C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Repairs and Refurbishing / Finding a new mouthpiece and reeds and m

Dianne
User ID: 1704034 Dec 16th 11:40 AM
Does anyone know where I can find a new mouthpiece or at least a new ligature to replace a broken one? We also have not been able to find reeds or music. This Sax was inherited by my daughter from her grandfather and has been cleaned and the pads replaced and apart from the mouthpiece and reeds is in perfect working condition. It is a Buescher sax we believe from about 1920.

Selmer SaxMan
User ID: 0227464 Dec 16th 12:09 PM
you could just use a rovner ligature for an alto, or use a larger chambered mouthpiece with a facing that doesn't have to be real lonbg, but not short. i use a rousseau on ym conn and while i am not totally happy with that mouthpiece, I can manipulate it to play the way i want to.
It is possible to use alto reeds on a C melody mouthpiece - thats what I used to use on my wooden mouthpiece, now when i play it, i use some nos vibrators I found, but tenor or bass clari reeds will do fine as well.

WW2
User ID: 9955583 Dec 16th 12:41 PM
C-Melody saxophones can use music for any "C" instrument. This includes Flute, Oboe, Piano, and vocal music.

For a mouthpiece, try the LeBlanc C-Melody mouthpiece available from Woodwind and Brasswind. It uses Bb-Tenor sax reeds and is relative low price. C-Melody reeds are difficult to find.

See

http://www.wwbw.com/Woodwind-Mouthpieces-d206.music

for their mouthpiece site. However, they do not list C-Melody mouthpieces, so you will need to call their 800 number and ask for Saxophone Mouthpieces for a C-Melody saxophone. They will help you get one and are really knowledgable! Their number is 800.348.5003 (outside US 574.251.3500).

E's Flat B's Flat 2
User ID: 1062774 Dec 18th 10:38 AM
Dianne, If your daughter is just starting out to learn the saxophone and music there are now available a couple of good books from any good bookstore. The first is Basic Saxophone by Andy Hampton published by Faber Music and the second is Abracadabra Saxophone by Jonathan Rutland published by A & C Black. Good Luck.

TomGK
User ID: 8185963 Dec 18th 12:09 PM
The Woodwind and Brasswind website is listing an "Alto C-Melody" saxophone mouthpiece by Le Blanc lately. Anyone knows what is the deal with that? Is it the same one mentioned in this thread?

Thank You!

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 8917553 Dec 18th 2:32 PM
yeah, the C-melody is actually more of an alto than a tenor - it fits the alto range better than the tenor range.

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 9753653 Dec 18th 6:52 PM
Is my memory failing me, or did someone mention somewhere in this forum that they had a LeBlanc C-Mel mouthpiece that was manufactured to specifically take alto reeds - instead of the more normal 'tenor reed' arrangement ?

Or are WWBW just confused....

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 8917553 Dec 20th 12:27 AM
Do they really?!? I am looking for a C-mel piece - i can make do with my alto rousseau, but it is just ever so slightly small for my conn and I have to fight it a bit - especially the G. I kind of consider the tenor the bastard child and I would prefer not to play one, so I would be buying reeds that I would use VERY slowly. (I use C-melody reeds on my alto piece on C-mel - helps a bit.)

I wouldn't doubt wwbw being confused either - talk a bunch of pathetic morons at that place.

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 0631424 Dec 20th 8:25 AM
There tends to be a lot of confusion over c-melody mouthpieces. A good rule of thumb to use is that a "real" c-melody mouthpiece needs to be close in length to an alto sax mouthpiece and have a LARGER amount of chamber volume than a comparable tenor mouthpiece. Some of the so-called modern c-melody mouthpiece have chambers that are too small or have more of a tenor mouthpiece length. These factors will result in intonation problems. It's my opinion that the bad rap the c-melody has for poor intonation is due more to the mouthpieces being used rather than the horn itself.

Most modern c-melody mouthpieces are faced for tenor sax reeds. However, I learned from the late Jon Von Wie that the Beechler c-melody mouthpiece is faced for alto reeds.

