Mouthpiece Making as a Spiritual Path | Conversation with Theo Wanne
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- I sat down with saxophone mouthpiece maker Theo Wanne while at the Musikmesse for a conversation about saxophone mouthpieces, and the spiritual journey of music.
THEO WANNE MOUTHPIECES
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![#65 Geartest "Theo Wanne Durga 3 & 4 Comparision" [ENG]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kKX3GEfApgk/mqdefault.jpg)
I was telling my wife the benefits of Theo's work and I said that his mouthpieces are about $500. She replied, in jest, "That's pretty cheap for a lawyer." I plead the Vth (harmonic).
I don't get it.
I really love Theo's passion and dedication to improve.. He is just as much an artist as all us musicians looking for our sound. Great video!
If a player can get as consistently and so well-made mouthpiece he can, (say like Theo's), I can tell, no matter how expensive it may look on the first sight, it is the best investment one can make. It saves tons of money and nerves in the long run. It can be your mouthpiece for life. You can rely on it to always deliver your trademark sound, and it moves the bars of your playing higher and higher.
Agree
Amen on "the nerves"!
Ahh , just like my old bronze Berg Larsen.
as a professional sax player i find it rare to come across a channel that somehow caters to all levels of playing/knowledge. When I first found your channel I initially thought it was just for beginners and hobbyists.
i was so wrong! between your interviews, product reviews and actually useful tips/exercise and the like, it is hard to think of a better sax youtube channel. cheers brother!
I purchased a NY Bros for my alto Jan. 2018. Couldn't play it, even with a million reed changes. Excellent customer service. I sent it back to them in WA and told me the table was warped! Not only did they send me a new one but the new and improved NY Bros 2! Couldn't be happier with that mellow sound but bright when needs to be.
Thanks for sharing.
I had that problem with hard rubber mouthpieces, even really high-end, custom pieces. I only had one, a Ponzol, where the table was perfectly flat. Given the integrity of the makers/re-facers involved, I’m sure they didn’t leave their shop that way. I don’t know, but I’m guessing they may be subject to heat during transit and that can damage the hard rubber mouthpiece. I only order them during the cooler months now and I haven’t had any more problems with this.
Most interesting and informative interview I've seen in quite some time.
I love how Theo has design inspirations come to him in dreams. As an engineer, I've had that same experience with solutions to engineering problems. It's interesting how the brain works.
Maybe it was not only a brain? :)
I heard he is buddist
Theo Wanne is a God-gifted addition to the sidewalks of our community. Met him on a downtown corner with a friend and we had an unforgettable random conversation. Our words have vibrations, and Theo and his friend were two of the loveliest people out and about that day. Look up the meaning of his name;)
I awoke at 2am to learn more about how to choose a mouthpiece. I chose my hard rubber Durga 7 for my alto saxophone several years ago without any knowledge about the role of a mouthpiece. I love my Durga 7 because of its warm and soothing sound, but, I became interested in the Mindi Abair’s mouthpiece because I love her sound. I stumbled upon this video. So glad I did. I grew immensely! This interview was so meaningful. After I talk with a music technician about the size of my tip opening, I will place my order for a Mindi Abair mouthpiece.
Thank you Jay and Theo!
As a spiritual path! I love it. Just bought his GAIA 3 on your review. And I’m a rookie. Figured I might as well start with the best!
That alto playing with Theo's mouthpiece sounded amazing; lush, with tons of overtones.
Zvonimir Tosic yeah he should switch to tw
@@stangetz534 hes uses theo wanne on tenor, hes showcased tw on at least two videos I think
I saw Theo Wanna at the Musikmesse.. this was a very interesting Interview ..it s unbelievable what Theo is able to create
Theo's personality is so honest and real. Pretty refreshing.
