Classic Mouthpiece Set - Ups

Have you ever found yourself listening to your music collection and wondering – ‘why is it that I don’t sound like this?’ – well the frustrating truth is that practise is probably the only real answer to this question.  However the right mouthpiece set up can give you a head start and lead you in the right direction to imitate your saxophone hero’s sound

A common conundrum with mouthpiece set- ups can be the searching through reviews (often written by the manufacturers themselves) and trying to make relative sense of terms such as ‘rich’ or ‘full bodied tone’.  (I can’t think of any professional player I’ve heard that doesn’t have both of these qualities…)  - So in order to give you a helping hand here’s a concise list of some greats and their mouthpiece choices.

Gerald Albright- Beechler White Diamond and Bellite

Cannonball Adderley - New York Meyer 5, Rico 2 or La Voz Medium Reeds - King Super 20 alto

Bob Berg  - Metal Selmer G, Metal Francios Louis, Rico Select or Medium La Voz Reeds - Selmer Mk VI

Michael Brecker  - Guardala Brecker Model, La Voz Reeds - Selmer Mk VI Tenor

Sam Butera- Berg Larsen Stainless Steel 120/3, Rico Plasticover 5


James Carter- Lawton 7*BB 

 John Coltrane - Metal Otto Link 5 star  - Rico # 4 reed

Clarence Clemons (Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band)- Dukoff D9
                         
Paul Desmond Gregory 4A-18M - Rico 3 1/2 Reeds - Selmer Super Balanced Action

Candy Dulfer- LeBayle Jazz Metal 8

Lou Donaldson Meyer 5, Rico 2 Reeds

Herschel Evans Otto Link "Master Link"

Kenny Garrett- Selmer Soloist E

Stan Getz Otto link 8*

Coleman Hawkins Metal Otto Link

Joe Henderson Selmer Soloist D, La Voz Medium Soft Reeds

Bob Mintzer Berg Larsen 95/0 Hard Rubber, Selmer Mk VI Tenor

Charlie Parker Brilhart 3

Maceo Parker Brilhart 5 (Ebolin)

Joshua Redman Metal Otto Link 9* - Selmer Super Balanced Action

Sonny Rollins Berg Larsen 130/2

David Sanborn Dukoff D7, D9

Lee Thompson (Madness)- Selmer Jazz Metal F

Ben Webster Metal Otto Link 9, Rico 3 1/2 Reeds

Phil Woods Meyer 5, La Voz medium reeds

Lester Young Otto Link "Master Link"

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