How Important is Your First Saxophone Mouthpiece?

[@pimpovic2]

My first mouthpiece was the cheap plastic one that came with my Bundy 2 saxophone. That thing lasted me from 5th grade to high school and I sat first chair in our Jazz band. Going to a Meyer HR in college was a revelation, but it goes to show you that you influence your sound more than any single piece of equipment.

[@bertilolsson5203]

Gotta say that I love the work you're doing in making it easier for beginners to access great gear for a solid price, both with this mouthpiece but also with the Better Sax!

[@bettersax]

I appreciate that!

[@LukeHuber]

Literally just played the music at 1:00 for region competition, doing it for an audition for something tomorrow again

[@taralouise2194]

I am still playing with original mouth piece. Yamaha 4C. And I bought the sax in 1994!! It still works well. I will be buying a new one soon!

[@LucaszJazz]

I wish they would just stop bothering to make those no-name garbage pieces and include something like this rather than wasting materials. Nice work with this you sound great

[@juan15car]

😮 wat nameles pieces are u referring to

[@grantkoeller8911]

I started on a brand new 1972 Bundy Alto with a French Bundy mouthpiece, that was ironically a very good mouthpiece.then my bandirector gave me a Selmer soloist C* scroll shank, that I played for 40 years until it cracked in the middle of a USAF band christmas concert. I felt it go CRACK.... I was really sad that night. That mouthpiece was an old friend. My main classical mouthpiece that I played while I was amember of the McDonalds All -American band 1979.

[@brianjeff3038]

Holy cow... Omg jay you did something special with this. 12 year long high school concert and jazz band director here, degree in saxophone performance (usual classical setup: vandoren al4 and jazz:Vandorin s+...) The alto version of the better sax classic mp arrived today. My controls were rovner classic lig, Rico 2.5 & 3 unfurled reeds and Compared against the Yamaha 4c and 5c (similar, price point, and common recommendations for students). First up a Rico 2.5 on the Yamaha 4C verse the better Sax classic. Both mouthpieces were equally as easy to play (a beginner can make a sound just as easy on both). Sound quality difference is noticeable (the better sax can be pushed into bright sparkly territory) but the 2.5 is just way too soft and unstable on both mouthpieces and I immediately want to try a thicker reed and here's where things get interesting... Next up a Rico 3 reed on the 5c vs the BSC. 5C feels even and covered in comparison. Definitely too dull for jazz band solo but a good step up for a beginner to learn to use more air. The better sax classic in comparison is able to get the dark covered sound and be pushed into a REALLLLLLLLYY nice contemporary bright but balanced territory. The thought running through my head is "damn this is f*cking usable (for a pro even) and does exactly what the copy described". It's a mouthpiece that can be given to a beginner in middle school for example, and grow with them literally for the rest of their career. It makes me want to play out and play soloistic (very fun) It gives me "that sound". The sound that allows for a reasonable amount of cut, high end sparkle & expression while also being able to provide a more homogeneous tone. I will be purchasing a couple to give out to students and one will be staying in my case. I feel like the 4C, Selmer soloist (Cwhatever), and v16 have been combined into a beginner package at a beginner price, and as that is a REALLY cool thing. Loving this era of saxophone, Thank you!!!!

[@bettersax]

This is so great to hear. Thank you for trying the Classic and comparing it to the 4C that is exactly what we wanted to accomplish and I hope it makes the lives of students and band directors easier and more fun. It would mean the world to me if you could leave this comment as a review on Sweetwater to let others know.

[@GregChambers-ql2sy]

Do you play alto? If so, get a Mayer hard rubber 6.

[@AcevedoDMA]

Finally a video on this mouthpiece!

[@buddhismful]

I already tried one from a friend of mine. It really blows good.

[@bettersax]

Great to hear!

[@lushsoundscape]

Really nice option for beginners! Do you plan on releasing a Burnin Soprano Mouthpiece anytime soon?@@bettersax

[@thepianokid27]

I was fortunate to be able to play on a YAS 82Z as my first alto many years ago and it came with a Yamaha 4C which is pretty decent. Didn’t use it for long as I upgraded within a few months.

[@jeffkidwill7719]

I got my bettersax mouthpiece I love it

[@bettersax]

Great to hear! It would mean a lot to me if you could leave a review on Sweetwater.

[@alejandrodesouza4416]

Vandoren V5 T25. Still use it

[@johnhope876]

I am between a Jean Paul and a bettersax I was surprised to see that here in the UK it doesn't come with a Bettersax mouthpiece.I think the Jp comes with a yammy 4c.What's up Jamie? Love your vids mate!