Thank you for the great video, recently bought a Sax for new challenge, played guitar for 50 years, Jazz mostly. Hitting 60, love the transition, very inspiring!
okay, so basically what i learned in this video, STOP PLAYING MY TENOR LIKE I PLAY MY ALTO, thank you this will hopefully improve my tenor skill... hopefully
Great video! I’ve played on A LOT of different mouthpieces over the years and Theo’s are at the top of my list. I’ve played on almost every model he offers and they’re all great! I even have several of my students using his pieces and they notice the difference in comparison to what they were playing on before. I am really waiting for a hard rubber Durga for tenor sax. I absolutely love my Durga 3 alto sax hard rubber piece.
This is really wonderful. What an explanation about the Mouth Piece. Mind Blowing. Thanks for posting Jay.
Thnx for this one. Theo is doing a great job, more than great. Few years ago, like 10 I tryed one for tenor and I did`nt like it. Now I tryed the Lakshmi metal for tenor and OMG, he knows what he`s doing. The spirituality that (like everybody)I have, is now easier to play with this one. Thank you for the interview
Interesting and enjoyable interview. I was tickled when he talked about having synesthesia because I have it, too, although a different kind-- the auditory-tactile variety.
That man has passion for his work and life what more can a person ask from this life....great video....as a newbie I see all gear at a price point someone is will to pay for the ride...like a car a VW bug will get you down the road but a 911 will do the same with better feel and style...we all pass this way one time...well maybe
Some great Saxophonists played whatever mouthpiece that came with the horn ! I’ve only changed mouthpieces on my various woodwinds I play a few times over that past 52 years!
And then....there is God. We shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about what he is doing in our life. That’s the magical spirituality Of it all.....God. Thanks for the continued info. It is a blessing of God✌🏽
Read “Effortless Mastery” by Kenny Werner for more on this spiritual approach to music🔥
Armando Gutierrez YES!! Terrific book- I added notes all over my copy, you can’t help but interact with this book
Alex Jones-Anaya I totally agree🙏
Hey Jay. Great vid. Thanks for posting. Very interesting as usual. Have a couple of Theo's mouthpieces. All very very well made. All play wonderfully. Love them. The way he markets ...sells and speaks of the products is a little bit on transcendental side....if you know what I mean. Trying to be nice here. Thanks again.
Agreed! TW talks some twaddle but he makes awesome mouthpieces.
I have a theo wanne Durga for the Bari and it is the best mouthpiece I’ve played on. Theo wanne makes such great stuff!
I like it! Would that everyone had this level of passion for satisfying customers! The first plastic one I got from a dealer almost stopped me from playing altogether! Ralph Morgan was my first “other” type of experience! 🚀
Morgan mouthpieces are great.
Watching both of you talking with your hands and those mouthpieces standing up to the right of Mr. Wanne - I'm worried about him knocking one or all of them off of the table and onto the floor.
I was actually concerned about this the entire time too. My hands were far away, but I was sure those were going to get knocked over.
Fascinating conversation! I always learn something when listening to Theo; and not just about mouthpieces.
Theo is a scholar of mouthpieces. What an amazing professional! His products are top notch. I play a NY Bros 6 on alto (and also a Shiva2 6 for funk gigs) and I play a Gaia 6 on soprano.
I play Durga 1 on bari and alto. Best pieces I’ve ever played!
I own a GAIA 2 7* for alto and a Slant Sig 7* for tenor from Theo. Love both 😍 I agree with his aim to constantly improve his products but remain acutely conscious that his philosophy is borrowed from Apple. It also commercially extends the product cycle among a finite number of horn players.
I personally own 2 mouthpieces from him. A Gaia 2 for Tenor. And a Durga 3 for soprano saxophone... you either have a Theo Wanne saxophone mouthpiece, or you wished you had one....
meh
There are many makers out there . I have not tried one of Theo's, and am unlikely to at his prices. What makes his better than anyone else?
