Bass Sax Mouthpiece ?

[cmelodysax]

I have (what I think is) a Bass Sax mouthpiece listed in 'Equipment Wanted/For Sale' - July 1st, and on ebay at -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2542083854&category=16 233&rd=1

How can I tell for sure, whether this is really a bass sax mpc, or maybe a 'chunky' baritone mpc without either of those saxes to hand ? I'd hate to mislead anyone.

Regards, Alan.

[markieg]

I can't tell you for sure, but post this in the mouthpiece section. Try and get MojoBari to take a look. What will tell you is the measurements, I see that it lists:

"Dimensions, overall length 133mm, reed table is 96mm x 19 mm at it's widest. Neck opening seems to be close to 18mm diameter. If anyone needs any more info or better pictures I'll try, within the limits of my available technology. Side profile is similar to a hard rubber Link, but chubbier ('a Link on steroids' was how someone described it....). If anyone can give me any more info I'd more than welcome it."

I don't know how big a bass mpc is or the conversion of mm to 1/1000 inch. A lot more people will see this, specifically mpc techs, if you post it in mpc discussion.

[woodwindmaster06]

I thought that bass saxophone and bari sax mouthpieces are the same thing, to make things easier, and they use same reeds and the same setup.

[Paul Coats]

Many bass sax mouthpieces are made on the same blank as their bari sax counterpart. Measuring will not help. The facing is wider on a true bass sax mouthpiece. Place a baritone sax reed on the mouthpiece, and if the reed covers the side rails well, it is a bari sax mouthpiece. Also, bari pieces have facing lengths in the 25-26 mm length range. If the side rails are showing on both sides of the bari reed, it is probably a bass sax mouthpiece. Facing lengths run 27-30 mm.

Bari sax mouthpieces may be modified (I do this myself) to play well on bass sax, using bari sax reeds.

No, a "large chamber" bass mouthpiece is not necessary for bass saxophone, but you don't want a high baffle "pea shooter" bari piece either. In fact, some very large chamber mouthpieces cause intonation problems on bass sax.

[cmelodysax]

Paul - happily the bass sax mpc is now living in Germany - but you reminded me that when I played bari I used a bari mpc that had been made to take tenor reeds ( saved me buying/carrying lots of different reeds ) but still producing a 'big' sound. I forget the manufacturer, it was a few decades back.......

Regards, Alan.