Klarinet Archive - Posting 000284.txt from 1999/07

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Sax mouthpieces
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 23:33:18 -0400

On Sun, 4 Jul 1999, Dave wrote:

> Could anyone please help with advice regarding sax mouthpieces for an
> alto and soprano sax. I currently use a Selmer C80 125 on Buffet R13,
> and have recently purchased two keilwerth saxes (alto and soprano),
> but the mouthpieces i bought for them dont suit me. I purchased a
> Lakey 6*3 for the alto which i find very hard to play without
> squeaking, and a Selmer C* S80 which I find very hard to blow through.

Especially on the alto, it depends very much on what kind of music you
expect to be playing and what kind of sound you want to make. The reason
I specify the alto is that many saxophonists who play both jazz and
"legitimate" need two different mouthpieces and two different sets of
reeds on this instrument, but this is less frequently the case on the
soprano.

Generally, assuming the instruments are in good condition, there are two
primary things which could be causing the squeaking you describe. The
first would be an uneven or otherwise defective table on the mouthpiece,
and the other would be reeds which are warped or have uneven moisture
content. The "hard blowing" characteristic probably relates to reeds
which are poorly matched in strength to the configuration of the
mouthpiece.

Now about your clarinet mouthpiece..... Could that possibly be a C85
rather than a C80? And, could it be a 120 rather than a 125? In any
event, it seems to be somewhere in the middle-of-the-road category,
although that would seem to be one of the more open of the Selmers.

The Lakey would be quite open, and you would need a considerably softer
reed and a more open and less firm embouchure. With that mouthpiece, I
would suggest trying a #2.5 reed, perhaps even a #2, and a brand which is
not cut from too thick a blank. If it is jazz you are playing, you might
find something that would work for you among the Rico Royal or the Van
Doren Java reeds. If you want a classical sound, I don't think I would
know how to get it on that kind of setup.

On soprano, quite a few people seem to be able to use the same mouthpiece
for different kinds of playing by changing reeds. The Selmer C* is a
fairly widely-used mouthpiece, especially for legitimate playing, but it
tends to be flat in pitch on many saxophones. This also would depend on
having a reed well-suited for the mouthpiece. Other popular brands of
soprano mouthpieces include Dukoff, Otto Link, Berg Larsen, Meyer and
Rousseau. The best thing I could suggest would be to go to a dealer who
has hundreds of mouthpieces in stock, and start playing them.

I don't know how much saxophone playing you might have done, but remember
that the clarinet embouchure won't work on a saxophone. Also, the soprano
sax is not exactly the same animal as the alto or tenor, but it also isn't
just a large clarinet.

I wouldn't feel comfortable being any more specific than that without
having a chance to hear you play. Good luck!

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org