Stephen Gent the reason that they are great is the chart on his website that he uses to help you choose your mouthpiece. I chose a 7* because I prefer to play rock and jazz. I chose a Gaia because it’s an all around saxophone mouthpiece . Sort of like a revamped Otto Link. It’s got that Dexter Gordon sound. I fell in love with the ligature also. I also like the fact that I can fine tune my sound with different pressure plates. From titanium, brass, copper, and steel. As someone that likes to invent gadgets, I love his attention to detail. Each mouthpiece is individually numbered. The Computer Aided Design process assures precision. Kindly go to a shop where you can try one of his mouthpieces. You won’t be disappointed...
@@stephengent9974 They work, every time. And project.
Very inspiring video ! Thanks
Marvelous video !!... actually I do my meditation work playing long notes. Don't know if it is useful or not, but, to do it, you must love to do it...
Did he say that he is making a Durga 4....on Alto
That means it’s coming to bari soon, yeyee
I have a Durga 3 Metal Tenor piece 7*, A Gaia 2 Metal Tenor piece 8, and a Datta Metal Vintified tenor piece 8*. I love them all. Your sound will absolutely change on each of them. I'm becoming a bit of a mouthpiece junkie. I bought one new and the other two used on ebay. Haven't tried the HR ones mainly because I'm just playing metal pieces for now. To me they're definitely worth the investment.
No sax regret at all ..
Book coming soon.
Can you test 3 MPs, 5,6,7 same model. Thanks for making the video with Theowanne, for sure he has produced Mouthpieces for every type of music. Happy you are letting people know where they can discover new sax equipment.
Great discussion thank you
Very insightful interview! Really enjoyed this 👍🏾
Theo's page link was a "404" on your referred link. Just FYI. Thanks for you great work.
Yeah... Meditation time
Come back later
Thank you Andy.
love this stuff
Arthur Porter one of the greatest saxophone players of this time. The albums he made were nothing
Bebop
was his first love.
And oh my God.
Interesting and educational, thanks for sharing this video. It is really great that he's continually trying to improve the quality and capabilities of his mouthpieces, it is clear this is equally a passion as well as a business pursuit. Additionally, maybe this continued innovation will translate into lower prices (across the entire range of products) eventually too. Tough for me to justify paying over $500 for any one mpc given my satisfaction with more reasonably priced ones. I think you even did a video on this topic if I'm correct ;)
He has lower priced models available and is about to release even cheaper ones.
If it’s not on your budget there are many options that are great for less.
Great to hear! @@bettersax
For a more physical, slightly less spiritual approach, check out Dave Monette trumpets & mouthpieces
His approach is similar.
There’s a connection between the brain, the instrument, the sound and the audience.
He builds his stuff to be a direct connection to the audience and get anything else out of the way (mouthpiece, horn, room/environment)
Really in tune to the body, air & sound Good shit
Hi Jay! This is an awesome video. I'm always open to a better mouthpiece, and I know "Dr. Wanne's" gear is top notch... however, there are still some real basics I'm having trouble with before I feel like I should invest in a new mouthpiece. I've downloaded your sample of pentatonic impov and it's been great, and I want to get the full version. Does it include a practice guide to approach notes? That's where I feel like I need a lot of work. Do you have a video on it, or are you planning on making one?
Thanks. No rush to get a top dollar mouthpiece. There are lots of very good ones for much less money. the pentatonic patterns course does not cover approach notes.
Great interview Jay.
I am 100% positive that Mr. Theo Wanne is one of the greatest mouthpiece creators and refacers of all time, but without anywhere nearby to play test one, are they worth the money? I've really been wanting a Shiva as a powerhouse solo mouthpiece for my tenor, but I don't think I can rationalize dishing out that much for a mouthpiece.
Bonsoir par hasard est-ce que tu sais avec quel bec Sonny rollins joue ?
Great video!! When will the Durga 4 for Alto Sax be available?
@Rodney, later this year. Maybe October/November.
Great interview guys!
Man I’m in 8th grade symphonic/jazz band and I don’t have a clue what a pentatonic scale is. Could you make me a video?
