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10mfan METAL Merlot and Robusto tenor mouthpieces are now READY!

231K views 599 replies 94 participants last post by  10mfan 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am now officially taking orders for the metal Merlot and Robusto models!!!!!


If you yearn for ORIGINAL design modern mouthpieces that don't feel, look, or sound like anyone elses mouthpieces--- here's your opportunity.

I am ALL about carving my OWN path with original design mouthpieces that for me, outplay the vintage mouthpieces in the 3 categories I have set them up in.

THE BOSS model (my 3rd category piece that will have tons of power and volume, but also loads of body), will be out in the next month or so, but right now you have 2 new options to choose from with my metal MERLOT and ROBUSTO models. These are my first 2 category mouthpieces and in case you have been on Mars the last 9 months, you can read about that on my website: www.10mfan.com :)

I could not be any prouder of these pieces. These have great body and soul. They are not all about just volume and they offer the player the perfect amount of resistance in my opinion, to be able to shape the sound how they want. These are very colorful and resonant and Eric Falcon has worked with me beautifully with these to help me make my dreams come true.

I GREATLY encourage everyone who owns vintage metal mouthpieces like Links, Dukoffs, Zimberoffs, Selmers, Gales, and ALL the copycat mouthpieces of those pieces----- to see what I have been up to. I believe strongly, that you will be blown away....I AM. Eric Falcon said the Merlot and Robusto metal mouthpieces will absolutely knock out the guys who especially love vintage Links, and want MORE than their Links will give them. He told me that he has kept 2 very special Florida Links in his personal collection for a very long time, that he has considered to be the BEST examples for him of those pieces. He told me that the Robusto for him, absolutely smokes them both and he is VERY excited because he knows players will go nuts for these. I have compared the Merlot and Robusto metals to the best vintage metals here in my personal collection, and they just outplay them for me. I would not pick any of the vintage metal pieces I have here that fit into my first and second categories, over these 2 pieces I am releasing. This has been a lot of work for Eric and myself and has taken an enormous amount of time, money, and energy to complete.

THANK YOU ALL FOR STAYING PATIENT WITH ME THROUGH THIS.



I THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT PRICING!!!!!


I have wanted from day one, to make modern mouthpieces that outplay vintage mouthpieces and are affordable for musicians today. I spent years selling high end vintage mouthpieces that many musicians could not afford, so the mouthpieces ended up going to many dealers overseas. Prices got nuts for the vintage pieces so it was super important for me to get my head back on straight and undercharge for my hard rubber modern 10mfan™ line of mouthpieces so players could enjoy them and not feel like they emptied the bank account to do so! $385 for my pure hard rubber bar stock mouthpieces is an incredible deal. I see copy pieces of vintage mouthpieces going for much more, and there's no reason for that at all. Modern mouthpieces shoudn't be priced in the stratosphere, in my opinion. I think modern mouthpieces should be able to be bought for what you would get for a couple very good playing gigs.

I look at the marketplace and I see loads of copies of Links, Dukoffs, Guardalas, Meyer Bros, etc... its never ending. So I said to myself that I should be charging much more than those, because mine are actually ORIGINAL and have taken an ENORMOUS amount of time, money, and hard work to get right.

Well...thats one reasonable way to look at it, but the bottom line is I just can't see charging $850 or $750 for a modern mouthpiece that isn't rare or collectible by any means, like the vintage mouthpieces are. In fact, I can't see charging $650 either. I asked MANY players where they think my metals should be priced based on affordability and what they thought I would be asking.... and amongst the 40-50 people I asked, those players thought I'd come in at around the $550-$650 range.

I decided that I will do exactly what I did with my hard rubber pieces, (which have turned out to be incredibly successful), and ask much less than I know I should in order to get more people to play on the mouthpieces and see how fantastic they are. I am hoping with the addition of these metals and 2 hard rubber altos coming this summer, (they have been in the works for quite some time, and I think a summer release is VERY realistic.)---to sell WELL over 1,000 mpc's my first year of sales directly to players.

Back to the price of my metals....
I am going to price them lower than they should be---I am going to offer them at only $495.
To me, it's another gift price for my mouthpieces, so I hope this makes many of you happy.

My mouthpieces are made of brass and will be silver plated and engraved with my 10mfan™ logo, model name, and tip opening. I am not gold plating them because I want to save YOU money. Eric does a wonderful job with his plating and they will look and play gorgeous. EVERY mouthpiece will be hand finished by Eric and play tested by both Eric and myself before they are sent out. My pieces have a bite plate and are really fantastic. I do not have any "finished" version photos to release. You will have to wait till the first group of orders are completed. I just have the prototypes here, but I won't put up pics of those.
My website will have to wait too. :)


A FEW LIGS THAT WILL FIT MY METAL MOUTHPIECES:


Selmer 404---cannot be one that is already bent from the top ridge of an Otto lLnk. It must be virgin.

