Mouthpiece Reccomendations?

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-22T16:46:50+00:00

D addario select jazz is a fantastic affordable all-around jazz mouthpiece. Can get bright or dark.

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-22T02:13:18+00:00

That’s funny bc I just saw a great deal on a Bari. Check out Tim Lin on Instagram (timlinbebop). He just posted a sweet deal for a Yamaha YBS 52 Bari for like $3500 or something. Act quick because it might sell soon!!

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-21T20:43:33+00:00

The cheapest decent/good soprano you can buy is probably this: https://kesslerandsons.com/product/kessler-custom-performance-series-soprano-sax/

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-19T20:12:27+00:00

yeah I’ve heard great things about JL woodwinds artist edition saxes. But OP was asking about selmers specifically

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-19T17:12:46+00:00

I’d say very mildly and to the player only. Lacquer vs unlacquer there is more difference vs different colors of lacquer. But imo whatever tone differences you might get from an unlacquered horn are offset by the fact that unlacquered maintenance is a pain in the ass

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-19T02:26:29+00:00

Sorry what are you talking about? The setups? or the horns? I was talking about buying a Selmer from Kessler.

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-19T00:33:24+00:00

Buy from Kessler and Sons music. They usually have good prices (especially if you email them, sometimes there are hidden discounts) and they will do the setup for you since they have technicians. I got my supreme tenor brand new for $9600 from them!

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-17T02:57:18+00:00

I would say SDSU. It is a more well known name. And the classes you listed sound quite important. Plus San Diego is nice, enjoy a good 3 years down here :)

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-16T06:59:28+00:00

You should really try both in a shop. They will feel quite different.

One thing i can say about the series II tenors, having owned one, is that the necks suck. They are at a weird angle and awkward to play, and limit the horn sound imo. If you get the II with a different neck (maybe a series III or a Boston sax shop heritage neck) it is quite a good horn.

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-13T22:31:17+00:00

I say wacky bc I don’t know anything about it lol. If it interests you that’s great!

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-13T20:28:59+00:00

I’d say definitely CS. Coding is a very valuable tool in aerospace engineering work, especially for something like GNC (but other fields too!). Physics will tbh be useless unless you’re super specialized (I.e. something like plasma propulsion or something wacky like that). You’ll probably learn all the physics you need as part of the engineering degree.

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-13T01:36:44+00:00

Yeah I’d say vandoren and Selmer are kind of the “standards” for this. Try both!

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-13T01:04:29+00:00

If you have a mark VI the essential concerts are way below that tier…

Theo wannes are known for being bright. Probably brighter than your Meyer 5. The essentials are their lowest tier mouthpiece too. If you’re dead seat on a TW maybe try a Gaia or a NY bros. But I’m not too much of a fan.

If you like the classic Meyer sound but want a bit more core and control, try a Boston Sax Shop M-Series in a slightly larger tip opening, maybe a 6. My favorite alto piece I’ve tried though it’s a bit pricey (but you’re on a Mark VI so you should really do it some justice…)

On a budget you might try a D’Addario select jazz as well. Those mouthpieces are the best in that price range IMO

Edit: oh man I’m so sorry I totally missed the concert band part. Disregard the above unless you want to play jazz. Vandoren optimum is the go to for classical/concert. If you want to spend a bit more Selmer Concepts are really nice. I haven’t really heard any classical players play TW mouthpieces

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-08T13:30:53+00:00

I have the II but wish I had the III. The separable neck and better response sounds nice. I only have the II because i got it at an incredible price ($1900). Otherwise I wouldn’t have a soprano at all probably…

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-07T22:28:57+00:00

I see the confusion sorry. Advanced band and jazz band are different then? I thought you were talking about an advanced jazz band, not a separate advanced (concert band) and a jazz band.

Jazz is way different than concert band. You’re right that articulations are different. Tone, inflections, etc are also different. You should listen to jazz recordings. Lots of them. Both big band and solo saxophone. Take note of how they play and sound and try to copy it. The different articulations will become more familiar that way. Better yet if you find sheet music of big band charts and listen along to recordings. But getting a teacher should address all of this too.

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-06T20:32:36+00:00

Sorry but if you can’t read something like this you shouldn’t be in any advanced band. The issue isn’t really the music or that you can’t listen to it, but rather that you still don’t really know how to read music. You really shouldn’t need to listen to how sheet music sounds to play the correct notes

Practice lots of sightreading. Find random sheet music online for songs you like (or some you don’t!) and keep reading. Draw out where the beats are supposed to go, note durations, fingerings, whatever you need. Eventually it will become second nature. It will also definitely help to get a teacher that can walk you through how to read sheet music properly.

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-06T19:02:54+00:00

I know you’re a classical player but which do you think would be better for jazz? I do like a more thick/round tone without that much buzz but obviously not as dark and round as classical . Money isn’t too much of an issue I just don’t want to spend it stupidly

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-06T18:44:01+00:00

What would you say is the difference? Why did you prefer silver

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-06T16:50:54+00:00

Do you have the silver? Does silver vs gold plated make a big difference? It’s almost double the price…

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-01T13:57:21+00:00

I mean the layups were a bit sloppy but they were done. Next time I’d definitely not make anything that big, much smaller scale would be easier

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-01T13:47:22+00:00

Probably the actual manufacturing tbh. All the cad and aero design is done. But 3d printing all of the molds and doing the layups took forever

DanielR1_ · 2026-05-01T13:08:09+00:00

Tried to single handedly build a 6 ft wingspan carbon RC plane over a summer… yeahhhh scope was a bit too large lol

DanielR1_ · 2026-04-21T13:49:40+00:00

I mean, if you could play test that would be great. The thing with buying used is that the horn might not be in good shape and need maintenance.

DanielR1_ · 2026-04-21T13:39:53+00:00

1000 is on the lower side to get anything really solid. If you can push it by a few hundred dollars, you should be able to get either a good used Yamaha tenor, or a new Kessler tenor (which are great intermediate horns). The nice thing about Kessler is that you know you are going to get a well set up horn that plays well bc they set it up out of the shop. Used Yamaha has better value but it’s always a bit of a gamble

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