DotzHyper scale degrees 1 2 3 5 6 8 so a C Major pentatonic scale would be C D E G A C
@@evandye2408got it thankss
it might not give you much information lol but its scratching the surface
@@evandye2408 nah actually i understand now. Its no 30 minute tutorial duh but i get it.
Quite an interesting and engaging interview/video. I was curious about the design principles that form the basis for mouthpiece and neck - seems like a lot of it is still quite heuristic and empirical
Would you recommend a metal mouthpiece for a alto player? The thing is one of these days I might try a metal mouthpiece for alto just to see how it compares with my hard rubber mouthpiece, which is a Selmer C* which I'm happy with. I know for tenor and bari metal mouthpieces would be fine for those instruments, because they are naturally low instruments. Alto and soprano however are naturally much brighter in sound. I would think with a metal mouthpiece that it would get out of control. What do you think?
I tried some of the metal alto pieces and they are great. Worth checking out.
Best to try and then you will know. Do you want loud and bright? That’s what you will get. I recommend metal for experienced players who have total control. My first Durga metal was an exciting experience, but after six months, I could sense I was annoying the neighbours. I plan to use my Durga again when the time and music is right. For now I use an NY Bros from Theowanne and find this mouthpeice gives a natural sound which is easier to make in to your own unique sound without too much colour from the MPs.
Alto generally has a darker sound than tenor in my experience. Mouthpiece material has nothing to due with the sound. It's all about the shape of the mouthpiece, though generally metal mouthpieces are designed to be more jazz oriented and have a brighter sound.
Love Theo's passion for mouthpieces and the saxophone but what's the deal with the white ski cap indoors?
Cold head. I do the same.
Great Review! What mouth piece do you like better, the Gaia 3 or Shiva 3 ? Or what is your favorite?
Excellent interview! As an amateur wind band player for 30+ years. Would a Theo mouthpiece help me be better? I now play an Otto Link Tone Edge 6.
I think you can benefit from Theo's mouthpieces. (1) Firstly, you can't get two OttoLinks to be of the same quality and the same tolerances. If you play in an orchestra, getting identically made mouthpieces can help control the overall sound, produce more consistent output without wasting too much time and nerves. (2) Also, a mouthpiece with higher tolerances gives you an opportunity to produce more nuances in your sound without too much hard work, and the ability to more easily adjust your sound to suit your orchestra.
Yes, is the answer, I also had a tone edge 5* and switched to A Durga which transformed my sound and improved my expression.
I’m from Bellingham Washington 😌
Looking fwd to your thoughts on his mouthpieces ...I am interested on the elements series.
yay Theo!
Very interesting. I didn't know much about these mouthpieces and why they're so expensive but now I understand. And now I'm thinking it might be worth saving up 300 bucks for a mouthpiece. I use a rubber Otto Link and was thinking about trying out the D'Addario Jazz mouthpiece, but now I'm wondering if I should save up for the Theo Wanne version of a Meyer.
Sax life,the greatest life for a poor kid.
My sax saved my life.....time after time.
Buenos días para principiantes que boquilla me recomienda
i like theo wanne sound
Nice video Jay. Coupla thoughts. Mic yourself as well as the subject. iRig lav mics can be daisy chained. Don't cutaway to yourself except for meaningingful interjections. Consider switching from camcorders to phones for ease of use and flexibility. Take many lessons from Scott Devine, but not all his video art should be emulated. I'll get my coat....
Yes, could have been better
What do you think about the New Water ART Mouthpiece?
Indeed an interesting conversation, but have always been of the thought that one hears the sound that one wishes to emulate and today its public information what the artist's sound you are trying to emulate and acquire that mouthpiece and the rest is your work. In my case I always loved Phil Woods sound so for the last 55 years I have used a Meyer 7 and have achieved that sort of sound I think, Have always had doubt in having someone work on a mouthpiece as I gather once you make alterations, its sort of a path of no return as I dont think that you could go back once alterations have been made; thus making it a trciky and dangerous path to take unless you have real clarity as to what your looking to improve and achive. Is my assertion correct, you think?
