Saxophone Mouthpieces

There are so many saxophone mouthpieces around today but which one should you choose? Do you go for new or do you opt for a used saxophone mouthpiece. What lay? What type of chamber? Opening size? Metal? Ebonite? Wood? How will it affect my sound? Can I afford it?

Sadly as it is at the moment the only way to suceed in buying a sax mouthpiece is to go to your local saxophone shop (if one exists!) and ask to try one or to buy one blind. Sound unheard. Or shop around the web. Again sound unheard

Saxophone Mouthpieces Cost Money

Sax mouthpieces can range in price from £10 all the way up to £300 plus. What you have to decide is 'is it worth it?' Unfortunately that's not a question you are going to be able to answer until you take it out of the box and give that first expectant blow to see if it's the sax tone you want

All Saxophone Players Don't Sound The Same

Don't be misled into thinking that because you're buying a mouthpiece that your favourite player has then that's how you are going to sound. It just doesn't work that way. You have to take into account that their pyhsical makeup is different to yours, as is their embouchre. They make the sound as much as the set up they use.

So Where Do I Buy A Saxophone Mouthpiece?

• A. Your local sax shop (a seemingly rare occurence) You'll probably need to take a reed or two with you. Make them differnet types so you can get some sort of appreciation of the sound of the piece. If you have different ligatures it would probably be a good idea to take them as well as they will help to give you an overall view. I would also recommend taking your current mothpiece with you so you can compare sounds with the same set up on the differing mouthpieces.

• B. Your local music shop. Ok, but you have to bear in mind that the likely hood of them knowing anything about saxophone mouthpieces is slim. As is the chance of them having anything other than a yamaha mouthpiece

• C. Online. Buying a mouthpiece online is not a bad as you may think. There is a very good online store that will happily give you advice about what to buy to suit what you require. They have a phoneline as well so you get to talk to somone about it and they do give good advice (that's my own personal view)

• D. Ebay. Hmmm! You can certainly get bargains on ebay, but beware. Make sure it's a named brand they are selling. Study the pictures carefully. Find sites that have pictures of the mouthpiece you are interested in and compare them. Do they look the same? Make sure the pictures show the face of the mouthpiece. The face needs to be smooth and scratch free otherwise you're going to get some horrible squeaks when you blow, then you are just going to be disappointed and a little miffed.

How Many Saxophone Mouthpieces Do You Need?

Finally, don't go buying one a week. It's just pointless. You never really get used to playing the saxophone mouthpieces. This approach will only cost you vast amounts of money and probably put you off playing the saxophone, period!

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