Rovner Deep-V:WD30 or WD40?

[Subtone Sam]

I have a Rovner Deep-V here but since the only markings on it are "Rovner" and the size (7),I can't say if it is WD30 (medium baffle) or WD40 (high baffle).The baffle on mine has a "lake" just below the tip and V-shaped cut in the deep end of the baffle.The sound is what I would consider medium bright,not really bright.Any idea which one I got?Thanks!

[Bill Mecca]

the 40D have a high baffle that has a straight drop off, and not much of a bullet is visible, the 30D has a very prominent bullet shape and just the lake behind the tip rail. by your description I would say you have a 30D

[Subtone Sam]

Thanks,Bill.It must be 30D then since it has the lake.There IS a small V-shaped bullet in the bottom of the baffle though.

[Bill Mecca]

Sam,

yes, the 30D does have a bullet into the chamber, the 40D has a very discernible straight baffle about a half inch or so in from the tip.

I trialed a 40D once, my wife liked the sound, it was just too bit a tip opening for me to handle (plus it wasn't really for sale, I was just testing it out)


the 40D, high baffle

[MojoBari]

I gots a 40D for sale... see my site.

[Subtone Sam]

I measured the lake (or the higher baffle area) and it is 0.735 inches long.The total lenght to the point that V-shaped bullet stops is 2.270 inches.The drop off from the lake is not straight but rounded.Because of the size of the lake,this might be a 40D after all.By the way,this is an alto mpc.What do you think?

[Bill Mecca]

I gots a 40D for sale... see my site.

I know I know, one hand keeps slapping the other as it goes for the wallet. ;-)

[MojoBari]

...its...just...your....siii-iiiizzzze..........

[Bill Mecca]

LOL

I know.. I even went to check out the lovely pic on your page, but Websense is now blocking "personal network storage" sites. What is this world coming to? '-)

[MojoBari]

But you can tell the wife its the one SHE liked!

[buescherbabe]

So I gather from your conversation it's a Deep "Vee" and not a Deep "Five?" I bought one recently, haven't figured out if I like it yet (but it LOOKS cool!). I may be having problems with the horn too, so I'm scratching my head right now.

Is it possible that if there's a problem with the horn (leak), it is only magnified when you play a metal mouthpiece? The problem seems less noticeable when I switch back to my hard rubber mpc (Ebolin Brilhart 4*).

I also noticed that that mouthpiece really works the chops. I can't play as long as with other mpcs (even other metal ones).

[MojoBari]

Hi BB!

Its not the metal but the mouthpiece interior design (baffle, chamber) and the tip opening and facing curve. Yes, I think certain mouthpieces can magnify/reduce sax problems. The problems (usually leaks) are still there.

I never thought about the Rovners as deep 5s. At one time they had a metal MP with a long V-shaped roof/baffle. I thought it designated that design, but perhaps it means any long window design.

What size is your Rovner? The tip opening could be beating up your chops.

[buescherbabe]

Billmecca's post "The 40D has a very discernible straight baffle about a half inch or so in from the tip," sounds like my mouthpiece (because I measured it to be 0.687 inches). Unfortunately, I don't know all the part names and don't know if I'm measuring things right. There is a "7" on it. But I don't know what the bullet thing is.

All I know is, it played great BEFORE I bought it and now somethin' ain't right. I don't know if it's all me and getting used to the new mouthpiece or if the horn has developed an ever-so-slight leak since I bought the mouthpiece (two good repair techs say it's tight). I'll keep playing on it and see what happens. What happens is, I go to play a low D and what comes out is something between a low D and a middle D. Same thing with E, F and G. But that didn't happen when I played it the first few times.

Anyway, we'll see what happens. I bought it new at WWBW (I didn't realize they're made right here in MD), but maybe I can sell it, if it doesn't work out for me.

[buescherbabe]

Okay maybe it's not the 40 D - it doesn't look like the picture above. The bottom of the opening is round, not square.

[buescherbabe]

Well, at this point, it seems irrelevant which one it is. I played my Deep-V at band practice tonight (having the leak problem, of course) and noticed spit coming out around the reed. I had the ligature as tight as I could get it. I've tried it in the three or four different positions the literature suggests. Anybody got any other suggestions? I just bought the thing and now that I actually own it, have had nothing but problems. :x

[Bill Mecca]

Does it happen with all reeds? have you flattened the back of the reed on some sand paper? another idea is one I heard Plas Johnson used, was a little vaseline on the table of the mpc.(Rovner sells their own product that does something similar)

just a few ideas...

[buescherbabe]

I was using a plastic bari reed (it's for marching band - looking for loud, not pretty). I have used regular cane reeds and fibracells as well. Will keep experimenting (and looking for the tell-tale spit). Thanks.

[MojoBari]

The spitty leak around the reed sounds like a facing curve problem. The table may need flattening and/or the rails evened or the facing shortened. If you like the piece enough, a hand reface would fix these. Of course, you have to through mo' money at it.

[buescherbabe]

Well, I'm not that attached to it yet. Still having problems. Even went to see Phill Rovner (he says I have the 40D). He says the mpc is fine, not that I seriously thought there was something wrong with it. He did have pointers, though, on reed placement. Still, last time I played it, I did a LOT of chirping and squeaking. I don't get it! It played great during the trial period!!!! :x

[oppai]

I've read somewhere that the chirps and squeaks with the Deep V may be fixed with the reed placed slight over the tip of the mouthpiece, instead of just below the tip. Hope this helps.

[buescherbabe]

Yes, that's also what Rovner told me to do. And it does help. I was able to play for about an hour and a half tonight. Upper register played great, but lower was iffy. The horn definitely has leaks, although very slight ones (which I could only see with a leak light, and in total darkness). I think once I get that taken care of, I'll be good. I've decided to keep the Rovner.

[Morry]

I ordered one of the Deep Vs from WW&BW when they first came out. I couldn't get a single note out without a chirp or squeak, no matter what reed I used. It was very frustrating.

[oppai]

Morry did you have the alto or the tenor deep V? I may be mistakened, but the tenor deep V appeared to have more problem with squeaks and chirps. The soprano Deep V apparently don't have this problem

[Morry]

It was a tenor piece, and I'm serious when I say that I couldn't get a single note out of it. I had laid off for a few years and this was the first piece I bought when I started back playing. I thought I had lost everything, and it was a lost cause. But then, I put on an old reliable Link, and everything was fine.

[John Laughter]

Mojo, do you still have;


Tenor Rovner Metal 40D DeepV 8
- .103 Tip, 48.5 Lnth. Minor facing and tip rail tweek by me. These are wild looking but they work. Loud. No Cap. $100.

If so, please drop an email and let me know what the tweeking was for as I am looking for an 8.

JSAXL@aol.com