I used to think that too until I started having my mouthpieces refaced. The right person will improve it and bring out more of what you like in a mouthpiece while correcting the limitations.
Sure, best to buy a new MP.s or risk loosing your original sound
Have you played the Theo Wanne shakti alto sax? If so what is you opinion on it? It seems like a really affordable horn.
The way he loves funnily reminds me of the way one of the Japanese gangsters in a cartoon version of a TinTin comic laughs as though to stereotypically portray Asians :'D
Thank you Zvonimir. I think that I will be trying out some Theo Wanne mouth pieces.
Definitely worth checking out.
Can you make a video on how to play your intro please? I really want to know how you do it
I have Gaia 1 and Its really good… so Gaia 4 must be unreal 😂
I have a Gaia 2 tenor 6*. I feel it is not open enough. I am thinking to have it refaced to a 7 or 7*.
Is that a good idea?
I also thought about buying a Gaia 3 7*. Can anybody describe the difference between Gaia 2 and 3?
Thank you
7* works for me and is most popular facing.
This is a very fascinating conversation. I learn so much more with every video you post. I look forward to your next one. Speaking of mouthpieces, I have an antique C-Melody made by Conn in the early 1920's. Are there many mouthpieces available for this rare horn?
Theo's Water Alto Mouthpiece!
@@joshuamoreno3470 You sure that it will fit? The "stock" mouthpiece that came with it takes a Tenor reed. And I find that the opening of an Alto mouthpiece is too small, while a Tenor's is too big.
hmmm... i don't know then. Is the horn a C alto or a C tenor?
@@joshuamoreno3470 It is between an alto and a Tenor in size. Mine has a straight, Alto-like neck.
@@macmegmatt5 C melody mouthpieces often give a C melody saxophone a slightly muffled sound, which may or may not be what the player desires. Some players successfully use a tenor saxophone mouthpiece like Rico Graftonite or Metalite on a Conn straight-necked C-melody, modified by cutting off one centimeter of the mouthpiece shank, so it is not obstructed by the microtuner with their C melody saxophone, though depending on which mouthpiece type is chosen like a long shank or short shank there may be problems regarding the accuracy of intonation, particularly at the upper end of the range. As a result, some experimentation may be required in order to find a tenor mouthpiece which provides accurate intonation across the entire scale. Other players have successfully fitted alto saxophone mouthpieces to their C melody saxophones. As before, some experimentation may be required. With a more modern mouthpiece fitted, a C melody saxophone can lose some of its muted qualities and sound brighter, with more of the sonic power that an alto or tenor saxophone gives. Currently, there are a number of manufacturers producing C melody mouthpieces e.g. Beechler, Ralph Morgan, Runyon, Aquilasax and others. Try experimenting. Talk to experts like the Theo Wanne team. Shoot them an email at: info@theowanne.com
where does theo say his own last name in this video?
Which mouthpiece are you using in the clips?
I'm 63.brought Sonny Stitt home to dinner.
Son of Stitt! I'm wasn't the only one,
Unbelievable testimonies of how God introduced me to
L T D. One nite in Chirac.
How does the little lick go in the intro?
When are you going to do a sorparno sax unboxing
As soon as this vid started I recalled a previous post that it seemed like you were down on mouth piece manufacturers... could you explain how this was different. :-)
You may be confusing with ligatures. Big difference. Mouthpieces are extremely important and every detail counts.
More name dropping please..
I’m selling all mine (7 of them)
Ian Sim Durga for alto?
RC-brand yes, size 7
I have an original Gaia HR alto mouthpiece. It's a great sounding mouthpiece. However, there is a recessed portion on the beak that is there to accept a patch. I don't like patches, don't use them. So, I'm not playing the Gaia anymore. I also don't like the Enlightened ligature. I comes off if you have to adjust to tune up. And then there's that lame reed protector where you need to loosen the ligature to put it on? I wish Theo would just make a straight forward mouthpiece without all these extra gimmicks.