[@bettersax]

It comes with a good mouthpiece that is nearly as good as this Classic. The classic tenors come with the classic mouthpiece and next year the altos will begin shipping with the Classic mouthpiece as well.

[@DrRocketTurner]

Congratulations on your success with your saxes and your mouthpieces!!! Dr Rocket 🚀

[@saxnoob]

I love the sound on your Burnin 7 on your mouthpieces videos years ago. But my first upgrade will be this classic Alto one. Can't wait to test it out. Thanks for developing these new student products!

[@bettersax]

great to hear! please leave a review where you purchase it.

[@rhrh2025]

So much more attention is paid to mouthpieces now, than when I was learning. I played on a Selmer C* for years. That's all I knew! Then, it was Berg Larson or Meyer in college. That's it!

[@EricPalmerBlog]

Congrats Jay! Just got a 40 year old Vito alto (Yamaha yas-23) so I can repair my JP AS-400. Love it better than the JP, anyway it came with a Yamaha 4C which I had not played in over 40 years. I am in good health at 62 and the 4C has helped greatly. Amazing even. Will get your new mouthpiece out of curiosity. Wishing you continued success in 24.

[@bettersax]

Thank you!

[@pablonavarro4290]

My first is a selmer c star. I got it with a saxophone that I got from a friend.

[@thelookingcat]

Hehe mine was Cecelio 4C, came with my 100 dollar horn. I was lucky though that it was okay enough for me to develop a decent sound, as someone who spent many years learning the clarinet. It's not great at being quiet, but I was able to get a semi-decent classical sound and an okay jazz sound. Not the greatest, but definitely check this out as an upgrade.

[@septimiu2007]

I use Yamaha 5 c which one do you think to upgrade I watch all your videos

[@cchavez248]

Soo, cheaper sax with good mouthpiece or higher priced sax with stock mouthpiece where total price for each rig would be equal?

[@bettersax]

Mouthpiece is more important in the big picture.

[@banjalukaodzlata]

Is Vandoren A27 V5 good?

[@DirkJ.]

Absolutely fantastic idea, and I'm sure a wonderful business proposition! What a needed product that will help so many!

[@bettersax]

Thank you!

[@alanhirayama4592]

Ferling Etude #1? A very nice sound! Thank you for sharing a very important item!

[@bettersax]

Thanks!

[@brianjeff3038]

Ordered and being shipped to Long Island as we speak. Looking forward to comparing it to Yamaha 5c to recommend to hs band/jazz students.

[@bettersax]

Awesome!

[@brianjeff3038]

Holy cow... Omg jay you did something special with this. 12 year long BS concert and jazz band director here, degree in saxophone performance (usual classical setup: vandoren al4 and jazz:Vandorin s+...) The alto version of the better sax classic mp arrived today. My controls were rovner classic lig, Rico 2.5 & 3 unfurled reeds and Compared against the Yamaha 4c and 5c (similar, price point, and common recommendations for students). First up a Rico 2.5 on the Yamaha 4C verse the better Sax classic. Both mouthpieces were equally as easy to play (a beginner can make a sound just as easy on both). Sound quality difference is noticeable (the better sax can be pushed into bright sparkly territory) but the 2.5 is just way too soft and unstable on both mouthpieces and I immediately want to try a thicker reed and here's where things get interesting... Next up a Rico 3 reed on the 5c vs the BSC. 5C feels even and covered in comparison. Definitely too dull for jazz band solo but a good step up for a beginner to learn to use more air. The better sax classic in comparison is able to get the dark covered sound and be pushed into a REALLLLLLLLYY nice contemporary bright but balanced territory. The thought running through my head is "damn this is f*cking usable (for a pro even) and does exactly what the copy described". It's a mouthpiece that can be given to a beginner in middle school for example, and grow with them literally for the rest of their career. It makes me want to play out and play soloistic (very fun) It gives me "that sound". The sound that allows for a reasonable amount of cut, high end sparkle & expression while also being able to provide a more homogeneous tone. I will be purchasing a couple to give out to students and one will be staying in my case. I feel like the 4C, Selmer soloist (Cwhatever), and v16 have been combined into a beginner package at a beginner price, and as that is a REALLY cool thing. Loving this era of saxophone, Thank you!!!!

[@antinerfer11roblox31]

I recongized the etude being played at 1:06! I believe its a ferling etude, No.1 I think?

