Brand new sax and mouthpieces...

[Roel]

I just bought a brand new silver plated Selmer SA80-II.

So I was thinking, it comes with a mouthpiece, normally a Selmer C*. But I'm pretty sure I can talk them into changing it for another one. (Actually, I already talked the distributor to exchange it for a C**, which I normally play.)

So, I wanna try some other mouthpieces at the shop. What should I try? I like a kindof dark, classical type sound. Maybe a little more edge to it. I'm playing in a rock('nroll)band too, which has kindof different needs as a fanfare.

[BrettB]

Hey Roel,

congratulations with your new sax! I guess you didn't buy it at Adams.

My sax is fixed since Tuesday btw. This time it was the older guy in the shop, and he told me repadding wasn't necesarry (the two guys contradict eachother it seems). Anyway, they did a lot of minor stuff, like putting on extra buttons and refining the mechanics. Still had to pay €50 though. I bought different reeds than Vandoren for the first time, Rico Royal. I must say I love the difference in playing so far: warmer sound with more body.

My mouthpeice is also a Selmer C**, quite happy about it, but I read for a more edgy sound or more body you should go with a more open mouthpeice. But I'm not a sax expert, so I am curious what others on this board have to say..

[Roel]

Hmmm... Maybe I'll try some different reeds too... Since I'm spending big bucks anyway.

€50 is not that bad... (btw, how do you put that euro sign?? I just copied it.... )

There's lots of good info on the sax on the web forum! Check it out! A good read if you got enough of recording talk for a while.

Over there they adviced me a Link or a Morgan up to now...

[BrettB]

just use AltGr+e for the euro sign.

€50 for the reparation is idd not that much, although they only did some minor adjustments. I found it curious though that the youngest salesman convinced me that I need repadding and a whole reparation, while the older one told me it wasn't necesarry.

Thx for the link to the sax forum. I know little bout mouthpeice brands, so let me know if you try a Link or a Morgan.

[Michael Jones]

hmmm... I use the Selmer C* too. I must say I like it a lot. I have another one that I don't use much... it's a metal mouthpiece with a hard rubber part (like the C*) very dark sounding though.
I'll have to dig it out and see what kind it is.

I've tried the Rico Royal reeds before, but I really don't like them. They just don't seem to hold up very well.
Another reed you might like to try is the Hemke Premimum. Those are really nice reeds!

[Roel]

I got the sax! Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow! Sounds ALOT better. Had to play it for a while to find my sound though... This was pretty strange, I tried it, compared with my old sax, and was dissappointed. Then played on it for half an hour, did the check again, and was happy again. Pretty amazing what you can do for your sound with just adjusting embouchure etc....

Also tried Rico Royal reeds. Amazing how different they sound. Darker and warmer, but there's something about them I don't really like. I don't know what it is. I can't seem to get the same tight broad sound out of them as I get out of the vandorens. But I'm definately gonna check other brands too. Exploring new sounds. fun...

The shop only carried selmer mouthpieces. So I tried 2 D's, alot of difference in between the too... I took the one I liked most. Just a little bigger as the C**. It sounds fuller, broader, but it's still a little heavy for me. I run short of breath. But something tells me I'm gonna practice alot more....

[BrettB]

great news Roel,

I know what youi mean with the reed difference, a matter of taste I guess, but on the moment I like the difference in playing the Rico Royal gives me.

maybe a stupid question, but you do play alto, do you? Or are we talking about a tenor?

lots of fun with your new instrument!