com

[mr00420]

Thanks. One more question: I read on one of the other posts that there isn't really any difference in the tone between the HR/plastic mpcs and the metal mpcs, and that it's basically the shape the mpc is crafted in that make the difference in projection, tone, and response. Do you consider this to be true? I've always played HR mpcs, and have only tried a few metal mpcs so I have very liitle basis for comparison. The metal ones I did try I didn't like, but maybe they just don't work on a Zephyr.

[Mike Ruhl]

My personal opinion is that the mouthpiece material does make a difference, but it's more of a response difference than a tonal difference.

[mr00420]

So is your opinion that the metal is more responsive than HR/plastic or vice versa? You mentioned that you played a Runyon Custom Jazz (I assume HR/plastic,) but do you play that or a metal mpc? Are you playing it on a King?

[Mike Ruhl]

Rubber and plastic are less dense than metal, so they start to vibrate along with the reed faster than metal. This translates into a faster response (quicker and easier articulation) for the player.

The Runyon Customs are made from an 80% acrylic / 20% rubber mix, which they say vibrates very similarly to good hard rubber. But I've played Customs on soprano, alto, and tenor, and it's my opinion that the material is actually harder than rubber, and has a response that's somewhere between rubber and metal. I played my Custom Jazz on a King Voll True II alto, which came before the Zephyr in the King line.

I've played a metal Florida Link on my King Super 20 tenor since 1975, but recently switched to a good rubber mpc (Hite Artist model). I play a hard rubber mpc on soprano.

The best way for you to learn all this is to simply try a bunch of different mpcs. If you're on a budget, look on ebay for deals.