The best recommendation I can make is to try a number of different c-melody mouthpieces -- including Ralph Morgan, Runyon, LeBlanc, Bill Street, Beechler, Meyer, etc -- and see if you can find one that you like. Many of us have had to do quite a bit of trial & error with the c-melody to find a set up that we're happy with. It typically comes down to personal preference as to which kind of mouthpiece one settles on.

I highly recommend the Ralph Morgan mouthpiece. I've tried every c-melody mouthpiece that I can lay my hands on and for me Morgan is head and shoulders above the others with respect to it's intonation and quality of sound. Again, this is my personal preference.

TomGK
User ID: 8185963 Dec 20th 9:41 AM
Hi Alan,
Where did you purchase your Ralph Morgan mouthpiece?
Thanks,
Tom

TomGK
User ID: 8185963 Dec 20th 9:53 AM
Ooops, Roger that is, sorry. Did you buy it at junkdude?
(I haven't had my morning cofeee yet.)
Tom

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 0631424 Dec 20th 11:36 AM
Tom,

I've ordered mouthpieces directly from Ralph as well as through Dave Hoskins at junkdude. But, about a year or so ago Ralph asked people to place orders with Junkdude rather than call him. Phone calls were taking up too much of his time. So, yes, if you're interested in a Morgan mouthpiece it's best to contact www.junkdude.com.

As I've mentioned on other threads, all Morgan c-melody mouthpieces are in effect custom made. When I first asked Ralph to make a c-melody mouthpiece for me 3 or 4 years ago he said the start up costs for making a production line of mouthpieces (molds, etc) would be around $35,000. That was too much given the limited market for c-melody mouthpieces. But, I kept bugging Ralph and finally one of his guys suggested that they could take one of their large chamber tenor mouthpieces and modify it so that it would be acoustically correct for a c-melody. The tenor piece is shortened and the chamber is bored out so that it has the right measurements. This extra manual work is the reason for it's higher cost.

On the down-side, it's not possible to try out a Morgan c-melody mouthpiece at Junkdude like you can try out other kinds of mouthpices at WWBW. But, on the up-side you won't have any doubt that you're getting a truly NEW mouthpiece -- one that hasn't been drifting through different players for who knows how long. One time I got an alto mouthpiece from WWBW that turned out to be 6 or 7 years old! True story. I was so put off by that happening that I stopped doing business with WWBW and have since used mostly Junkdude, Roberto's, or International Music Suppliers. These shops have reasonable prices, know their stuff, and provide excellent customer service. I've been much happier doing business with them than with WWBW.

WW2
User ID: 9955583 Dec 20th 12:18 PM
I got my LeBlanc from WWBW (The Woodwind and Brasswind). The saxophone person I talked to on the phone was quite knowledgable. The LeBlanc is faced for Bb-Tenor reeds. I use it with a Rovner Dark ligature. So, as far as I know the LeBlanc uses Bb-Tenor Reeds, not Eb-Alto reeds.

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 9753653 Dec 20th 1:23 PM
Wade, there's just something stirring in the recesses of my mind about one modern/current C-Mel mpc (maybe it was Beechler?) being faced for alto reeds - that memory probably got intertwined with WWBW quoting Leblanc 'alto c-melody'.

I obviously need the latest patch for my memory retrieval logic....

TomGK
User ID: 8185963 Dec 20th 5:29 PM
I just recieved my Leblanc mouthpiece from WW&BW.
Indeed, it takes TENOR reeds even though they list it as an alto. This is the fattest mpc I have ever had. Now I need to find a ligature that fits on this piggy. It looks brand new and I see no tooth marks, no ligature marks on it, or BBQ pork pieces inside the chamber.

Peace,
Tom

zootspiker
User ID: 0534004 Nov 21st 2:28 PM
Just bought a C-Mel for the first time (Primarily play tenor) It's a Buesher Low Pitch (144xxx) around 1923. I bought a Runyon with a 7 facing (I play 7, 7* & 8 on the tenor) Just went direct to their site. I had it repadded and set up by Lee at Lee's Saxworx in SanFrancisco and I have to say this is the easiest blowing horn I play. Solid brass, no laquer, so the entire body acts as a resonator. Still learnig this horn (ergonomics are a pain) but the tone. Wow! with a good set up the sound, the resonance and the undertones, it's like a tibetan monastery. FTR: My tenors are a 1959 MVI & SerII; Alto's '34 Chu Berry & YAS875)

