ESP Soprano

[MB-913]

Anybody know if this coming MPC is a bright or dark? I hope not too bright because soprano is already high pitch instrument.

[djonk]

Some Keilworth mps. that come in the case with the their soprano are made by ESP. I have such a piece and like it very much. I find it warm and loud.

[Jody Espina]

I believe that MC-913 is refering to the JodyJazz ESP soprano that will be coming out in about trhee weeks. That is not the same mpc that djonk is referring to.

I worked very hard to get the qualities that I have in the ESP tenor and alto, which are big fat warm bottom. Clear effortless tone, and when you put the spoiler in you are ready to rock. There are more characteristics about the ESP's that I could list but I'll keep it brief.

I think soprano players will be very happy where this mpc sits on the dark bright scale and everyone will love who easily the soprano plays with this piece. I was prototyping it against several very well known pieces and I wouldn't stop working until I felt we were significantly better, in my opinion, that is.

[Jody Espina]

The ESP Sopranos are here and ready to go. They began shipping out today. It is a warm sound but with a very good projection and the nicest easiest low notes. With the spoiler in it will do any job I think.

[saxmanglen]

I received mine last night. I think Jody's done it again! Give it a blow and see what you think.

WOW

[Morry]

Glen,

What kind of soprano are you playing it on? I'm fairly positive a JK SX90II is in my immediate future, and I like my ESP alto piece on my SX90R.

[saxmanglen]

Morry,

I've still got my Yani SC901. I've been using a Selmer Super Session 'I'. Once I gave Jody's piece a go the Selmer is now my backup. I tend to like more open mouthpieces, this one is the 80 model. I use his 90 on alto and his 120 on tenor.

Regards, Glen

[Morry]

I don't play nearly as open pieces as you (ESP .074 on alto, and Barone 6* or Ponzol II-V-I .100 on tenor), but I'm not satisfied with my Super Session F on soprano. Just too small and compact of a sound. Do you know what openings are available with the soprano piece?

[Morry]

Never mind. I see the openings posted in the New Products area.

[sattva]

Glen

I play a SC901 and have a ESP .75 on its way to me. I am pleased that you are knocked out with the piece - what reeds are you using?

[saxmanglen]

I have settled in on most any reed in the 2 1/2 range. Rico Royal and even their Plasticovers work OK for me. The RJS 2H seems a little too stiff and sounded stuffy for me. I may pick up a 2M or even a 2S and give it a go. I haven't tried any synthetics yet.

Regards, Glen

[sattva]

Glen

Can you comment on the effect the spoiler? Do you favour it in or out (The spoiler, I mean!). I rather hope to find out for myself today when the postman comes :roll:

[saxmanglen]

Jody had suggested starting without the spoiler, so most of my playing time on the piece has been without. I've tried it briefly with the spoiler and it's slightly easier to blow (not that it was hard to without) and the tone certainly was louder and brighter. At this point I prefer it without.

Glen

[sattva]

Cool 8)

[Jody Espina]

I agree with Greg about the spoiler. I prefer people to get acquainted with the soprano mouthpiece without the spoiler the first time that they play it and then put it in so you know what it's doing. I was on a jazz quartet gig last night and I played a lot of soprano. It's an acoustic gig but with electric bass and electric keyboard plus drums and sax. No mic for the sax. The first two sets were fine but later in the evening the rhythm section really turned up. I slipped that spoiler in there and it was perfect. The spoiler is doing exactly what I want it to.

[shmuelyosef]

I can't find the 'New Products' section on Jody's website...

[Jody Espina]

We are running behind on getting the website programmed. The sopranos are flying out even though we haven't put a page on the website yet and haven't had a chance to send out a note to our mailing list. If you are interested you can email us at Jody@JodyJazz.com, or if interested on being on our mailing list you can go to http://www.JodyJazz.com/newsletter.html
and enter your email address.

[leehwd]

Does anyone want to share your experience, both good and improvable, with the Jody Jazz ESP soprano mouthpiece? Thanks.

[saxmanglen]

I find for a metal mouthpiece it plays with a very warm sound without the spoiler. Louder and a bit sharper sounding with the spoiler. This piece does not sound shrill at all. The low notes are very full and the highs don't seem to loose much either. The intonation is right on with my horn (Yani SC901).

I was concerned at first, visually, with how narrow the piece is. It is taking a bit of time to get used to the smaller size but it's worth it for the sound I'm getting.

Give one a blow and let us know what you think.

[Laura Dreyer]

Hi. I just bought an ESP soprano muothpiece from Jody size .69 and I love it. I prefer it without the spoiler at this moment. It is warm, yet very modern sounding (but not in an annoying smooth jazz way!!). The intonation is great also. I haven't played a metal soprano mouthpiece in years since I stopped using my metal Selmer, and I definitely prefer the tamber. -- Laura Dreyer

[RICHARD GARCIA]

I have had mine for two weeks and have played it as much as possible to get acclimated to it. When you get something new at first you think
it's great because it's different or because it is different you don't give a
full chance, then later, after the honeymoon period you find out different. Having played soprano since 1970, I swore I would never play metal again, I have a lot of respect for Jody, as this mouthpiece sings.