[@bettersax]

That’s it!

[@kentreuber8026]

What are the tip openings and facing lengths? Also what kind of baffle?

[@theTNTtitan]

I started on the Yamaha ALT 3 And recently changed to a C* and It feels much better

[@kd.arranges]

My first one was a 15$ one from Amazon I’m still using this one 3 years later because I haven’t found a good mouthpiece that’s around my price range

[@Kelekona_808]

Same boat in terms of the online shopping read for a kiddo we're getting started with the sax. This looks like it may be a solid option to help get his high and low notes to come out clearer during practice sessions.

[@kaedynkendrick6506]

My first one was a Yamaha 4c my second was a $15 glory mouthpiece and honestly I prefer my $15 mouthpiece over expensive ones

[@teknosbeka7394]

I will try the tenor model after holidays 😊

[@kingzephyr9897]

I have been playing for several years and have a bad case of mouthpiece GAS. I know the value of a mouthpiece that is designed for the performance you are looking for. A couple years ago I came across a fairly new student Selmer that was in great shape at a price I couldn't pass up. The original mouthpiece was still in the case so I tried it. I was surprised and dismayed at how much I sounded like a beginner with that horn and mouthpiece. It reminded me of going to see my grandson's 5th grade band. Anybody for Hot Cross Buns?

[@christiangw2959]

My first was a yamaha 4c for tenor

[@lando_kxng4148]

I started on a alto I paid $150 for it, and it came with a selmer c* so that was my first mouthpiece

[@rudyg4848]

First one was a Premiere by J&D Hite. A local music store suggested it back then and for its cost, it was overall a good sounding piece and easy to play. Jay, thank you for all your time and efforts in what you do 👏🏽👍🏽🎷

[@shipsahoy1793]

yep!, I used that one myself on alto after the Yamaha 4C, which was for a few months or so, and then I used the Hite for about maybe a year or so before I moved on from there.

[@bettersax]

Thank you!

[@adalyman773]

My first piece was the stock Jupiter mouthpiece that came with my student alto.

[@cezarzadunajska4684]

I have alto Stewart Ellis saxophone and I changed mouthpiece to Yamaha 4C. It goes quite well. I am a beginner.

[@Star45828]

Will this work with my ligature from my other mouthpiece?

[@bettersax]

Yes

[@HealingWord_Psalm107-20]

Thanks Jay! This will be easy for band directors to buy in quantities or for students to get for themselves.

[@bettersax]

I hope so

[@thegreatnetheritehoe9052]

I started on a pretty lucky with a good starting mouthpiece which was the Yamaha 4c

[@chillyvxbes6734]

Is a bari classic going to come out? Need one of these….

[@bettersax]

Yes! It will be great too.

[@VinceBaileydns-direct]

Would this work with a soprano sax

[@darwood6861]

I didn't know they were made in Elkhart. That's my home town. Jay. If you ever come to Elkhart, let me know and I'll buy dinner.

[@lushsoundscape]

will you be making a burnin soprano mouthpiece?

[@bettersax]

Yes later this year.

[@firehoc]

I recently purchase this Tenor Classic MP and tried an assortment of different reeds in my quiver. LaVoz MS unfiled, D’Addario Reserve 2.5 filed and D’Addario plastic cover 2.5 All were held by a Rovner Tenor 2R ligature that fitted very well. To my dismay, I was not able to get a proper range of full tone or playability compared to my stock HR Selmer stock piece. The tip openings and chambers are almost identical but surprisingly different in ease of air movement VS “Stuffiness “ and “Roundness “ of long tones in the lower register.

[@greyblay3566]

Will this be coming for Bari in the near future? In need of an upgrade without spending the big bucks and im confident in the products that you put your brand name on

[@bettersax]

Yes Bari coming later this year

[@kennethrosario5608]

First mouthpiece came with used saxophone and was a white El Bolín, which I did not like and bought a Brilhart, this was during mid 70’s, did not know the history of the white El Bolín back then

[@DJsilversax]

What’s the tip opening and are you only doing one size?

[@bettersax]

Tip openings are listed on the site and yes only one size is planned for this mouthpiece.

[@ichbinmartin]

1st alto Yanagisawa 5 or 6, 1st tenor Otto Ling Tone Edge 7*

[@allanjmcpherson]

I teach a lot of beginners. I'm going to check this out. If it's as good as you make it sound, Jay, I'll buy them in batches to re-sell to my students at cost!

[@bettersax]

Thank you!