Dianne User ID: 1704034	Dec 16th 11:40 AM Does anyone know where I can find a new mouthpiece or at least a new ligature to replace a broken one? We also have not been able to find reeds or music. This Sax was inherited by my daughter from her grandfather and has been cleaned and the pads replaced and apart from the mouthpiece and reeds is in perfect working condition. It is a Buescher sax we believe from about 1920.
Selmer SaxMan User ID: 0227464	Dec 16th 12:09 PM you could just use a rovner ligature for an alto, or use a larger chambered mouthpiece with a facing that doesn't have to be real lonbg, but not short. i use a rousseau on ym conn and while i am not totally happy with that mouthpiece, I can manipulate it to play the way i want to. It is possible to use alto reeds on a C melody mouthpiece - thats what I used to use on my wooden mouthpiece, now when i play it, i use some nos vibrators I found, but tenor or bass clari reeds will do fine as well.
WW2 User ID: 9955583	Dec 16th 12:41 PM C-Melody saxophones can use music for any "C" instrument. This includes Flute, Oboe, Piano, and vocal music. For a mouthpiece, try the LeBlanc C-Melody mouthpiece available from Woodwind and Brasswind. It uses Bb-Tenor sax reeds and is relative low price. C-Melody reeds are difficult to find. See http://www.wwbw.com/Woodwind-Mouthpieces-d206.music for their mouthpiece site. However, they do not list C-Melody mouthpieces, so you will need to call their 800 number and ask for Saxophone Mouthpieces for a C-Melody saxophone. They will help you get one and are really knowledgable! Their number is 800.348.5003 (outside US 574.251.3500).
E's Flat B's Flat 2 User ID: 1062774	Dec 18th 10:38 AM Dianne, If your daughter is just starting out to learn the saxophone and music there are now available a couple of good books from any good bookstore. The first is Basic Saxophone by Andy Hampton published by Faber Music and the second is Abracadabra Saxophone by Jonathan Rutland published by A & C Black. Good Luck.
TomGK User ID: 8185963	Dec 18th 12:09 PM The Woodwind and Brasswind website is listing an "Alto C-Melody" saxophone mouthpiece by Le Blanc lately. Anyone knows what is the deal with that? Is it the same one mentioned in this thread? Thank You!
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 8917553	Dec 18th 2:32 PM yeah, the C-melody is actually more of an alto than a tenor - it fits the alto range better than the tenor range.
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 9753653	Dec 18th 6:52 PM Is my memory failing me, or did someone mention somewhere in this forum that they had a LeBlanc C-Mel mouthpiece that was manufactured to specifically take alto reeds - instead of the more normal 'tenor reed' arrangement ? Or are WWBW just confused....
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 8917553	Dec 20th 12:27 AM Do they really?!? I am looking for a C-mel piece - i can make do with my alto rousseau, but it is just ever so slightly small for my conn and I have to fight it a bit - especially the G. I kind of consider the tenor the bastard child and I would prefer not to play one, so I would be buying reeds that I would use VERY slowly. (I use C-melody reeds on my alto piece on C-mel - helps a bit.) I wouldn't doubt wwbw being confused either - talk a bunch of pathetic morons at that place.
Roger Aldridge User ID: 0631424	Dec 20th 8:25 AM There tends to be a lot of confusion over c-melody mouthpieces. A good rule of thumb to use is that a "real" c-melody mouthpiece needs to be close in length to an alto sax mouthpiece and have a LARGER amount of chamber volume than a comparable tenor mouthpiece. Some of the so-called modern c-melody mouthpiece have chambers that are too small or have more of a tenor mouthpiece length. These factors will result in intonation problems. It's my opinion that the bad rap the c-melody has for poor intonation is due more to the mouthpieces being used rather than the horn itself. Most modern c-melody mouthpieces are faced for tenor sax reeds. However, I learned from the late Jon Von Wie that the Beechler c-melody mouthpiece is faced for alto reeds. The best recommendation I can make is to try a number of different c-melody mouthpieces -- including Ralph Morgan, Runyon, LeBlanc, Bill Street, Beechler, Meyer, etc -- and see if you can find one that you like. Many of us have had to do quite a bit of trial & error with the c-melody to find a set up that we're happy with. It typically comes down to personal preference as to which kind of mouthpiece one settles on. I highly recommend the Ralph Morgan mouthpiece. I've tried every c-melody mouthpiece that I can lay my hands on and for me Morgan is head and shoulders above the others with respect to it's intonation and quality of sound. Again, this is my personal preference.
