Are metal mouthpieces better?
Metal mouthpieces produce more of a bright sound (as the metal is more resonant, not as absorbent as the hard rubber). So if you are an alto player (like me) you may not want this, as altos already have a brighter sound by default.
What does a metal saxophone mouthpiece do?
The metal sound vs the hard rubber sound Not the material from which it’s made. An advantage of metal mouthpieces is that because the material is stronger, the piece itself doesn’t need to be as thick. For tenor and bari saxes this is especially desirable because they can feel much slimmer or narrower.
Does mouthpiece affect saxophone sound?
Saxophone mouthpiece anatomy The saxophone is a wind instrument, so from an acoustic point of view, the material of the different components (including the mouthpiece) has no effect on the sound. In fact, it’s the internal geometry of the bore which is most important.
Why are saxophone mouthpieces so expensive?
Mouthpieces cost what they do because the guy who makes the mouthpiece has to eat, pay rent, drive around town and do everything a person who wants to have a life in this culture does. There are VERY few makers on this planet getting rich. The design and production of these items is often in itself very expensive.
How long does a saxophone last?
Distinguished SOTW Member, Forum Contributor 2007- Life expectancy for this type of vehicle is often seven years.
How long does it take to get used to a new saxophone mouthpiece?
It usually takes 3 days of playing a piece like 2-4 hours a day and then something magical happens.
Why do saxophones cost so much?
Some saxophones are based off very old designs while others are the result of many years of prototypes and testing with world class artists. The cost of R&D has to be built into the price. A huge part of the cost is labor. Even instruments that have machine stamped parts must still be assembled by trained workers.
What kind of mouthpiece should a saxophone player use?
Some people feel mouthpiece material has a direct impact on sound and some feel otherwise. Many people relate how school band conductors ask all players to use “hard rubber” pieces rather than metal to achieve desired sectional sounds. Some people think jazz requires a metal mouthpiece.
Why does proximity to a saxophone player matter?
Introduction. For the player, proximity to the saxophone gives some specific sonic effects not heard by other listeners. First, because of the proximity, a player will hear the direct sound in greater proportion to sounds reflected in the room which also are heard by a listener other than the player.
What are the dimensions of a Dukoff saxophone mouthpiece?
All internal and external dimensions of these two pieces appear the same, within the measurement error, except for the external throat dimension of the plastic piece where it contacts the sax cork being 0.08 mm thicker than the metal piece. The Dukoff mouthpieces have a pronounced internal baffle.
What happens when you Open Your Mouth on a saxophone?
A large beak opens up the oral cavity of the player and thereby changes the saxophone-mouth cavity resonance lengths. For example, soprano sax players learn that opening the oral cavity brings the often-sharp higher end of pitches flatter, right into tune.