The ESP has great clarity, and blows easily through-out the whole range of the horn. I love the response at the bottom of the horn. The low notes respond quickly and easily. The sound is centered and not too spread. This continues up the horn, as it is full-sounding(not overly dark), and it brings out the best of the soprano (this is without the spoiler). The resistance is even, while my other mouthpieces(about 20)
vary greatly. I love being able to run the full range of the horn,low Bb -
high F and back without making an embouchure adyustment.

Jody exhibits great craftsmanship and pride in his products; the side rails are thin and even, there are no rough file or machine markings,
and the tip actually fits the reed ( I tried Rico Jazz Select, Alexander
Superials, and Fibracell).

Jody is accessible and will work with you, above all he's a player!

[eugewong]

Hi all,

So how does the new ESP compare to the regular Jody Jazz mpc?

I've got the regular JJ sop mpc (#7 in red!) and am loving it. Just curious about what the new ESP brings to the table.

Eugene Wong

p.s - Thanks Jody for making a great mouth piece!

[sattva]

I have had my .75 ESP for a couple of weeks now and can echo what has been said above absolutely. I have only ever played one mouthpiece on soprano before this - the Bari hard rubber .70 - when one wore out I bought another! So it has taken me a little while to adjust my embouchure to this marvellous mouthpiece.

Well, two mouthpieces really, as that is what you are getting here with the spoiler option. Without the spoiler the sound is very warm and open, quite different from the sometimes pinched and slightly nasal sound often associated with the small horn. The intonation is perfect, but you still need to pitch each note as if you were singing, which needs a lightly tighter embouchure than required from alto, tenor etc. The larger tip opening has made me work a little harder, but perseverence has been worth it. My SC901 is producing an authentic, pure open-throated jazz sound and throbs at the lower end with the resonance that the mouthpiece produces.

With the spoiler in, the sound becomes bright and more penetrating, without losing the warmth at the low end - again, intonation is excellent. It is going to be difficult to decide which option to take for any given gig/recording, as the two sounds are quite distinct. The spoiler gives significantly more volume and projection, so I will be reaching for it when Dr Loud is on guitar and fumbling for his gain control!

A word has to be said on the quality of manufacture and finishing on this mouthpiece. It's like a piece of jewellery! The finish is much finer than you would expect from a metal mouthpiece, and it's a thing of beauty. I have a friend who cannot play metal mouthpieces because he is allergic to the nickel content in the plating. Am I right in thinking that 24 carat gold is abolutely pure and has no nickel content? This would be a great advantage for those who cannot tolerate nickel in their mouths.

It always takes me a good few weeks to adapt to a new mouthpiece, but I can say that I am getting a little more success every day with the ESP - the rest is down to improving my technique on the more difficult smaller horn - it was ever thus! Who was it called the soprano: "an ill wind that nobody blows good"?

[zan]

I bought a jodyjazz ESP for my tenor and find it's an amazing mpc . I plan to buy one for sop but hesitate between the ESP and a Doc Tenney . Did someone try and can compare those 2 mpc ?

[Jody Espina]

Thanks everyone for the nice words. Zan, why don't you try both at the same time and then you'll know for sure. I think that people should remember that the best mouthpiece in the world for one person might not even work for another person. We are all different that's probably one reason that there are so many pieces. When you get the right one for you, you usually know it right away, or at least youcan tell that you like it right away.
I think that the ESP offers the quicker response of metal and the great free easy low notes that the ESP's are know for. It's an open sound with no nasal quality. Also very in tune.

[zan]

Jody , I live in France so that makes things more difficult when you want to try these mpc . Anyway thanks for the great job you do ; I find such a pleasure to play my tenor since I got the ESP .

[xuanvu]

The best mouthpiece that I've bought! I love the ESP so much due to its free-blowing, easy for the notes to sound from the bottom to top. I'm only a beginner for over 2 months, but when I got my ESP and blow into it, I was amazed by my own sound! Thanks Jody for the great services and the great mouthpiece...
Kenny.

[wsgreen5]

After reading all the great stuff about this piece, and seeing as how a sop is in my near future (almost certainly an Antigua from Dave Kessler), I was wondering if this piece fits well in a classical setting.

[Jody Espina]

I think that the piece in the lower tip openings sounds quite nice in a classical setting.

[Morry]

Anybody out there playing the JJ ESP on a Keilwerth SX90II? If so, please share your thoughts. The ESP on my SX90R alto is the exact sound I've always wanted, so I'm anxious to try the soprano.

[MB-913]

Jody

If you produce silver plated ESP (soprano and tenor), you must get more order. Hope that it will come into this market very soon.

[TerryD]

I see the ESP soprano comes with a dark rovner ligature. Doesn't that tend to muffle the sound? Has anyone used any other ligatures on this piece? Thanks

[sattva]

Terry

No, it does not muffle the sound, which has a nice bright edge, but with a full warm bottom end. It is a perfect match to the mouthpiece in my view.