MPC for Tenor Super 20

[danidin]

I have recently purchased a Super 20 Tenor (454*** eastlake...)
While I am pretty pleased with the sound of the lower octave, I find the
upper octave a little bit stuffy. I haved the horn checked for leaks, so I am now looking to replace MPC/reeds. Any advice? I am currently using a metal link 6* with medium/soft LaVoz reeds.

Thanks in advance!
Dan

[Mike Ruhl]

I've played 7* metal Link on my Super 20 tenor (364xxx) since 1974 or so. The upper register has always been clear and full on my horn. Over the years I've heard that most King saxes are kind of sensitive to pad heights, so you might have a good technician check that.

Another suggestion is to try a Fibracell reed, probably a medium soft. I find them to work very well with my Link on my Super 20. Next I would suggest trying a hard rubber mouthpiece, preferably something with a round chamber and a little more baffle than the Link. My rubber mpc is a Hite Artist model (.095", same as your 6*), and it plays great on my horn. It's become my main mpc.

Some old-timers will tell you that you have to play a high-baffle mpc on a Super 20 tenor. Something like a Vandoren Jumbo Java will definitely enhance the upper register of the horn, and may work really well for you depending on the style of music you play.

[mr00420]

I think a Link is a bit narrow for a King. I think if you go w/ a larger chambered mpc, it will probably open up the sound of the horn as well as blow more free. I play alto, but I guess what's good for the goose is good for the gander; I play a Morgan Excalibur 6, but some other new mpcs I've tried also gave good results: Jody Jazz, Vandoren, yanagisawa (metal), and a great SR technologies (metal.) I've yet to find a vintage metal piece that's worked for me (i.e. dukoff, berg, or link) but I probably just haven't tried one of the "good" serial # mpcs.

[JimD]

Vandoren V16 works well as does and lately I've been using a Lawton 8*BB which, so far, I'm happier with than any other mpc/horn combo I've tried. I also have a Lawton B but i don't find this responds nearly as well. I tried just about every model of the SR techs and found they all played very well.

What else? A very suspect looking Barone that played beautifully, a good, modern Berg, now there's a rarity for you, a Guardala Crescent that played nice but had no power, and an oldish refaced Link. All were good, all were metal except the Link. The metal Links I tried were all less than good but I've always found this. The V16 is similar to the Link but with a medium rollover baffle so I think it's worth a look, I haven't tried other Vandorens.

I've only had my Super 20 about 6 months so I'm in a similar position to you. I've found that the Super 20 responds well to a high baffle mpc with a medium to large chamber, the Lawton BB and the SR Fusion both surprised me with their flexibility and tonal complexity. The V16 probably lends itself to a wider range of playing options, as would the SR Pro.

As far as reeds go, I'd settled on Rico Jazz Select but I've been having some success with Alexander DC recently. I'd tried and abandoned these several years ago but so far they are performing well. I gave up on LaVoz after working my way through the best part of a box and finding all of them were stuffy. I don't think the reed question has an answer. I have great hopes of the DCs but I bet I'll be back with the RJS at some point.

[Mike W]

My Eastlake S20 works well with Lawton BB, dukoffs, Jumbo Java, Brilhart Ebolin, Berg 0 chamber, Rouseau Jazz and classical mouthpieces, Brilhart Levelair, Meyer, and several others I have tried. It is a very mouthpiece friendly horn (Perhaps due to SaxDaddy's rebuild?). Never tried a link with it though. The Lawton (0.113" reface by MojoBari) is my favorite followed by a MojoBari Dukoff 0.117".

[Mike Ruhl]

Super 20s are actually large-bore horns, which is why so many players describe them as "free-blowing". They're very resonant horns, which to me means they tend to favor the fundamental, at least at "normal" playing volumes. But the real beauty of the Super 20s goes beyond the bore-taper, and lies in the implementation of the design. The silver necks, the ribless keywork, and the effect on the body tube of silver-soldered tone-holes all play into adding color to the basically "dark" sound, with the result being one of the most distinct and immediately-identifiable of all sax sounds.

What's my point? I forgot my point.... :oops:

Oh yeah...my point is that a Super 20 tenor can work very well with a wide variety of mouthpieces, as you can see from the above posts. I'm obviously biased, but I think the Super 20 tenor is the most versatile tenor ever made.

Has anyone ever tried one of the Beechler Bellites on a Super 20 tenor?

[PB]

One week ago I bought a 349xxx King S20 tenor. It has no pearls and no silver bell. I got this horn, because I play on a Brilhart Tonaline for a very long time now. The other horn I have is a superb 56xxx Mk6 and this MP is great but it didn`t play in tune that well on the Selmer.
But this MP is just super on the King. It plays great in tune and this setup can play classic or RnB....really.
P.S. Some time ago I found a record: The Ray Anthony Show from Las Vegas (late 50s). Joe Maini plays tenor on this LP. And this guy played a Tonalin on his S20 and sounds just great. Try a Brilhart....

[danidin]

Hello everybody,

Thanks a lot for all the input! Since I have just bough the saxophone
I cannot spend to much money on a new MPC. I have therefore ordered a Hite 128 today from Giardinelli (62$). I will update on the results...

Thanks again,
Dan 8)