Ask Boston Sax! EP 8: Plastic vs. metal resos, mouthpiece materials and more!

[@jimmymiller5465]

Ken Beason soldered the bows the bodies of my VI alto and tenor. It made a huge difference on the alto where the low B had always been stuffy and resistant. He essentially said what you said, that there was a leak in that area. He also said that resonator material was not a factor but the size of the resonators made a difference, hence he had custom oversized metal resonators made for his rebuilds. I went with that on tenor and plastic on alto.

[@davidolahmusic]

RIP Ken Beason.

[@kwstine1]

Love this perspective on metal vs. rubber mouthpieces. I prefer metal just because I find the smaller beak profile to be more comfortable, but I've played rubber mouthpieces that are just as loud and "bright" as some metal ones.

[@vincentmizgorski8878]

Always entertaining & informative! Good Stuff Jack!

[@bostonsaxshop]

🙏🙏🙏

[@timbly5824]

Thank you for your sax knowledge. 😊

[@bostonsaxshop]

And thank you for watching!

[@paoloalbano4690]

Great video Jack !! Quite interesting what you said about mpcs...

[@bostonsaxshop]

Thanks so much!

[@hollyjones3101]

Great show - always good info!

[@bostonsaxshop]

Much appreciated! and thanks for watching :)

[@keithcampbell6806]

Good morning bro the videos are excellent please keep them coming.

[@mil3ston3s]

Hey Jack! I picked up a well known, dare I say trendy, 3d-printed mouthpiece recently. It seems to me to both give me considerable more volume, as well as better control over articulation and expression, especially in the low register (on my alto). One significant downside though is that it seems much more prone to squeaks. I was talking to another shop owner in the area about it, and as I understand it, they have people come in looking to reshape the tip of this particular brand of mouthpiece because a typical reed doesn't really align with it, particularly at the corners. Worth making this change you think, or just finding a well-designed mouthpiece from a more mature brand that fits my approach better? For reference, before I was using a Yamaha 4C, which felt darker/quieter in comparison to the 3d-printed one.

[@giannipetta8358]

Hey Jack, check out Erin Royer's DMA thesis on how saxophone resonators affect the sound and playability of the saxophone, absolutely incredible research and interesting results.

[@VincentLimon]

But Jack, my big bell Brute makes me run faster when I use a Boston Sax E Series with Silver Superlative 😹

[@bostonsaxshop]

😂😂😂😳

[@garb477]

One smart guy

[@bostonsaxshop]

haha thank you!! Glad you watched it :)

[@revolutionarysnake]

Jack, I have my own theory, but what's your understanding of the basis for the reed break-in process of first playing a new reed only for a very short time, and then increasing the playing time over a number of days?

[@marcvandeneynden]

Nice Conn Wonder i or II :)

[@darine.3145]

Aren't plastic resonators lighter than brass resonators? That could affect the key action, key bounce, etc...maybe that's one reason also for the switch? Agree the material should have no sonic difference.

[@dudemaster8575]

Hi Jack, Is rolled tone holes better?

[@superepicstuff2121]

What is your recommendation on a pro saxophone?

[@larodmusic]

First.

[@bostonsaxshop]

woooo!

[@MrGuto]

amazing! wow

[@BillColeExperience]

Jack, I enjoy your videos and please lose the contact lenses. It is painful to watch.