Klarinet Archive - Posting 000563.txt from 1998/03

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Metal and edge.
Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 11:42:29 -0500

Ah . . . another urban legend.

This is the truth--the material in the saxophone mouthpiece does have an
effect on the tone. The effect is not what you expect, however. For an
identical chamber and facing, the metal mouthpiece will have a softer
tone w/ less edge. In an article in the Saxophone a number of years ago
(that I don't remember much of--not a real scholarly cite!) this was
attrubuted to the fact that, microscopically speaking, the interio wall
of a rubber mpce is in fact much smoother, giving a harder tone.

Now, I will get jumped on becasee everyone knows that metal mpces are
louder w/ more edge. Most are--but that results from the high baffle
and small chamber most metal mpces have. Because of the strength of the
metal, mpces can be constructed w/ thin walls--small chambers and high
baffles. Consequently, most metal ones marketed are in the hard
jazz/roc & roll vein.

I doscounted the theory myself until I personally tries Selmer's
excellent C* in both metal and rubber. Many great concert sax players
have used the metal C*--like Marcel Mule.

kjf

----Original Message Follows----
Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 15:54:29 -0600
From: "Benjamin Leon" <bleon@-----.edu>
Subject: Metal and edge.

Greetings!
WOuldn't just the use of "a" metal mouthpiece give you an edgy or bright
sound
just to begin with?

I have thought of using a metal MP with my alto, but the one that I
wanted to
try would need to have more of the cork taken off just to get the metal
MP on.
I am happy with my regualr MP, so I didn't opt to try the metal one....

I would also be curious as to which metal MP's you like, which Hard
Rubber
ones with baffles and without.

Thanks.
Ben Leon

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