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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Mouthpieces Reeds and Ligatures / List of New C Melody Mouthpieces

Next 20 Messages

TomGK
User ID: 9189423 Jan 14th 11:14 AM
Hello,

This is an attempt to create a list of available new C Melody mouthpieces. Hopefully it will help people who just get started with C Mels (like myself).

The list so far:
1. LeBlanc (through WWBW) $
2. Beechler (through WWBW) $
3. Runyon (directly from Runyon) $$
4. Ralph Morgan (through junkdude.com) $$$

Any others?

Thanks,
Tom

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 0631424 Jan 14th 12:10 PM
Bill Street makes a c-melody mouthpiece that appears to be a vintage reproduction. I have no ordering information. Perhaps if you do a google search on 'Bill Street mouthpiece' something might come up. If memory serves, I think that he's teaches at a college or university in Maine.

I've heard that Meyer (Babbitt Company) makes a c-melody mouthpiece. But, I've never had an oppurtunity to try one.

These and the ones on your list are the commonly-known modern c-melody mouthpieces that I'm aware of. Besides these, it might be possible to have a mouthpiece designer like Ed Philliger (sp?) make a custom piece for c-melody. A final thought is that one can send a vintage c-melody mouthpiece a good mouthpiece refacer and have him make some modifications to the facing so that it plays more like a modern mouthpiece.

Making a list like this is a good idea. It might be helpful to take it a step further and list some information about each mouthpiece such as available tip openings, chamber style, user comments, etc. What do you think?

Roger

SelmerSaxman
User ID: 8534863 Jan 14th 12:54 PM
there are dozens, of abhorently more reliable sources for those mouthpieces than wwbw.

mossite
User ID: 9865253 Jan 14th 1:14 PM
Zinner in Germany makes two different c-melody mouthpieces and as what i have heared they are extremly good.
One is more like the old vintage ones and the other one is a modern on. Price is o.k. something around 90-100 Euro.

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 0631424 Jan 14th 1:44 PM
Mossite,

This is the first that I've heard of Zinner c-melody mouthpieces. That's great news! I would expect them to be very good, indeed. Can you give us more information about them? Where can they be ordered?

I agree with SelmerSaxman about WWBW. Personally, I've had mixed experiences with them. Sometimes they've been absolutely fine. But, I've also had some terrible experiences with WWBW and boycotted them for several years. I've found Junkdude, Roberto's, and International Music Suppliers to have MUCH BETTER customer service and product knowledge. Perhaps we could check around and make a list of music shops that carry c-melody mouthpieces. What do you think?

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 2630464 Jan 14th 4:14 PM
Mo - interesting about the Zinner C-Mel mpcs, in fact I saw them mentioned on your website the other day.

Must be a bit recent, I look on the Zinner site a lot (they sent me a replacement cap for my alto mpc, the one I now use on C-Mel - nice people) but I don't remember seeing the C-Mel mouthpiece. So they think there is a market ? Nice !

Roger, they have an English page (sorry, they don't speak American), the link is -
http://www.hans-zinner.de/Produkte/Hans_Zinner_English/hans_zinner_english.html

I've emailed with Kirsten Zinner, whose English is very good, she can supply dealer info, or even deal direct with you.

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 2644644 Jan 14th 10:10 PM
Alan,

Thanks for the link. I found a c-melody mouthpiece listed under jazz saxophone. It's model #78C. I definitely want to hear more details about it!

mossite
User ID: 0645514 Jan 15th 3:32 AM
Roger: the 78C is the modern version and costs regular 103 Euro. The 62c is the "old" version and costs 97 Euro.
I can get these mouthpieces since i have a small shop over here in Germany. For C-Melody Forum members I would give some discount, but don´t shout it around :).

Yes, Zinner makes indeed very remarkable mouthpieces over a long time.

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 2630464 Jan 15th 4:12 AM
Mo, I'll remember that (sshhh...) possible discount if/when I need a matching Zinner/Strathon - with the slider - for my tenor. Currently I'm using an alto Zinner/Strathon with remarkable results on my Martin C-Mel.

I can go from edgy to mellow without changing mouthpieces. I got that mouthpiece out of Don Macrill's 'junk box' when I bought my Martin alto - great deals in old music shop junk !

