Recolmend a nice bright yet full soprano piece

[sessionsax]

All,

I have been using a modified dukoff soprano with a medium large chamber for quite a while now and love it -- untill -- the soprano fell over and bent the tip.

I really liked the buzz/edge that this mpc offered and with the chamber mod -- I enjoyed the fullness.

Can anyone recommend a hard rubber -- or metal piece -- preferably HR that has a high baffle with a large enough chamber to get some body to the sound? A selmer or bari is not what I am after -- I do mainly contemporary stuff and have to get into the Kenny G/Dave Koz ballpark. (I know -- not fun -- but it pays the bills)

I also don't like the mpcs that do the low baffle and squeeze chamber type of thing like a Beechler.

Can anyone help out.

[MojoBari]

A RR Metalite, if you can find one. I think a metal Ponzol M1. Perhaps a Brancher E or J (I have an E17, but it needs work). Runyon Quantum for sure. Bergs, maybe a Lakey.

[sessionsax]

Mojo,

What tip opening do you recommend for the Quantum if the dukoff that I useds was a D9.

From just a quick look, the chamber and baffle design looks exactly like the mods that were made to my dukoff, so this may be the puppy that I need (metal piece that is).

Thanks for the recommendations!

[super20dan]

the metalite and quantum are execellent choices for this type of playing .i also use the ponzel custom for this style of playing

[MojoBari]

I have not measured any Dukoff sopranos. But if they are like the alto and tenors, they could be smaller than what the charts say. I'd say try an 8 or 9 in the Runyon as a starting point.

[Bootman]

I have a metal Q 10 tenor mpc here if you want it. Drop me a lnei

[sattva]

Sessionsax

I strongly recommend you try the Jody Jazz ESP. I was gobsmacked!

[sessionsax]

sattva

Isn't the ESP a very dark mpc?

[sattva]

Not in my experience, but one man's dark is another man's bright. I find that there is quite an edge without the spoiler. With the spoiler you have a bright and powerful sound. But, the proof of the pudding is in the eating - if you do get a chance, try one.

[rollen]

sessionsax.

why not just stick with what works and get another Dukoff?

Is the damage beyond repair?

[GHawk]

Bari pieces are the best for soprano - at least in my experience. They're a little darker than the Dukoff but great in the studio. A Selmer Supersession is brighter than the Bari and easier to control than the Dukoff.

[madav]

I have a Dukoff M8 that's wonderful and I alternate this with a 50's rubber berg that has been opened up (by myself). Basically big opening, hard reeds and avoid too much baffle, and this will give you the best tone.

[Bootman]

Metal Links work well too.

[sessionsax]

rollen,

Yeah, the Dukoff is history. One side of the tip is bent completely over. It caught the corner of my computer when the soprano tipped over. Also, the Dukoff was far from stock. It had a lower baffle and a much more open chamber.

I picked up a Metalite and I am actually liking the possibilities. I have contoured the bite plate to be a little more of a duckbill -- as it felt to thick to me. I have also thinned the side rails, lowered the baffle a bit, and opened the chamber slightly.

I used it on a live gig last night, and I think that this is going to be a keeper.

I always avoided the metalite, because honestly, I considered it to be a student mouthpiece. I am glad Mojo mentioned it. So far, I am very happy.

I am going to have to see how well the piece records though. Sometime a piece that works great live sounds terrible going to tape. We will see.

By the way, I liked the soprano metalite so much that I went and got an alto metalite. The alto piece on the other hand, does not work for me at all. I have been switching between a Guardala King and an ARB Custom metal for quite a while now, and the alto metalite is not even in the ballpark for me.

I appreciate everyones input on this. I still want to at least try the Runyon pieces.

I would have went back to a Dukoff but:
1. The metal is too soft. I have ruined both a loved alto and now a soprano piece over the years because of this.

2. The Dukoff require to much work to keep playing great. It seems that all of them have to be refaced straight out of the box and the chambers are too small for my liking.

3. The soft metal on the Dukoffs gives me to much of a chance to try to modify a good thing when I have one working for me. I have also screwed up my main Dukoff pieces at the most inopportune times by thinking "If I just cut a little from here, I bet it will sound great"

[Mike Ruhl]

The Runyon Custom works very well, too.

[dolphyo]

sessionsax, if your interested i have a black quantum delrin soprano mpc. always used with a patch and a consoli dark lig which is better than runyons. email me. dolphytone@hotmail.com