mpc problem

[sadist]

hi... i'm a beginner n currently ing selmer c*... however, i feel constraint wenever i use reeds thicker than 3... any people suggest that i should get a wider mpc tip opening, yet too wide would cause problems for begginers...

would you pls suggest a mpc? i am planning on gettin a dukoff or a selmer super session or maybe otto link... but dont know which is better and which facing to choose... and i alsohave a not-so-high budget...

[pknight]

Check the mouthpiece forum, elsewhere on this site. You will find a lot of good advice there.

[Paul Coats]

The C* facing, for alto sax, is fine for a beginner, and for classical playing. It is too small (and will not have the right tone due to its chamber design) for popular, rock, jazz playing.

For soprano sax, the C* is too small, and requires a very hard reed. I would suggest the E, if you want to stay with Selmer, and a softer reed, 2 1/2 to 3.

I know that Singapore is somewhat limited in mouthpiece brands, but I think there is a fellow who was importing the Runyons. Check with reedman@runyonproducts.com about this. The Runyon Custom #6 with #2-#2 1/2 reed is a combination that will work well for you.

You might alto try the Vandoren S25. The S15 is smaller than the C*.

Let me start from another direction... what brands are available in the stores there in Singapore? I do not want to suggest models you cannot buy.

[sadist]

actually because of the limitations i decided to buy it online... so i do not really have limitations...

i got suggestions that runyon is pretty good too... but people tell me why not just get a selmer super session instead? or a dukoff? and do not bother about runyon...

i tried checking the mouthpiece forum but there wasen much that's why i came here...

i do not realli know of such a guy but maybe i'll check him out

[oppai]

I'd also suggest you try Yanagisawa metal. I use a 6 and it is a little too closed for me; I believe they do stock Yanagisawa mouthpieces in Singapore. I got mine in Taiwan for 75 US brand new. I believe elsewhere they cost twice as much. I'm sure Singapore would have good deals on them as well.

[rtangle]

I bought a used Yamaha YSS-675 that came with an unplayed Selmer C-star mouthpiece & I couldn't get it to play very well at all. I was excited to get my new horn, but when I played the horn & heard how out of tune it was and how crappy it played some of the notes, especially in the lower register, I was so disappointed that I called the horn "junk" and almost returned it to the Ebay seller. Before I went that far I decided to take it to a music shop & got a couple minor repairs. $60 later it still played like crap.

I spoke to the shop manager and asked him why it sounds so bad. He took one look at it & said, "What kind of mouthpiece is that?" I told him it was a Selmer C-star. He said, "That's not good with that horn." He said, "The C-stars are good for alto, but not soprano. Especially on a Pro Yamaha. What strength reed is on it?" I said it's a no-name 2 1/2 that was in the horn case when I got it. He said, "There is no way in H-E-double-toothpicks that setup is going to work with that horn. At very least you need harder reed -- like a 3.5 to 4 for that mouthpiece. First, ditch that mouthpiece & get something more open."

I didn't really want to get a much harder reed, so I got a better brand of 2.5 reed (Vandoren), tried 5 rubber mouthpieces & they all played the low C about a quarter step sharp. I probably should have at least tried a harder reed with them, but when I finally tried a metal Rovner 7 I was hooked. It wasn't cheap. Tax included, it cost $144 at the shop. I could have found it elsewhere for less $, but I needed it for a gig that afternoon. Although I haven't tried other metal mouthpieces yet, I love my Rovner 7.

I'm going to be posting another message about a mpc. I just got involved in a pro recording studio project & can hear the windy hiss of the reed / mpc combo more clearly than ever before. I'm going to be asking others if there is a better mouthpiece more suitable in a studio. For basic playing in a band, this Rovner is fine w/ me. The soprano Selmer C-Star has to go. If anyone wants one, I'll sell it to you cheap. Only played a couple times.

[Jason]

hey sadist...i am from singapore too...i think you are goin through the same situation i faced much ealier on...i own a straight yamha 475 soprano similar to your yani...its really hard to get decent saxophone mouthpiece in singapore so i suggest u order online...i personally bought a selmer super session and a friend of mine bought the otto link...i tried out both and found that both is really great~...however i personally prefer the selmer super session...it gives a rather smooth 'jazz' sound...very good control of dynamics and the otto link sounded sweet and powerful...both mouthpiece are around 200 sing dollars each including all the extra fees...since we are all living in singapore i can provide you with infomation about purchasing the mouthpieces and other stuff...perhaps i can let u listen to my soprano recordin if i can find them =X by the way i use a rovner ligature...reply this post of message me if you want to contact. :o