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 2644644 Jan 15th 10:33 AM
Mossite,

Thank you for your generous offer! I'd like to order a 78C from you. If it's not a problem, could you or Alan translate the available tip openings for the Zinner mouthpieces from mm to inches? I'm used to using mm for clarinet mouthpieces and inches for saxophone mouthpieces. I'm currently using either a .085 or .090 opening for my Morgan c-melody pieces. I don't know how that would relate to the facing curve and chamber style that Zinner uses. In terms of reed strength match to the mouthpiece, I use #2.5 Alexander Classique reeds. They are stronger than most other reeds. A #2.5 Classique is fairly comparable to a #3 Alexander DC and a #3.5 Alexander Superial. Hope this helps.

Please email me at nancyandrog@earthlink.net for further conversation and payment arrangements.

Thanks again, Roger

mossite
User ID: 1348824 Jan 15th 1:49 PM
Roger, you got mail

here a little more info on the mpc.
The models:
The old fashion one
62C C-Melody Sax. mouthpiece“HC" ZINNER ebonite
Chamber: parallel sidewalis
The modern one
78C C-Melody. mouthpiece Jazz ZINNER ebonite
Chamber: round with special bore

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 2630464 Jan 15th 3:16 PM
Roger, I'll post this here instead of mailing direct. I've looked on the Zinner 'facings' page, and they don't list any facings at all for the new C-Melody 78C (that I can see) so therefore there's nothing to convert - it would probably mean an email to info@hans-zinner.de to find what they offer.

I've dealt with Carsten Zinner ( and just seeing his photo I realise he is a man, not a woman....) and you can correspond in English. Zinner should hopefully be able to relate to Morgan 85/90 thou - I see from the photo's on the website Zinner were recently at a US mouthpiece convention so they're in the mainstream of things.

As a general rule of thumb, I convert using
0.05mm = 2 thou
0.1mm = 4 thou
1.0mm = 40 thou
2.0mm = 80 thou

therefore 0.090" (90 thou) = 2.25 mm - but, as you say, slope & length are other factors. In the absence of C-Mel facings I'm sorry I can't offer much else.

Seems an interesting mouthpiece, I may well indulge myself. Coincidentally, looking at their alto sax facings, 85-90 thou equates very (very) closely to my 7* Zinner-Strathon alto mpc that I'm currently using on C-Mel......... (I can't call it an 'adjustotone' because it isn't marked as such, I think mine is earlier). Roger, seems we agree on tip openings for C-Mel mouthpieces at least !

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 2630464 Jan 15th 3:37 PM
Roger - looking again, the difference between Zinner alto & tenor facings is only .05mm (2 thou), and C-Mel has to be in-between those two, so probably a 7 (most open shown) is in the ballpark (always wanted to say that americanism...) - but better to email, I suspect.

The other question to ask is, of course, are they faced for tenor reeds...

TomGK
User ID: 8185963 Jan 15th 9:06 PM
Mo,

I would be interested in buying a Zinner #78C mouthpiece with a #7 facing as well.

Thanks,
Tom

mossite
User ID: 0324974 Jan 16th 4:01 AM
I have talked to a friend of mine who is mouthpiece refacer. He said the Classic model is perfekt for the old Buescher, Conn, Martin etc. More mellow and smooth in sound easy to controll.

The Jazz version is more modern, edgy and agressive. Maybe a little harder to controll and leads the sax in a different dircetion (sound) than the classical one. Both are probably an expirience! Zinner are definetly great mouthpieces and are around for a long time. So they know what they are doing.

Tom, drop me a mail info@smartandsold.de

blue9girl9
User ID: 8910463 Jan 30th 8:34 AM
i would be interested in trying this mouthpiece, too. thanks.

soybean
User ID: 0401124 Feb 2nd 5:07 PM
(2008) Another one to add to the list of C-mel mouthpieces: David Jary.

GHOST
User ID: 0485244 Feb 18th 7:50 AM
There is any international shipping online shop for any of these mpcs?
In my country, people doesn´t know what is a c-mel.

gmbelliveau
User ID: 6981353 Mar 10th 9:25 PM
I don't see any mention of Aquilasax mouth piece, any reason why?

alan (uk) '08
User ID: 1278884 Mar 11th 6:55 AM
gm - Aquilasax is mentioned elsewhere, but yes, strangely not here. I think the early part of this thread is quite old, probably before Steve brought them out... I'll rectify that by putting in a link to some pics, so you can see them - at the price Steve (Aquilasax) charges, every C-Mel player should have one in their case...

http://www.cmelodysax.co.uk/saxophones/aquilasax-mpcs.htm

You can get them direct from Steve, here (or he often has them on ebay, sells as 'scwedges' )

http://aquilasax.com/Accessories_sale.html

++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Ebay seller Tampa Dave (dave4tampa) also sells Babbit C-mel mouthpieces for $24 (plastic) and $38 (ebonite), plus ligs, caps etc.