TomGK User ID: 8185963	Dec 20th 9:41 AM Hi Alan, Where did you purchase your Ralph Morgan mouthpiece? Thanks, Tom
TomGK User ID: 8185963	Dec 20th 9:53 AM Ooops, Roger that is, sorry. Did you buy it at junkdude? (I haven't had my morning cofeee yet.) Tom
Roger Aldridge User ID: 0631424	Dec 20th 11:36 AM Tom, I've ordered mouthpieces directly from Ralph as well as through Dave Hoskins at junkdude. But, about a year or so ago Ralph asked people to place orders with Junkdude rather than call him. Phone calls were taking up too much of his time. So, yes, if you're interested in a Morgan mouthpiece it's best to contact www.junkdude.com. As I've mentioned on other threads, all Morgan c-melody mouthpieces are in effect custom made. When I first asked Ralph to make a c-melody mouthpiece for me 3 or 4 years ago he said the start up costs for making a production line of mouthpieces (molds, etc) would be around $35,000. That was too much given the limited market for c-melody mouthpieces. But, I kept bugging Ralph and finally one of his guys suggested that they could take one of their large chamber tenor mouthpieces and modify it so that it would be acoustically correct for a c-melody. The tenor piece is shortened and the chamber is bored out so that it has the right measurements. This extra manual work is the reason for it's higher cost. On the down-side, it's not possible to try out a Morgan c-melody mouthpiece at Junkdude like you can try out other kinds of mouthpices at WWBW. But, on the up-side you won't have any doubt that you're getting a truly NEW mouthpiece -- one that hasn't been drifting through different players for who knows how long. One time I got an alto mouthpiece from WWBW that turned out to be 6 or 7 years old! True story. I was so put off by that happening that I stopped doing business with WWBW and have since used mostly Junkdude, Roberto's, or International Music Suppliers. These shops have reasonable prices, know their stuff, and provide excellent customer service. I've been much happier doing business with them than with WWBW.
WW2 User ID: 9955583	Dec 20th 12:18 PM I got my LeBlanc from WWBW (The Woodwind and Brasswind). The saxophone person I talked to on the phone was quite knowledgable. The LeBlanc is faced for Bb-Tenor reeds. I use it with a Rovner Dark ligature. So, as far as I know the LeBlanc uses Bb-Tenor Reeds, not Eb-Alto reeds.
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 9753653	Dec 20th 1:23 PM Wade, there's just something stirring in the recesses of my mind about one modern/current C-Mel mpc (maybe it was Beechler?) being faced for alto reeds - that memory probably got intertwined with WWBW quoting Leblanc 'alto c-melody'. I obviously need the latest patch for my memory retrieval logic....
TomGK User ID: 8185963	Dec 20th 5:29 PM I just recieved my Leblanc mouthpiece from WW&BW. Indeed, it takes TENOR reeds even though they list it as an alto. This is the fattest mpc I have ever had. Now I need to find a ligature that fits on this piggy. It looks brand new and I see no tooth marks, no ligature marks on it, or BBQ pork pieces inside the chamber. Peace, Tom
zootspiker User ID: 0534004	Nov 21st 2:28 PM Just bought a C-Mel for the first time (Primarily play tenor) It's a Buesher Low Pitch (144xxx) around 1923. I bought a Runyon with a 7 facing (I play 7, 7* & 8 on the tenor) Just went direct to their site. I had it repadded and set up by Lee at Lee's Saxworx in SanFrancisco and I have to say this is the easiest blowing horn I play. Solid brass, no laquer, so the entire body acts as a resonator. Still learnig this horn (ergonomics are a pain) but the tone. Wow! with a good set up the sound, the resonance and the undertones, it's like a tibetan monastery. FTR: My tenors are a 1959 MVI & SerII; Alto's '34 Chu Berry & YAS875)