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Absolute tenor mouthpieces

16K views 14 replies 7 participants last post by  Aldevis 
#1 · (Edited)
Marco Pozzo kindly sent me a whole bunch of (SATB) Absolute mouthpieces to try.
http://absolutesax.com/store/index.php?route=common/home

Absolute tenor mouthpiece

The three models have completely different chamber designs. My pieces have a 9 or 9* facing. Quite similar feel.
They come with their original ligature: ring style for resin and alluminium, native, stunning, ligature for steel.
Soundclips are recorded with my unlacquered sequoia.
I did not bother too much to find a decent reed, I did not edit or equalized the clips. Just some reverb. Recorded with an unknown cheap condenser microphone.
recordings are just me messing around with a Bb groove on a rare, hot, London summer day
if you change .mp3 into .aif on the links, you get better quality, but slower loading.

Resin:
It seems to be machined from bar, showing file strokes from the hand finishing.
It has a pleasant colorful sound, very easy to blow. The price tag gives very qood value for money.
Very easy to play in tune: I did not have any issues in finding the correct position on the cork.
http://www.aldevis.com/sequoia/absolutetenor/resin.mp3

Alluminium:
I was very intrigued by this material.
It has a wonderful, hard to depict, matt black colour. No file strokes I could detect, but I assume it is still finished by hand.
Straight side rails, smallish oval throat, I was expecting a completely different sound.
It sounds much bigger than I thought, with a creamy quality. Very responsive and again, right in tune.
Quite resistant with all the reeds I tried.
Still very good value for money.
http://www.aldevis.com/sequoia/absolutetenor/alluminium.mp3

Steel:
Looking at it I was expecting a very edgy mouthpiece.
It is not.
It is a proper killer. I dared to play a function gig with it, on day one. That kind of gig where you decide, during the sound check, that you don't need a microphone, but later everyone gets much louder.
Big solid fat sound, with a great unexpected flexibility.
The ligature is a piece of art. I will try to ask mr. Pozzo to make something similar available for other mouthpieces.
SOTW member Barry Sachs tried it too (on my Sequoia) and sounded great on it. Another friend of mine found it quite easy blowing, for a 9*
Despite the fact that it has been scientifically demonstrated on the internet that material does not make a difference (please keep the can of worms closed), I am curious to know why they chose stainless steel.
http://www.aldevis.com/sequoia/absolutetenor/steel.mp3
 
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#2 ·
Alluminium:
I was very intrigued by this material.
It has a wonderful, hard to depict, matt black colour. No file strokes I could detect, but I assume it is still finished by hand.
Straight side rails, smallish oval throat, I was expecting a completely different sound.
It sounds much bigger than I thought, with a creamy quality. Very responsive and again, right in tune.
Quite resistant with all the reeds I tried.
Still very good value for money.
http://www.aldevis.com/sequoia/absolutetenor/steel.mp3

I think this is the correct link. Nice sound!
http://www.aldevis.com/sequoia/absolutetenor/Alluminium.mp3
 
#10 ·
Is the stainless steel one is the "ST"? Am I right?
You are right. I told Marco my current setups and ST is what he sent me. Again, I got 10 pieces in total. I could not expect more.

File strokes occur from finishing and have little to do with determining whether the source material was bar stock or cast. I'm betting on cast - that's the reason for using resin.
My current EP pieces are moulded. The machining on Absolute pieces is quite clear, when you have the piece in your hand. File strokes look stronger than ST or Al and indicate hand finishing (time, on a €100 piece). Absolute is here anyway to confirm, if needed.

I confirm that the resin mouthpieces are machined from bar stock.
I will probably privately enquire about the choice of resin too. Bottom line is that it is a great hand finished piece for reasonable money.
ST is the piece that is still the Absolute winner.
 
#5 ·
Marco Pozzo kindly sent me a whole bunch of (SATB) Absolute mouthpieces to try.
http://absolutesax.com/store/index.php?route=common/home

Absolute tenor mouthpiece

Resin:
It seems to be machined from bar, showing file strokes from the hand finishing.
File strokes occur from finishing and have little to do with determining whether the source material was bar stock or cast. I'm betting on cast - that's the reason for using resin.

Steel:
Looking at it I was expecting a very edgy mouthpiece. It is not.
Automotive lighting Rectangle Automotive exterior Auto part Aluminium
 
#7 ·
Interesting choice. Thank you for clarifying that.

Could you also comment on the choice of stainless steel over brass?
 
#8 ·
The choice of stainless steel is mainly for personal preference, because this will not oxidize, and the delicate parts are much more durable and will last much longer.
As you know, the gold plating on the brass does not last so much, and we want to offer a product of high quality.
In the years will be enough to wash with a simple detergent inside and outside the mouthpiece, and it will be as good as new!
 
#12 ·
Hi All :
I like the sound of the steel mouthpiece than the Aluminum one. The sound is more jazzy and with more body. A very good sound. Congratulations on this new product.
Humbardi
 
#15 ·
The ST gained a permanent residency in my tenor case.
I use it mostly for R&R gigs. It has the advantage of being really reed friendly. A very reliable piece.
It allows me to play in very uncomfortable (=loud) situations. It does not loose its character if I have to blow really hard.

Many of my other tenor pieces share the same Pillinger 9 facing, and adapting my embouchure to the Absolute is easier than I was expecting.
I haven't tried other reeds than RJS 2m. That mouthpiece can probably have more subtleties than I am using it for.
 
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