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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Mouthpieces Reeds and Ligatures / Mouth piece for Bb soprano

Ken UK User ID: 1689844	May 6th 3:41 AM A couple of years ago I bought a new Jupiter straight Bb soprano. I only use it in one number with the band, so the oboe sounding mouth piece that came with it is still the only one I have. I don't tend to practice much with the sop though I've found that using a 3 reed helps the tone quality, but not my control! I can work on that by using it more, but I wondered if the collective consciousness out there might have some thoughts on what to look for without breaking the bank.
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	May 6th 7:00 AM I know some people swear at them, but the cheap Rico Royal mouthpieces don't sound that bad on soprano. You can't get them in the red boxes anymore (Metallite), because (of course) they had to discontinue the better ones - but the blue box Graftonite are fine, some music shops have stock, go for the B or C chambers, and don't pay more than £20... Or, alternatively, I have a very clean Hermes (USA) student mouthpiece plus lig that you are very welcome to borrow/try until you find something better. I bought it to go with my Jupiter Sop in case I ever sold it, which I doubt (the stock Jupiter mpc really is a silly little thing, that I wouldn't wish that on anybody, and I'd like to keep the Meyer I use...). Let me know your address by email, and it'll be whanging off to you soonest.. I'll enclose a couple of Rico #2 reeds, #3 is a touch on the masochistic side unless you've good clarinet chops !
Ken UK User ID: 1689844	May 6th 9:03 AM That's a very kind offer Alan.
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	May 6th 12:01 PM So email me your address before I turn back into a miserable old git...... :-))
Ken uk User ID: 1689844	May 6th 1:00 PM Done.
Ken uk User ID: 1689844	May 6th 1:04 PM Done.
Ken UK User ID: 1689844	May 10th 4:18 PM Alan, Thanks for the loan of the Hermes mouth piece which arrived today. It is very similar in size to the Jupiter, but the main difference is the larger tip opening which gives it more guts than the Jupiter. The 2 reed feels quite enough to deal with, thanks. I'll keep using it and will also try some mp's out at MIR when I have a free Saturday afternoon.
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	May 10th 5:29 PM Ken - I'll post my reply to you here, it may help others. I feel lucky in having played clarinet before soprano - I'd hate to go straight from tenor. ======email to ken ======= Ken, if it's any help, soprano setup often defies logic. I use an open 8* mpc and #3 (or harder) reed on tenor/C-Mel, but on soprano I never use above #2 reed and with a much closer tip opening, e.g. 6. You do have to work hard on a much firmer and controlled (without becoming rigid or clamping) embouchure. It's easy to say, but bloody hard to put into practise. And beware of MIR selling you an expensive soprano mouthpiece, anything can sound amazing mid-register, but it's the lows and highs which matter. That's why (with soprano) it's better to stick with a basic mouthpiece and work on the embouchure, rather than search for an 'instant solution' mouthpiece. Tempting, I know, but you can end up spending a lot of money.... The road to financial hell is paved with good intentions ! As we both know...........
Guwapo User ID: 9363883	May 18th 5:21 AM I also use the same set-up on my two Bb soprano saxes, a one-piece two-tone Amati Corton curved soprano of date 1955 (very rare and plays as sweet as a nut) and a Buescher silver straight of date 1926. my set-up is a Yanagisawa 5C, with the brass ligature that came with it and a #3 reed on both.