So awesome. I have
Sax scychology for any any city kid fighting gangs.
Some other saxophone player on YT said, it's better to take the most basic mouthpiece you can find and work it. All these fancy mouthpieces that do your work for you will reduce your progress.
What's your take?
That is not true. And I am not writing this as a matter of a personal debased opinion: I played in a large orchestra with many woodwinds. A very good mouthpiece, well made and consistently produced so that each copy is made exactly the same, brings great benefits to the soloists, and to the orchestra. Orchestra > The tone several instruments produce can be made even more easily, and the entire section can be controlled better. The soloist > Utmost reliability; it creates a consistent sound that the player is searching for and is recognised for. Constant sound quality and sound type is the trademark of each soloist. If something odd happens during playing, you can exclude the mouthpiece from an equation and investigate your saxophone, reed, crook, etc. If the mouthpiece is lost, the new one replaces it and deliver the same performance without time wasted for refacing and searching "for a good copy". If a player can get as best mouthpiece as possible, consistently made, I can tell, no matter how expensive it is, it is the best investment one can make and saves tons of money and nerves in the long run.
@@zvonimirtosic6171 You miss my question entirely.
Of course consistency and reliability is important. But if you don't misplace your equipment, you won't need to replace it. The Theo Wanne price tag might be a good incentive to keep your stuff in order.
Theo Wanne says it himself: He produces mouthpieces for expert players. Saxophonists with 30 years of experience like Jay can do anything on any mouthpiece (as Jay showed time and time again). But lets say you pick up a T.W. Shiva with a high baffle - how does it affect, lets say, your practice of subtones, if you're not a professional musician.
The T.W. are amazing pieces of craftsmanship and you can find brilliant saxophonists sounding amazing, but are they worthwhile to practice technique or just F1 cars for expert drivers?
I think for your first few years getting a good "stock" mouthpiece is the way to go. You need to develop your skills on an "average" mouthpiece instead of getting something that you think makes you sound "great" but is actually on the extreme of parameters. And additionally, a beginner won't be getting the top-end benefits like a Wanne and frankly will be overspending. You are better off developing your skill base and seeing what sound you are after, what backpressure works for you, what tip opening works for you, etc. and then seeking out something like what Theo offers.
I had the privilege as a young player to have my Meyer worked on by Frank Wells. It was a great experience to go through the process just like Theo describes it -- how is the pressure, how is the response, do you want it brighter or darker? This process took several hours. What I hear Theo saying is, with my mouthpieces you will be getting 80% of that experience without having to hunt down a master refacer to work with you one on one.
@@Voivode Those mouthpieces can help a player get faster in the track he wishes to be. They save precious time. And they can help a lesser horn to be more manageable, worthwhile and playful (because of the extremely high level of craftsmanship of the mouthpiece, the intonation, tone stability also improve). I have Theo's Ambika (rubber) for the tenor, and can testify that it opens up all new universe of possibilities.
@@johncarey8485 What you write is a common misconception that comes from the folks who never worked with many newcomers to the orchestra. Give the student a better instrument and a great mouthpiece, and the student quicker understands what the real sound is all about. The enthusiasm grows because the instrument really responds, and music delivers on the promise.
Mind you, we talk about saxophone mouthpieces, not acoustic guitars. The difference between a generic and a truly great mouthpiece is $400-500, while one must pay extra $4K-5K for a substantially better new acoustic guitar. To torture oneself for a few years with a rubbish mouthpiece to save $400, and in the meantime lose tens of thousands of $ in enthusiasm and quicker mastery, is nonsense and the worst possible economy.
It is better to have a $700 mouthpiece and a $1500 saxophone, than a $100 mouthpiece and a $7000 sax. The student will advance faster on the first setup and play consistently better.