** No connection to either, just passin' on info.**

Next 20 Messages

TomGK User ID: 9189423	Jan 14th 11:14 AM Hello, This is an attempt to create a list of available new C Melody mouthpieces. Hopefully it will help people who just get started with C Mels (like myself). The list so far: 1. LeBlanc (through WWBW) $ 2. Beechler (through WWBW) $ 3. Runyon (directly from Runyon) $$ 4. Ralph Morgan (through junkdude.com) $$$ Any others? Thanks, Tom
Roger Aldridge User ID: 0631424	Jan 14th 12:10 PM Bill Street makes a c-melody mouthpiece that appears to be a vintage reproduction. I have no ordering information. Perhaps if you do a google search on 'Bill Street mouthpiece' something might come up. If memory serves, I think that he's teaches at a college or university in Maine. I've heard that Meyer (Babbitt Company) makes a c-melody mouthpiece. But, I've never had an oppurtunity to try one. These and the ones on your list are the commonly-known modern c-melody mouthpieces that I'm aware of. Besides these, it might be possible to have a mouthpiece designer like Ed Philliger (sp?) make a custom piece for c-melody. A final thought is that one can send a vintage c-melody mouthpiece a good mouthpiece refacer and have him make some modifications to the facing so that it plays more like a modern mouthpiece. Making a list like this is a good idea. It might be helpful to take it a step further and list some information about each mouthpiece such as available tip openings, chamber style, user comments, etc. What do you think? Roger
SelmerSaxman User ID: 8534863	Jan 14th 12:54 PM there are dozens, of abhorently more reliable sources for those mouthpieces than wwbw.
mossite User ID: 9865253	Jan 14th 1:14 PM Zinner in Germany makes two different c-melody mouthpieces and as what i have heared they are extremly good. One is more like the old vintage ones and the other one is a modern on. Price is o.k. something around 90-100 Euro.
Roger Aldridge User ID: 0631424	Jan 14th 1:44 PM Mossite, This is the first that I've heard of Zinner c-melody mouthpieces. That's great news! I would expect them to be very good, indeed. Can you give us more information about them? Where can they be ordered? I agree with SelmerSaxman about WWBW. Personally, I've had mixed experiences with them. Sometimes they've been absolutely fine. But, I've also had some terrible experiences with WWBW and boycotted them for several years. I've found Junkdude, Roberto's, and International Music Suppliers to have MUCH BETTER customer service and product knowledge. Perhaps we could check around and make a list of music shops that carry c-melody mouthpieces. What do you think?
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 2630464	Jan 14th 4:14 PM Mo - interesting about the Zinner C-Mel mpcs, in fact I saw them mentioned on your website the other day. Must be a bit recent, I look on the Zinner site a lot (they sent me a replacement cap for my alto mpc, the one I now use on C-Mel - nice people) but I don't remember seeing the C-Mel mouthpiece. So they think there is a market ? Nice ! Roger, they have an English page (sorry, they don't speak American), the link is - http://www.hans-zinner.de/Produkte/Hans_Zinner_English/hans_zinner_english.html I've emailed with Kirsten Zinner, whose English is very good, she can supply dealer info, or even deal direct with you.
Roger Aldridge User ID: 2644644	Jan 14th 10:10 PM Alan, Thanks for the link. I found a c-melody mouthpiece listed under jazz saxophone. It's model #78C. I definitely want to hear more details about it!
mossite User ID: 0645514	Jan 15th 3:32 AM Roger: the 78C is the modern version and costs regular 103 Euro. The 62c is the "old" version and costs 97 Euro. I can get these mouthpieces since i have a small shop over here in Germany. For C-Melody Forum members I would give some discount, but don´t shout it around :). Yes, Zinner makes indeed very remarkable mouthpieces over a long time.
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 2630464	Jan 15th 4:12 AM Mo, I'll remember that (sshhh...) possible discount if/when I need a matching Zinner/Strathon - with the slider - for my tenor. Currently I'm using an alto Zinner/Strathon with remarkable results on my Martin C-Mel. I can go from edgy to mellow without changing mouthpieces. I got that mouthpiece out of Don Macrill's 'junk box' when I bought my Martin alto - great deals in old music shop junk !
