C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Mouthpieces Reeds and Ligatures / mouthpieces in "C "arsenal

Back 20 Messages

jazzbug1
User ID: 1836024 Apr 19th 2:13 PM
I am now playing a Holton Wiedoeft model C Melody, as mentioned in my recent blab. I rarely play R+B anymore, and if I do, its the trusty Conn 10M. However, in my jazz performances, I am using more C Melody. I have found the following mouthpieces very satisfactory:
1. Holton metal (rubber? coated). A classic dark sound which fits any C melody very well. It has beautiful large chamber sonority, but with a brightness from the metal. These pop up on EBay for $40-60.00. I also use one on my alto. They can be pushed to generate an aggressive sound when needed. Suggest opening the tip a bit.
2. Goldbeck metal. A bit more edge than the Holton and not quite as full. A more modern sound. I have a Goldbeck alto, but it is not capable of the volume of the Holton alto. The Goldbeck soprano is really great. The Goldbeck tenor produces a rather characterless sound on my 10M, almost like a student mouthpiece. I sold the tenor model on EBay. The Goldbeck baritone produces a beautiful warm sound on my "Chu Berry" model Conn. It is the best baritone mouthpiece I have ever played. Goldbeck mouthpieces are often expensive, but usually less than $100. I would like to try some of the new C melody mouthpieces, but don't want to spend the $$ and find out I don't like them. "C" you around.

bruce bailey
User ID: 9690803 Nov 26th 12:53 AM
Did you try any alto pieces? As I mentioned over at SOTW, I have better luck with my alto Super session than anything else on my Buescher. I still feel that a C is more alto-like than tenor.

Sam (NJ)
User ID: 0478154 Nov 26th 11:19 AM
Scott Robinson, probably the greatest exponent of the C Melody in the US, uses an alto mouthpiece on his C Melody.

ukebert
User ID: 1300074 Nov 26th 12:34 PM
modified alto mpc to be pedantic.

alan (uk)
User ID: 0651814 Nov 27th 7:05 AM
soybean - Metallites have the 'Mx' facing marks, are usually mottled grey, and have the big wedge baffle.

Graftonites are usually black (smooth or mottled), have Ax,Bx or Cx facing marks, and a smooth sloping baffle.

Not unusual for boxes to get mixed up in a store - if you have a source of Metallites, I need to buy a set to replace ones I've sold to a member of this forum. I'll let the buyer identify himself, should he wish. Lovely mouthpiece for the price, only downside I ever found, is that they can feel quite "chunky" in the mouth.

Bruce - I can happily use a couple of alto mouthpieces on Conn and Buescher C-Mels, but I find that small-chambered tenor pieces (along with the bigger tenor reed) give a bigger and more flexible sound on preferred Martin & King C-Mels.

(And) As I still also play alto, I like to experience quite a 'difference' between alto and C-Mel. If I ever did totally standardise on alto mpcs (may yet happen..) it would certainly make things easier with one less type of reed around - as I can't ever see me seriously playing tenor again, although tenor was used as a 'work-horse' probably 75% of the time when I made a living out of playing. How things change...

soybean
User ID: 0401124 Nov 27th 1:48 PM
(2007) I did try an alto piece on my new/old Holton. It works very well and is the best piece i have for that horn. I couldn't manage to fit any alto mpc on my Buescher neck.

alan (uk)
User ID: 0651814 Nov 27th 6:22 PM
Some of the necks have a more pronounced flange (?) on the cork end, making it difficult for smaller-bored mouthpieces to go far enough on to be in tune.

There is even a topic on SOTW where someone filed down the flange in order for an Aquilasax metal C mouthpiece to fit.

Back 20 Messages

jazzbug1 User ID: 1836024	Apr 19th 2:13 PM I am now playing a Holton Wiedoeft model C Melody, as mentioned in my recent blab. I rarely play R+B anymore, and if I do, its the trusty Conn 10M. However, in my jazz performances, I am using more C Melody. I have found the following mouthpieces very satisfactory: 1. Holton metal (rubber? coated). A classic dark sound which fits any C melody very well. It has beautiful large chamber sonority, but with a brightness from the metal. These pop up on EBay for $40-60.00. I also use one on my alto. They can be pushed to generate an aggressive sound when needed. Suggest opening the tip a bit. 2. Goldbeck metal. A bit more edge than the Holton and not quite as full. A more modern sound. I have a Goldbeck alto, but it is not capable of the volume of the Holton alto. The Goldbeck soprano is really great. The Goldbeck tenor produces a rather characterless sound on my 10M, almost like a student mouthpiece. I sold the tenor model on EBay. The Goldbeck baritone produces a beautiful warm sound on my "Chu Berry" model Conn. It is the best baritone mouthpiece I have ever played. Goldbeck mouthpieces are often expensive, but usually less than $100. I would like to try some of the new C melody mouthpieces, but don't want to spend the $$ and find out I don't like them. "C" you around.
bruce bailey User ID: 9690803	Nov 26th 12:53 AM Did you try any alto pieces? As I mentioned over at SOTW, I have better luck with my alto Super session than anything else on my Buescher. I still feel that a C is more alto-like than tenor.
Sam (NJ) User ID: 0478154	Nov 26th 11:19 AM Scott Robinson, probably the greatest exponent of the C Melody in the US, uses an alto mouthpiece on his C Melody.
ukebert User ID: 1300074	Nov 26th 12:34 PM modified alto mpc to be pedantic.
alan (uk) User ID: 0651814	Nov 27th 7:05 AM soybean - Metallites have the 'Mx' facing marks, are usually mottled grey, and have the big wedge baffle. Graftonites are usually black (smooth or mottled), have Ax,Bx or Cx facing marks, and a smooth sloping baffle. Not unusual for boxes to get mixed up in a store - if you have a source of Metallites, I need to buy a set to replace ones I've sold to a member of this forum. I'll let the buyer identify himself, should he wish. Lovely mouthpiece for the price, only downside I ever found, is that they can feel quite "chunky" in the mouth. Bruce - I can happily use a couple of alto mouthpieces on Conn and Buescher C-Mels, but I find that small-chambered tenor pieces (along with the bigger tenor reed) give a bigger and more flexible sound on preferred Martin & King C-Mels. (And) As I still also play alto, I like to experience quite a 'difference' between alto and C-Mel. If I ever did totally standardise on alto mpcs (may yet happen..) it would certainly make things easier with one less type of reed around - as I can't ever see me seriously playing tenor again, although tenor was used as a 'work-horse' probably 75% of the time when I made a living out of playing. How things change...
soybean User ID: 0401124	Nov 27th 1:48 PM (2007) I did try an alto piece on my new/old Holton. It works very well and is the best piece i have for that horn. I couldn't manage to fit any alto mpc on my Buescher neck.
alan (uk) User ID: 0651814	Nov 27th 6:22 PM Some of the necks have a more pronounced flange (?) on the cork end, making it difficult for smaller-bored mouthpieces to go far enough on to be in tune. There is even a topic on SOTW where someone filed down the flange in order for an Aquilasax metal C mouthpiece to fit.