In summer 2008 I got a Vandoren V16 for my tenor (T9). I have really liked the sound and it’s open enough to get me some volume. Later I ended up getting one for my alto. Overall, it seems like hard rubber gets a better sound than metal. Metal is brighter and can get you more volume though. It’s a matter of preference for your own sound.
It turns out Kirk Whalum is playing the V16 these days too!
I was talking with Sola the other day and he asked me, so I looked it up.
“Realizing that many players just like to “talk shop” and love trying out the “next new thing,” I’m glad I’ve found the mouthpiece that brings my sound up to ground zero… nothing in the way. Now I can concentrate on what really counts… developing a lovely, powerful, sensitive sound.”
Kirk Whalum (from his blog)
pls how can we nigerian get these rubber mouthpiece?
Hey Olatunji,
I assume that you could order them from a website/catalog like woodwind & brasswind?
-Neal
So can we now agree that rubber mouthpiece is much more better than metal muthpiece?
Neal: I’ve read the revues on people who have purchased the Sigurd M. Rasche “Top-Tones for the Saxophone”. Do you recommend this book for me as I’m pushing into the Altissimo area? I have read Lennys comments on altissimo. I have barely begun to hold the same note ( low Bflat) and play up the scale holding the same fingering but I do know how to practice that technique. Would Sigurds book be a waste of money for me? John Caito
Hey John,
I’ve got it, should help you with altissimo. Lenny Pickett can control the saxophone.
You could just work on harmonics for a bit and then move into the book, the control won’t happen immediately. Using the harmonics exercise to develop a foundation might be a good idea. How high up can you go now from low Bb?
-Neal