Ishimori---Otto link M size

Silverstein metal tenor lig

Vandoren V16 optimum

Marc Jean---I'll get you the size

Any Rovner in the 3ML or L13 size

BG sized for a metal Link

Rico H lig HTS2


I AM OFFERING THE MOST COMPLETE SELECTION OF TIP SIZE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE BUYER FOR BOTH MY METAL MERLOT AND ROBUSTO MODELS: 4*-12*


I already have a bunch of names on a list who wanted these when they came out, and I will be officially taking all other orders starting NOW.

Just email me and tell me what tip size and model you want, and I will have you send a paypal. We will not be able to get the first orders out for about 1 month due to the back up with the rubber mouthpieces and the first group of metal orders, but one month or so isn't too long to wait for something new that's actually original.

You can email me at: connsaxman@comcast.net


THANK YOU ALL FOR THE MOST INCREDIBLE 9 MONTHS I COULD HAVE EVER HOPED FOR IN TERMS OF MAKING SOOOOO MANY PLAYERS SO HAPPY ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME FROM ME WITH ALTO AND SOPRANO AND POSSIBLY BARI MOUTHPIECES...

YOUR SUPPORT AND KIND WORDS HAVE BEEN SO GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

*** You will need to order the metals directly through me via my email until I have my web guy set up the page on my website. He will be doing that this week for me. ***

Thank you.
All the best, Mark
 
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#319 ·
They are both such completely different designs that it's very difficult to really compare. Both are original designs and not like anyone else's pieces and both in my opinion, are in the medium category. They are also both very flexible in what they can do. Both are great all-around mouthpieces that can go from warm to bright when pushed, and can be used for many situations.
 
#322 ·
Well....my Silverstein arrived this morning, I am impressed by the difference between the rovner a and the Silversein. The reed seems much freer to vibrate, altissimo is easier to control the intonation on without losing it...but give me a break guys I have only been playing tenor a year and a half maybe....I was a soprano/alto player before I got bitten. I do switch between them.

Its a metal medium ligature and a really snug fit.....good thing I file the round backs of my cane reeds, the fat ones probably wouldn't fit otherwise. I suspect the next size up might be a better choice but I will check with the company and get back to you..

I take I a lot of mouthpiece and switching from alto (Morgan Fry hr) to the HR Robusto always took ssome getting used to....the metal piece is just that little bit less of a mouthful and is more comfortable. There appears to be some differences in tone, but with the Rovner ligs on the metal...I wasn't really happy with my sound.....I still sounded like me but something was missing. With the Silverstein ....it's all there and then some. I am defininitely going with the metal Robusto 8

Reeds Signature 3 1/2 or Hemke 3 for big band/ensemble work

Jazz Select 3H for more cut and if I am wanting to go to the edge Rigotti Gold....only have 3m and they are a bit soft so will have to try the 3.5m and the 3h see which works better.

Thanks to Mark and Eric.....its a great piece....my search is over

Incidentally, I was playing a 7* in the HR but first impression on the 8 is it seems to work better for me. It will be a while before I tame the beast but I am one happy camper.......back to the shed....ciao
 
#323 ·
Jazzaferri,
I am really glad you are loving the metal mouthpiece, as I know you have loved my rubber pieces since they came out. Silverstein has contacted me and they are very excited to send me a lig for my rubber and metal mouthpieces to check out. Bergonzi told me that their largest one that fits hard rubber Otto Links fits my hard rubber pieces well. They will be making a size that will be available for my metal pieces also.
I really appreciate all the support and I am glad you are another person who feels like their search is completely over for rubber and metal mouthpieces now. That makes me incredibly happy!
All the best, Mark


Come and see what all the talk is about:
www.10mfan.com
 
#330 ·
I put the lig on partway, slide the reed into position and gently tighten. As far as tuning goes I know where the mpce is in tune once I have warmed up and being in a temperate climate any minute variations that may be there I seem to correct subconciously.

Any mouthpiece movement on my horn is fairly easy as I just hook a finger around the 3 o rings and move it...it's not stiff but not loose. Silverstein recommend tightening only enough to hold the reed in place. I like an active reed and have also set the tuning bars to eliminate as much pressure on the edge of the reeds as possible.

If playing in a dry climate, the lig can be dippen in water and it helps keep the reed moist


More like a spaceship jlima
 
#333 ·
A short update.
I finally reached the point in which I forgot I am using a new mouthpiece.
The rico H gave some problems aligning the reed and I even pinched my lip.
The Selmer 404, on the other hand, takes a while to stretch on the mouthpiece. Now that is settled, everything goes a dream.
I haven't tried the recommended Rovner yet. An old Rovner I have in the drawer works fine, but nothing too exciting.

The metal has a more distinctive sound than the HR, in the sense that HR seems more sensible to different reed designs (at least in my experience).
At the end, I play the same kind of reeds on both.

Still I am not sure which one I prefer.
 
