This is one way to think about just how important a well-balanced mouthpiece is for a soprano player. I started considering soprano saxophone and fuel injection while designing the OPEN SKY 2, but the idea applies to all soprano mouthpieces. … Read More
Getting Your Sound If you’re around players in person or online, you’ll come across folks who claim that all mouthpieces sound alike, all reeds sound alike, all setups sound alike. They’ll tell you that “there is no difference whatsoever between … Read More
Resistance and stuffiness on soprano sax is an important topic because so many players encounter it, using almost every mouthpiece and almost every horn. Almost always, too, they conclude that the tip opening is too small. So they get what … Read More
English jazz saxophonist John Surman has sent me short audio samples of him playing his Metropolitain and his Open Sky 2 mouthpieces. John uses # 4 reeds and plays a Yanagisawa 9930 soprano. It is very rewarding for me to … Read More
If you want a dark soprano sound, just ask. Now, you can chase all the esoteric ideas that a million players who have played 20 soprano mouthpieces in their lives and maybe 20 different horns (of course, not close to … Read More
We all use the term “response” in speaking about how an instrument plays and particularly about how a mouthpiece performs. So, what exactly do we mean by the term “response”? For me, the best way to approach such a subjective … Read More
This will be quick- not because it isn’t an important topic, but because the reason is simple and, for anyone who thinks about it for a minute, pretty obvious. Whether a vintage or modern mass market mouthpiece, it has been … Read More
It ocurred to me that I should start taking some photos of brand new soprano mouthpieces that come my way that clearly show how bad quality control is from major mouthpiece makers. Names have not been changed to protect the … Read More
There are a very few things that go into making a truly well balanced soprano mouthpiece, and here they are: A table that allows the reed to rest firmly in place A facing curve that allows the reed to vibrate … Read More
The talk about the soprano saxophone being so difficult to play is, well, just plain wrong. It’s a myth and although some people believe it, it is pure nonsense. WHY DO PEOPLE MAKE THAT CLAIM? The reason is … Read More
Sound waves behave differently in a straight conic environment than they do in a conic environment that also has a bend or curve in it. That is an acoustical fact. But, what does that mean to a player? Does it … Read More
If you’ve played enough different soprano saxophones, you already know that they can be very different, one to the next, in how they “speak” : how the sound is created. Some speak easily over the entire range; others speak one … Read More
When it comes to soprano mouthpieces, I can tell you that it is ALL about the chamber. Same exact facng and the same exact tip opening with the same exact reed on the same exact horn but with different mouthpiece … Read More
When it comes to playing soprano saxophone, we are all equal. How can that be? I’ve had the same response from beginning players and from seasoned pro players: This balanced mouthpiece is a revelation It makes playing soprano a joy … Read More
Learn the truth about intonation on soprano. You’ll be glad you did. Many players make all kinds of claims about the supposedly “inherent” intonation issues of the soprano sax and pronounce that it is somehow much harder to master than … Read More
It’s an old story- cane reeds are the bane of many saxophone players. They are, by most accounts, “inconsistent”, “unreliable”, “problematic”, and, then, “just right”. That’s the same brand, same grade, same box even! I believe what I’m talking about … Read More
So, how can one “magic” reed work where dozens from the same box have been complete duds? Well, the fact is that the “magic” reed is truly the “inconsistent” one and the rest were quite consistent. The problem, my friends, … Read More
One of the most important things I do here is to help players selecting a vintage mouthpiece for what they are trying to achieve in terms of sound and response. It is not a science , but rather more of … Read More
Playing on a good mouthpiece makes a big difference for sax players, regardless of whether it’s on alto, tenor, baritone or anything else. But on the small horns, it is even more critical to success, and here is why I … Read More
Working long distance takes a little commitment from both of us, and I need to know as much as I can about you and your music. Here are the questions that will help me to give you what you … Read More