I'm too young to know the difference yet.
Using a used 4C that came with the sax :)
and a legere reed. (*i know* The red java is 900x better but this is fast and cheap and i don't 100% know the difference yet. Plus, i love near-zero maintenance). Still working on basics. Breathing. Not strangling any geese today. Not terrifying the dog (and she lives with me; a drummer). Control of air.
I did find Stan Getz, tho ("Misty"). He's the Vince Guaraldi of tenor.
I DO know a good, very good or phenomenal player/technique when i see one. Which is more than many people know, including the people playing, sometimes.
If you don't know something's wrong in the part, your timing (seen this several times, particularly in drummers who "know everything") or your feel, you're in trouble.
Legere reeds are great, at least the signature model.
so far 4 thumbs down on this vid....probably string players O__O lol!!
Or the guys who got hooked on a $1,000 Guardala fake.
The Wanne §Durga 3. Metal Alto
It's like a religion.That's fact.....!☝🙏✔👍🎷
How do I order Theo's mouthpiece Pls?
wwbw.com is a good site. I think you can get 15% off right now.
Visit his website link in description.
Sax success lessons
Saxscychology.
She kissed me..
First song ever learned
Sonny.@9 meet Sonny Stitt ,10 yrs later,
Sonny's saxs**t,made
Me love, SAXX A LIFETIME.@63.
So by admittance, Theo is an enabler.....LOL.
Do you get mad when people Wright the notes on sheet music
I think Wanne mouthpieces are really OVER PRICE, specially for the students. I had tried thier mouthpieces in paris at Saxmachine, i am not really persuaded. Even these metals mouthpieces, they said that were made by 24K pure gold, the sound is really loud and powerful, but has not too much charm(for me). For classical jazz? not a good idea in my opinion. But if someone wanna play funk, rock, need a loud sound, i think wanne is a good choice. I can't say that Wanne is not good, but compare with the price, i will escape. because the other brands mouthpieces do almost the same things, but i can save much money for buy/try different ligatures and reeds. Finally ,we want to listen the music, not only the sound. Louis Amstrong's voice not good enough in talking, but when he was singing, he voice was really attractive and characterful.
How I fixed shtcan horns n built me a es moneymaker.
Next video.....”mouthpiece and saxophone plays no role in saxophone playing” its the player that makes the difference.
Interesting. To be objective I would say he would have to sonically test the response of a mouthpiece before working on it. Then if he says I altered this to et this, it would make sense. But it seems to be that he just incrementally changes the mouthpiece till a person gets the "sound they want" So how can someone like him just mass produce anything? It could never be optimal for many users. I fear there is too much hot air and just plain BS injected into these topics. Too much that is not backed up by empirical testing. The brain will alter what you hear, because you expect to hear it. Do double blind tests always. You may be shocked and surprised at the results.
Hi Stephen, I think what was missed in the conversation is that when a customer comes for a reface, normally the player will play something for us to hear, or describe in great detail what they want. Having refaced literally 1000s of pieces over 30 years, Theo has come to see consistencies in the pieces and the players. And, while every player is different, what ends up working well is surprisingly regular from one to the next. There are, of course, outliers where a lot of back-and-forth takes place, but in most cases, a simple correction of factory defects, or a basic lowering or raising of the baffle gives the player an "oh wow" moment.
The production of our line of mouthpieces is a different topic altogether. We have spent years and years testing our models with great players, and have made so many revisions based on feedback that you wouldn't believe us if we told you :) At the beginning, each piece is prototyped and play tested by Theo and our staff, and when we're satisfied at the conceptual level, we send it out for beta-testing with our artists. Only after we are satisfied with their responses does a mouthpiece make it to market. It is a slow, tedious approach, but it works very well, as it often results in findings that we don't expect. Many models have been scrapped or altered over the years, for sure. I hope that helps shed some light on the topic for you.