Metal Mouthpieces

Kym · Metal Mouthpieces

Hey i was just wondering how people rate the metal mouthpieces? I'm getting a new Professional model Yamaha Sax soon like the one in my pic and with it i'm getting the Yamaha custom mouthpiece, i was going to use that for general playing and then get a metal mouthpiece for jazz but ive recently heard that metal mouthpieces are better for jazz on tenor not alto is this true, what do you guys think???

saxmaniac

From my experience with metal mpcs I would have to say that is false. A metal piece equal in brightness on alto and tenor, unless you're naturally brighter on one then the other, i that makes any sense.

JPSaxMan

It's all a matter of preference.

I like a metal on tenor just for the feeling of it. As of now I still play a HR on alto, but I might switch to metal when I get to try one. On bari I play a HR and couldn't imagine playing a metal on bari.

Go to a store and try out mouthpieces, that be all there is to it! Cool

HG

OUt of curiousity, what model is the Yamaha.. It looks like a 875EX or a Z...

Metal mouthpeices are great. I personally love it better then hard rubber. The feel, the size, and most importantly the sound. The most important thing that influences sound is the DESIGN of the mouthpiece. Not the material. OVerall, want a metal mouthpiece for jazz? If you like bright, I would suggest Yanigasawa Metal.. VERY Good mouthpeice. Of course my own JJ ESP would be great for warm sounding. Links aren't that great for alto (metal). I also heard good things about phil barone, dukoffs, beechler. Good luck

Kym

Yeah its the Yamaha 82Z, i like the Yamaha Mouthpieces, personally i've always played on student jupiter 4C model but i was just wondering if metal mouthpieces are better for jazz, as you said, the brightness ect ect! Thank you for the advice, its well appreciated!

HG

No problem.

I am also going to get a 82Z, well I hope. I want to get a silver one though... so I can make it match with my purple mouthpiece Very Happy

Kym

That sounds awesome, my friend has a silver one with a silver mouthpiece and it looks so nice, they make a really nice sound!

JPSaxMan

Kym,

How long have you been playing?

If you have under five years experience I highly recommend sticking with a HR piece...at seven years of saxophone playing I find that if I play on my Dukoff on a bad day, my chops are certainly feeling it. A matter of intonation between notes (jumping from low A to maybe high G) comes into play with metal pieces (especially ones with a wider tip opening). HR pieces are easier to control in that sense. My band director thought after seven years I still wasn't ready for one (but he was wrong Mr. Green

)...I would say seven years be the bare minimum but considering that seven is an off number ( Laughing

) and that certain people might have stronger chops, etc, try one out if you have 5 years+. Otherwise, stay away! Cool

Louis Scuderi

I STRONGLY support JP's words. Metal pieces are very difficult to control and your chops have to be practically perfect to handle one. I would recommend building your chops up with the stock mpc for a few months and then trying a few different HR pieces.

My 2 cents.

Bariman

Agreed. A metal piece is comparitively harder to control. It could frustrate you to know end if you let it. A metal piece on bari is almost electric. I have only tried a metal Link on bari, but man, it just put that much more edge into my sound. Great for rock and pop-jazz.

Bariman

HG

Suprisingly I made a switch from clarinet to saxophone. I played the clarinet for 3 or 4 years before I made the switch. But after 6 or 8 months of so of sax, I play a metal mouthpiece. Why? I like it MUCH better. To me it's not that difficult to control. I found that plastic mouthpieces were giving me problems, but the metal mouthpieces play like a dream. 5 years exp. Haha... I don't even have one on the alto sax. I guess my doubling on clarinet and tenor helped but, my opinion is that metal mouthpieces work great for me, and the get such a better tone with it. Its also the feel. I'm not sure but what do you people consider as "good" chops. I can play for 2 - 3 hours with small breaks in between songs without getting tired. My trumpet friend does.

JPSaxMan

HG,

I guarantee that your 3-4 years on clarinet built up a lot of chops. I'd still bet your intonation can be off in certain places, but for now I'll give you the benefit of the doubt Fish

Louis Scuderi

I think the Fish

has taken over the Mr. Green

and

.

Bariman

Oh yes, you should have no problems on a metal mpc with that many years of clari built up. Even with the inherent differences, clari and sax are still somewhat alike.

Bariman

JPSaxMan

At least ya don't need a rock hard lower lip to play sax (like ya do clarinet) WTF

Bariman

Oh yeah. It's a world of difference between bari and clari. You have to be loose-lipped on bari, well kinda.

Bariman

PS. I will be switching out my computer tomorrow for a better one (Woot), so I may not be available till late tomorrow night.

Louis Scuderi

Luck you, Bariman. What computer are you getting?

Woah whenever I say C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R it does that smiley... Fish

Kym

Thanks Guys, what you all said really helped, i play flute most of the time and so i only really play sax for my jazz band and im very weiry of what to play on certain days as i have trouble re-adjusting sometimes so after reading what you all said i would have to agree with you, thank you!

reisio

In my opinion the choice is this simple: play a mouthpiece - if you like the way it sounds, then it's good.