You sound awesome sir! My problem is, trying to get a "classical" sound using Plasticover reeds which work best for me as a doubler. Other issue with those reeds is they're BLACK so you can't position them easily on a dark m.p. Help!
Hey +Ron Robbins. Because the Plasticover reeds give you a brighter sound in my opinion they aren't the best for a true classical sound. Cane is always best for that, however Plasticover are great for brighter styles like pop or commercial playing, particularly if you are using a brighter mouthpiece. Hope that helps.
yessir, got that! but for a compromise "sort of" classical sound using Platicovers, also considering the black color, what m.p. would you recommend, one of those white Beechers or a blue Theo Wanne possibly? But this HR model sounds amazing!
+Ron Robbins cheers! To be honest, I would always start with the mouthpiece and get that right first, then experiment with reeds that sound best on it. If you're set on an alternative to cane, you could also try the synthetic reeds like Bari make.
Oh, I just saw it was at the beginning of the video -_- So sorry to have asked for your time for this. I'm seriously in love with the sound that mouthpiece can produce. Thanks!
Hey Nigel, I loved the video and the mouthpiece seems to be fantastic. I'm currently playing a Claude Lakey 5*3 and I absolutely hate it because it's too bright and loud. I feel that I am looking for a more balanced sound, darker, and a mouthpiece that is more versatile for other styles. I am considering getting a Theo Wanne Gaia but I was wondering if you could recommend other darker and versatile mouthpieces in other price ranges such as some that are a bit cheaper?
Good question Zeke. There are others out there to check out. Before moving to Theo Wanne pieces, I used a Vandoren T8 on tenor which has a lovely dark sound.
Hi Nigel, thanks for a very informative video, as always. I've got two questions: 1. I don't know if you played them both, but what would you say is the difference between the gold and hard rubber versions of the Gaia? 2. I really dig the sound of the Slant Sig, but it's tenor only. What is, according to you, the alto mouthpiece that comes closest to it? Thanks mate!
Thanks Lorens. I haven’t tried the metal Gaia so can’t comment on that. Personally I really like the Hr Gaia in Alto. It’s what I play on. I’m not sure if it’s the alto equivalent to the Slant Sig, but I’m going for a different sound on alto to tenor anyway. The Gaia certainly gives me the ability to play a convincing big band sound. Hope that helps.
Nigel thanks for posting this! If you could answer one of my questions that would be awesome. So, can the gaia be used as a Classical piece AND a jazz piece? Is it versatile in that sense?
+MrAbomb234 Thanks! I'm just having some fun with chromatic scales and then Major 9th arpeggios. Thanks for checking out the video. (By the way, this is my main mouthpiece now - love it!)
What a fantastic alto sound!! Something to strive for
Jonathan Marks Thanks!
I love the sound. I’m stuck between this mouthpiece or the Theo wanne New York 2.
I quite enjoyed that.
greats review could you do a video about jazz improvisation and to take it up a notch maybe show us how to play over chord changes
Is this still your go to mouthpiece on alto? If so, do you use it on commercial/smooth jazz settings?
Nice demo... thanks.... well done!
Thanks - glad you liked it!
What reed are you using in this vid? I watched the kali video and you said you were using a blue box 2.5. Just curious so i can compare! thanks!
Please show us a review about your Yanagiswa Metal Mouthpiece
I would like to see you review Theo Wanne Mindi Abair mouthpiece.
+Jason Peppers I'd like to try that one too!
Reeds?? Amazing sound..
Cheers!
5:40 to about 6:12, what song is that? Almost sounds familiar.
+David Cha I'm just jamming it out there. Hope you found the review helpful.
very versatile indeed. nice demo ;)
Cheers!
You sound awesome sir! My problem is, trying to get a "classical" sound using Plasticover reeds which work best for me as a doubler. Other issue with those reeds is they're BLACK so you can't position them easily on a dark m.p. Help!
Hey +Ron Robbins. Because the Plasticover reeds give you a brighter sound in my opinion they aren't the best for a true classical sound. Cane is always best for that, however Plasticover are great for brighter styles like pop or commercial playing, particularly if you are using a brighter mouthpiece. Hope that helps.
yessir, got that! but for a compromise "sort of" classical sound using Platicovers, also considering the black color, what m.p. would you recommend, one of those white Beechers or a blue Theo Wanne possibly? But this HR model sounds amazing!
+Ron Robbins cheers! To be honest, I would always start with the mouthpiece and get that right first, then experiment with reeds that sound best on it. If you're set on an alternative to cane, you could also try the synthetic reeds like Bari make.
Yessir, might try a Legere and maybe even the Legere/mouthpiece kit. Love to take some lessons with you sometime, thanks!
I definitely fell in love with this one. Which size is this?
Cool +Jessyca Roy Landry. This one is a size 8.
Oh, I just saw it was at the beginning of the video -_- So sorry to have asked for your time for this. I'm seriously in love with the sound that mouthpiece can produce. Thanks!
Thank you so much for your demonstration! Very great sound and playing.It's Yamaha Custom EX 875??
Hi, actually my alto is a classic YAS62 purple logo (I've had that one for about 30 years!).
Wow, Your Yamaha 62 has very wide sound.I'm surprised.Great sound!!!!!
3:42 Someone has played 48 oboe etudes #27...
Hey Nigel, I loved the video and the mouthpiece seems to be fantastic. I'm currently playing a Claude Lakey 5*3 and I absolutely hate it because it's too bright and loud. I feel that I am looking for a more balanced sound, darker, and a mouthpiece that is more versatile for other styles. I am considering getting a Theo Wanne Gaia but I was wondering if you could recommend other darker and versatile mouthpieces in other price ranges such as some that are a bit cheaper?
Good question Zeke. There are others out there to check out. Before moving to Theo Wanne pieces, I used a Vandoren T8 on tenor which has a lovely dark sound.
Hi Nigel, thanks for a very informative video, as always. I've got two questions:
1. I don't know if you played them both, but what would you say is the difference between the gold and hard rubber versions of the Gaia?
2. I really dig the sound of the Slant Sig, but it's tenor only. What is, according to you, the alto mouthpiece that comes closest to it?
Thanks mate!
Thanks Lorens. I haven’t tried the metal Gaia so can’t comment on that. Personally I really like the Hr Gaia in Alto. It’s what I play on. I’m not sure if it’s the alto equivalent to the Slant Sig, but I’m going for a different sound on alto to tenor anyway. The Gaia certainly gives me the ability to play a convincing big band sound. Hope that helps.
Many thanks for your answer! Sure helps a lot. I'm starting my hunt for a new mouthpiece soon. Keep up the good work!
Nigel thanks for posting this! If you could answer one of my questions that would be awesome. So, can the gaia be used as a Classical piece AND a jazz piece? Is it versatile in that sense?
Also which mouthpiece in the Theo Wanne lineup would be the best for my kind of scenario of classic and jazz playing?
May I ask if you were using the YAS62 with the Gaia in the video?
+TH JAZZ Hi. Yes, that's my original "purple logo" YAS 62. Had it since the '80s!
I'm a huge fan of your playing! One question: what's the pattern that you were playing at 2:50-3:10?
+MrAbomb234 Thanks! I'm just having some fun with chromatic scales and then Major 9th arpeggios. Thanks for checking out the video. (By the way, this is my main mouthpiece now - love it!)