#335 ·
David Mann loving his new 10mfan™ Robusto metal 8* tenor saxophone mouthpiece:


"My Shining Hour" with Robertos reeds. (Rigotti cut)---For me, the brightest reeds out there. So if you are looking for that, you gotta check them out.

David wanted a metal mouthpiece that has warmth, brightness, lots of power with cut available, and clear and easy altissimo to be able to use on his Blood, Sweat, & Tears gig.
I am INCREDIBLY honored that he is enjoying both my metal and hard rubber 10mfan™ mouthpieces.



Enjoy!!!!!

A clip of David on the metal Merlot is coming soon...stay tuned.
Many audios coming in the next couple of weeks.

The feedback has been incredible for the metals------thank you to all the members who have been so supportive here.

I am adding a separate audios page for my metal mouthpieces on my website in the next couple weeks.

Come and see what all the talk is about:
www.10mfan.com
 
#338 ·
Thanks Cash!
David is one of my absolute favorite's.
This piece has an incredible amount of flexibility to really nail a vintage vibe or a modern vibe equally as well. It just depends on how you blow it, the reeds you use, etc.
I love the added depth and fattness of David's sound here. Deep, rch core with a ton of presence and liveliness to the sound.
Thanks!
 
#340 ·
I love the added depth and fattness of David's sound here. Deep, rch core with a ton of presence and liveliness to the sound.
Thanks!
+1 David can make a piece play like no common mortal will.
 
#342 ·
David Mann, sounding amazing ... What a sound! A little bit of that trane bite and a lot off that beautiful creamy dexter middle. Just pure, classy, timeless playing.

What strength Roberto's is he playing there? Just asking as I play on an 8* too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#344 ·
I love him SO MUCH on both the hard rubber and metal. His hard rubber sound is absolutely perfect, to me---the quintessential classic sound on tenor, in my opinion.

His metal sound is so incredible to me too and has so many layers. It does just what I wanted my metal mouthpieces to do. I did not want them to be exact copies of my hard rubbers. I wanted them to be close and in the same categories.
I had a definite sound concept in mind for both the hard rubbers and metals in each of the models. I wanted the hard rubbers to sound like hard rubber, and the metals to sound like the player was using a metal mouthpiece.
I am VERY proud of how they came out.
This metal Robusto can be deep, powerful, full, fat, rich, warm, cutting, bright---all at the same time. Crystal clear altissiomo, and incredibly flexible with sound color too. So many mouthpieces sound one way and don't offer flexibility. Mine are quite the opposite of that.
If David changed to a lavoz reed for example, his sound would get warmer and some of the highs would disappear. Thats the beauty of these designs---they can be totally customizable for each players personal needs.
 
#347 ·
Mark, would you ever consider making Hard Rubbers with the internal design of the metals, and vice-versa?

Just out of sheer curiosity. As an alternative for hard rubber lovers who crave just a little extra focus in the sound, like myself, and I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who prefer the feel of metal and a little extra spread in the sound.

Craig
 
#351 ·
Mark, would you ever consider making Hard Rubbers with the internal design of the metals, and vice-versa?
My Merlots don't look or feel much different. The metal seems to have thinner tip and side rails, but the internal design seems pretty much the same.
They sound different, though.

sent from a cheap touchscreen mobile phonw
 
#349 ·
I've got a rubber Boss, already. The Boss is more focused, yes, but it's (a lot) more of EVERYTHING, too. Volume, edge, brightness, etc... They're two completely different mouthpieces, with two completely different sounds, for two completely different purposes. I love the Boss in a rock gig, but I prefer the Robusto overall. Sometimes I wish I could get just a bit more focused without sounding super bright, loud and aggressive.

Craig
 
#350 ·
Its already in the works....

First I am finishing up The Boss metal tenor, and finishing up the alto pieces.
The altos will be out this winter.

After that ...well, I don't want to share too much here.... :)
Let's just say there's some fun stuff coming up to look forward to!
 
#386 ·
Its already in the works....

First I am finishing up The Boss metal tenor, and finishing up the alto pieces.
The altos will be out this winter.

After that ...well, I don't want to share too much here.... :)
Let's just say there's some fun stuff coming up to look forward to!
Hey Mark!
How about The Boss metal? Will it have the same characteristics as the rubber version, or is it slightly different like the Robusto metal comparing to the rubber version?
All the best,
Chris
 
#353 ·
Hi, yes they will have the same 3 categories.
These will be really well-received because the alto market is just inundated with vintage Meyer Bros and NY USA copies and I know people will find these incredibly refreshing.
I play more alto than anything, and as a player, I have never been a fan of Meyer alto mouthpieces. (Though some of my favorites have used them and sound incredibly great on them).
I am just not a fan of the way they blow.
My Merlot model will be my warmer classic sounding piece and my Robusto will be more powerful and my The Boss, even more powerful.

They will be out this winter at some point.
 
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