What's your favourite tenor mpc?

[Chris J]

I have recently acquired a Monopole series II tenor. I really don't like a Selmer D (60's vintage) on it. A Steve Broadus perfected, opened to 0.095 works OK but I want to see where else it can go.

I have a Morgan 8L and a ubiquitous Link STM 7* on the way to me.

I know what suits you may not suit me, but I am interested to hear what does suit you, and the style it suits you for.

[brianincairo]

I prefer the Otto Link Super Tone Master 7* for all styles or, if I'm in the mood, my very open Berg Larsen 115/2 for a huge, paint-stripping sound...

[saintsday]

Congrats on a great horn. I have an old Brilhart HR that I like better than the MC Gregory, Selmer, Link, Bergs, and Morgans that I have around, not only my my Couesnons, but on my other tenors as well.

[jimmitch]

My Oleg that I refaced myself.It has a great rock and blues sound.

[Swingtone]

Yes, congrats, Chris! As you and I know, that was Bill Bua's Couesnon that I owned for a short time and then mailed across the pond to you. I appreciate how patient you were and am glad it was worth the wait! What a journey it had--from Sacramento, to Chicago, to England.

As far as mouthpieces, my Morgan 7L HR seems to work on anything I try it on, including the Coues'. I also had some success with a Barone vintage HR. In a way the Barone may have worked even better since it seems a little more resistant than the Morgan, which plays pretty open (also may have something to do with the fact that my Barone is a 6*). This is with the idea that the Couesnon is already a free blowing horn, which it definitely is.

Good luck in your search!

[Chris J]

Hi Swingtone - good to hear from you

In all the posts on the mpc forum, I have not come across a single word against Barone mpcs. he seems to have lots of happy and loyal customers. I will have to add one to the collection. I just have to work out which one.....

[Swingtone]

Chris, just rereading the thread again and noticed you had a Morgan 8L on the way. This will definitely allow you to get maximum volume of that horn and will be quite an open setup. I don't know what kind of sound you are going for, but you might consider trying a Morgan 5L or 6L, which may make that rather free-blowing horn easier to control (I think someone has a 5L for sale in the Marketplace right now). Just a thought. BTW I have changed my mind again--I played my Morgan 7L all weekend, and have decided I prefer it to the Barone HR after all. I prefer both to my standard Otto Link Tone Edge HR, which I find to be stuffy and hard to hit the low notes with....somebody said this has something to do with the beak size on the standard Link HR's--it's too thick or something. Of course you could always have one of these "EZ'd"--but what a pain. On a side note--do you think it's a bit pretentious for newbies/hobbyists to have their pieces professionally refaced? I kind of do. Well, good luck in your search!

[Chris J]

Well still waiting for a few mouthpieces to arrive, but story so far is that a Bari WT II 7* seems a good match for the couesnon - for me anyway.

Swingtone - you ask if it might be pretentious for newbies/hobbyists to have their pieces refaced. Don't know. Essentially I play clarinet as a hobby, and recently sax. Certainly I would fit into the hobbyist category!

I would have no idea who to contact in UK to have a piece refaced, though if I was in USA I would be spoilt for choice judging by the skills available via this forum.

But if the mouthpiece, for a newbie, is not good, then progress with the instrument could get very frustrating. I guess an experienced player can get more from a less than perfect mouthpiece than a newbie. I suppose a beginner should be guided by their teacher. As I have never had a mouthpiece refaced, I don't know the cost. I guess it is cheaper to get work on a mouthpiece than to buy a new one?

So on balance, my answer would be that if for a minimal sum, a reface makes a mouthpiece more responsive and playable, then it makes sense for any player, whatever standard they play at.