need soprano mouthpiece advice

[dingfelder]

I just picked up a piece of junk maxtone soprano off ebay for 128$ http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2579171218&category=16 203&rd=1 and now want a mouthpiece.

I know the sax will not be good, but I'm thinking that I can mess with it and sell it later if it really stinks.

My background: I use a Runyon Custom 6 on Bari Sax for regular practice. I have never played soprano before. I want a sound like Grover Washington, Jr. but have no clue what his setup is.

Can anyone sugggest a piece to buy for the sop?

[Mike Ruhl]

Guess what? Washington played a Runyon Custom on soprano.

[Dave Dolson]

dingfelder: I doubt that a mouthpiece or a horn alone will help you achieve a certain sound. You need to find a piece that plays FOR YOU, then go about honing your sound.

We all have our favorites but only you can decide if any of those recommended will play for you. I've tried a bunch of different pieces mentioned on SOTW - some play for me but many don't.

I favor Selmer Super Sessions and the older Selmer S-80s (more open facings). I also have a JodyJazz 7 and metal Link 6* that play okay FOR ME. I use the players on all of my sops (new and vintage). It is SO personal. DAVE

[dingfelder]

I understand that the sound is heavily influenced by your chops and mouth structure etc, so I cant count on the piece making me sound like Grover.

For me in this case, since I have never played sop, I am starting from scratch, so I have nothing to compare my sound to.

I know the junk horn will not help matters, my hope is that I will find a better quality one eventually that I can restore, then I can sell the Maxtone.

Given that the total price was just over a hundred bucks, if I keep it looking nice, it should be sell later for close to that once I get a real horn.

Im glad to hear that Grover used the same piece I play on Bari... any idea what opening size he used ? Unless someone else comes up with a better plan, I may just try one of those.

[Mike Ruhl]

Seems like it was a 7 or 8. Paul Coats knows for sure, and has posted this several times. I'll do a search and see if I can find where Paul has posted this before.

[Mike Ruhl]

Here you go. Paul mentions Grover using a #7 Custom on soprano in this post:

http://saxontheweb.myforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=34108#34108

[rrex54]

dingfelder: I'm late jumping into this discussion and you may already have a piece, but . . . I found the Runyon Custom piece a devil to play because of it's small exterior dimensions. (The thought of coming to it from a bari piece . . . wow!) I also think it sounds rather "thin." Now I will confess that I favor dark sounds and play large-chamber vintage pieces on my sops. In the modern line you might try a Vandoren (although my S15, with good sound, has way too much resistance for my taste) or a Meyer. I once had a Meyer 9 that was wonderful to blow -- I just didn't need that much volume coming out the other end of the horn!