I want something that isn't too pricey, like under $200, I want it to have a nice full rich tone, but with some projection and brightness, I feel my claude lakey 6* sounds too thin
I play an Evette Buffet Crampon Straight Soprano ~1980s
NOTE- Mouthpiece choice should not be influenced by horn shape, brand or colour, unless there are intonation problems (possibly due to a really modern mouthpiece on a really old horn).
I recall hearing about Jody Jazz pieces fitting my description in another thread, what do you think about these compared to Bari pieces? I keep hearing Bari pieces getting brought up with sopranos
I've only played three soprano mouthpieces in the 28 years I've had my Yamaha 62R. (OK. I tried a couple of others briefly like Selmer, Wanne Gaia and the Yamaha that came with the horn)
I had a Lakey 5* for 10 years! Great piece. Easy to tune. HUGE sound but very malleable too. Actually measures like a link 7. Then I had a wooden Lebayle (don't know the model. "Jazz" I think). Warmer. Darker. Richer? Perhaps. I was studying with Bergonzi at the time and he preferred it to the Lakey, so the Lakey went (somewhere?) The tip opening was the same but I think it was stamped 7. For the last 10 years or so I've been using a JodyJazz HR 8 (A bit more open than the last two, and definitely a bit more work but worth it) It's a keeper. Best one yet. It can be really loud but maintains a dark airiness to the tone. It reminds me of the best early babbitt otto link tenor mouthpieces I've tried, the way the sound stays thick and warm and rich and airy. But it's very flexible too. Needs a lot of air but it's worth it.
Quick answer - +1 for the JJ HR
PS: Used Vandoren Blue for years, tried a bunch of others, the GrandConcert were my favourite Rico branded reed on sop. But the Roberto's Woodwind (RW) Sop Reeds are the business.
Buy one of the six I have on sale in this forum! Selmer Super Session is very popular. I still use one myself. I also have a wooden Lebayle, as mentioned by the very poster above.
Of all my sop pieces that have come and gone, the Phil-Tone Sapphire remains. I found the Selmer Super Session J to be quite bright in contrast. It will ultimately come down to how you weight your priorities - full rich tone vs brightness. Not all bright mouthpieces have good projection.
I have a MkVI from the early 70's and tried a lot of mpcs many years ago.
I don't think any Jody mpcs were available 30+ years ago so i didn't try one but I did the Bari and Yanagisawa and a couple of others.
I had the original Selmer and and an Otto Link.
I picked the Yani 9 and still use it when I play sop which isn't too often.
I'm a sopranoplanet fan. Joe has the Axieme on clearance for $120 to $155. A talk with him may help you identify the source of your discontent and its solution. IIRC, He had an Evette that he was selling years ago, so he's probably familiar with the horn. He might be able to adjust your current mouthpiece to get what you want out of it.
+1 for Sopranoplanet and the Via Coro. My Via Coro plays beautifully and I couldn?t be happier. Joe Giardullo was a real gentleman to deal with and is a great resource on all things soprano whether or not you decide to tweak your existing setup and/or get a new piece.
I play an Soprano Planet Open Sky 2. Wonderful piece. Aside from it's balanced timbre the sound palette is very flexible. Not a piece that locks you in to a timbre or pitch. Very expressive.
The only Sopranoplanet I`ve played is the ALMA, it didn't work for me at all. Dark but dull, no dynamics whatsoever. I sent it back to Joe (I`m in Argentina) to modify it and it came back the same.
For me, worst mouthpiece ever. I see he`s not offering it anymore.
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