Roger Aldridge User ID: 2644644	Jan 15th 10:33 AM Mossite, Thank you for your generous offer! I'd like to order a 78C from you. If it's not a problem, could you or Alan translate the available tip openings for the Zinner mouthpieces from mm to inches? I'm used to using mm for clarinet mouthpieces and inches for saxophone mouthpieces. I'm currently using either a .085 or .090 opening for my Morgan c-melody pieces. I don't know how that would relate to the facing curve and chamber style that Zinner uses. In terms of reed strength match to the mouthpiece, I use #2.5 Alexander Classique reeds. They are stronger than most other reeds. A #2.5 Classique is fairly comparable to a #3 Alexander DC and a #3.5 Alexander Superial. Hope this helps. Please email me at nancyandrog@earthlink.net for further conversation and payment arrangements. Thanks again, Roger
mossite User ID: 1348824	Jan 15th 1:49 PM Roger, you got mail here a little more info on the mpc. The models: The old fashion one 62C C-Melody Sax. mouthpiece“HC" ZINNER ebonite Chamber: parallel sidewalis The modern one 78C C-Melody. mouthpiece Jazz ZINNER ebonite Chamber: round with special bore
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 2630464	Jan 15th 3:16 PM Roger, I'll post this here instead of mailing direct. I've looked on the Zinner 'facings' page, and they don't list any facings at all for the new C-Melody 78C (that I can see) so therefore there's nothing to convert - it would probably mean an email to info@hans-zinner.de to find what they offer. I've dealt with Carsten Zinner ( and just seeing his photo I realise he is a man, not a woman....) and you can correspond in English. Zinner should hopefully be able to relate to Morgan 85/90 thou - I see from the photo's on the website Zinner were recently at a US mouthpiece convention so they're in the mainstream of things. As a general rule of thumb, I convert using 0.05mm = 2 thou 0.1mm = 4 thou 1.0mm = 40 thou 2.0mm = 80 thou therefore 0.090" (90 thou) = 2.25 mm - but, as you say, slope & length are other factors. In the absence of C-Mel facings I'm sorry I can't offer much else. Seems an interesting mouthpiece, I may well indulge myself. Coincidentally, looking at their alto sax facings, 85-90 thou equates very (very) closely to my 7* Zinner-Strathon alto mpc that I'm currently using on C-Mel......... (I can't call it an 'adjustotone' because it isn't marked as such, I think mine is earlier). Roger, seems we agree on tip openings for C-Mel mouthpieces at least !
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 2630464	Jan 15th 3:37 PM Roger - looking again, the difference between Zinner alto & tenor facings is only .05mm (2 thou), and C-Mel has to be in-between those two, so probably a 7 (most open shown) is in the ballpark (always wanted to say that americanism...) - but better to email, I suspect. The other question to ask is, of course, are they faced for tenor reeds...
TomGK User ID: 8185963	Jan 15th 9:06 PM Mo, I would be interested in buying a Zinner #78C mouthpiece with a #7 facing as well. Thanks, Tom
mossite User ID: 0324974	Jan 16th 4:01 AM I have talked to a friend of mine who is mouthpiece refacer. He said the Classic model is perfekt for the old Buescher, Conn, Martin etc. More mellow and smooth in sound easy to controll. The Jazz version is more modern, edgy and agressive. Maybe a little harder to controll and leads the sax in a different dircetion (sound) than the classical one. Both are probably an expirience! Zinner are definetly great mouthpieces and are around for a long time. So they know what they are doing. Tom, drop me a mail info@smartandsold.de
blue9girl9 User ID: 8910463	Jan 30th 8:34 AM i would be interested in trying this mouthpiece, too. thanks.
soybean User ID: 0401124	Feb 2nd 5:07 PM (2008) Another one to add to the list of C-mel mouthpieces: David Jary.
GHOST User ID: 0485244	Feb 18th 7:50 AM There is any international shipping online shop for any of these mpcs? In my country, people doesn´t know what is a c-mel.
gmbelliveau User ID: 6981353	Mar 10th 9:25 PM I don't see any mention of Aquilasax mouth piece, any reason why?
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1278884	Mar 11th 6:55 AM gm - Aquilasax is mentioned elsewhere, but yes, strangely not here. I think the early part of this thread is quite old, probably before Steve brought them out... I'll rectify that by putting in a link to some pics, so you can see them - at the price Steve (Aquilasax) charges, every C-Mel player should have one in their case... http://www.cmelodysax.co.uk/saxophones/aquilasax-mpcs.htm You can get them direct from Steve, here (or he often has them on ebay, sells as 'scwedges' ) http://aquilasax.com/Accessories_sale.html ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ Ebay seller Tampa Dave (dave4tampa) also sells Babbit C-mel mouthpieces for $24 (plastic) and $38 (ebonite), plus ligs, caps etc. No connection to either, just passin' on info.