[@johncaswell2648]

My first mouthpiece was a Yamaha 4C, still have it. However, it doesn't play very well anymore because I didn't understand that I needed to swab the mouthpiece too, so it's absolutely encrusted with petrified gunk inside.

[@DJsilversax]

Put it in white vinegar for a few hours it will get all the gunk off.

[@johncaswell2648]

@ DJsilversax that would be useful, thanks, but it's just a 4C, I already replaced it, so my old one is more of a memento at this point, and I don't expect to have that problem anymore as my cleaning habits have gotten better since I was an 8th grader.

[@septimiu2007]

What tip opening is this I have Mayer but squik in hi notes

[@lovejazz]

I brought a Meyer 5 mouthpiece, back then.

[@gamingwithjas6750]

I'd love to get it, but it's out of stock!! When will the alto one be back in stock?

[@bettersax]

They are in stock on Sweetwater.

[@manuelvalencia9407]

Hey Jay! Always thanks for your videos and advice. I have a difference question about mouthpieces. When is it appropriate to replace your mouthpiece for the same mouthpiece if you wanted to? I'm asking this because I still have my YAS-23 from back in the 80s. It's still a great horn but it needs some serious overhauling. I also have the original 4c mouthpiece that it came with. This might be a dumb question, but should I get a new 4c mouthpiece? The reason for this questions is that I have 3 daughters and one of them is already playing her own sax. As for my other daughters, they are deciding which instrument to play in their school band and I was going to have them try my sax.

[@TheDouglas]

Is there any possibility of making one with a smaller tip opening? More like a C* or Yamaha 4C opening? It’s a great mouthpiece but it was a challenge for some of my students who were using Blue Box Vandorens with their previous mouthpieces that had a smaller tip opening.

[@bettersax]

Thanks for the feedback. We will definitely consider that. I imagine your students got used to it fairly quickly? This tip opening is only very slightly larger than a 4C

[@frankdittmer8540]

What kind of mouthpiece comes with the "better sax" alto sax?

[@Porrascowboy]

Hola, es mejor que la típica boquilla de Yamaha? Ya llevo bastante tocando con la que venía el sax y nunca me he tomado el tiempo de revisar muchas opciones mas que esa. Gracias!

[@bettersax]

Yes it’s better than the Yamaha in my opinion.

[@Porrascowboy]

​@@bettersaxhacen envíos a México?

[@komaboi19]

My first (alto sax) was a Bundy II as well. 🙂Still have it to this day, and it still plays pretty well. I just can't seem to part with it for sentimental reasons even though I have a new Selmer AS42 and a Yamaha YAS-62III. Still no real upgraded mouthpieces yet, other than an old Selmer mouthpiece a teacher gave me in high school jazz band.

[@EricPalmerBlog]

First mouthpiece. Whatever was on my Bundy II alto (a rental).

[@shipsahoy1793]

Jupiter for Tenor and Yamaha 4C for alto, actually .. not sure if the Jupiter Tenor mpc was a 4C or a 5C, tbh; maybe had both(?).. I went through a lot of mouthpieces the first few years, but for a long time now I've been mostly sticking with a metal Otto Link super tone master 7* for tenor, and believe it or not, an old Cannonball Rubber # 5 (2mm) for Alto. I decided that metal tenor paint peelers weren't for me, as was also the case with a metal Dukoff on alto, or playing classical on alto using a smaller tip opening and stiffer reed, so only using one mpc per horn almost exclusively. Also typically using Vandoren brand reeds of different types in the #2 , #2.5 , or # 3 strength (between both saxes and the main mpc's)🎷👨🏻

[@Scottagious]

Can you make a beginner bari sax one. As a bari sax player of four years I have students and other fellow classmates who need some good mouth pieces too. That would be awesome

[@bettersax]

We are making that now and it is awesome. Hopefully later this year it will be available.

[@Scottagious]

@@bettersax thanks jay

[@areskyberkane9295]

do you send that to the uk?

[@bettersax]

Yes soon it will be at sax.co.uk

[@JJDunn-fl9qg]

Hey Jay, I was wondering if you are going to make a better sax soprano. I already own a professional alto and tenor and while I understand better sax is professional quality, I would love to find a soprano at student price. Thanks for all the work you do!

[@bettersax]

Yes we hope to have that design ready later this year.

[@beckygrover6864]

What size tip opening is it?

[@bettersax]

.070

[@PurpleDragonProsperity]

Do they have a learn to play Sax for dummies program?

[@bettersax]

Take my free beginner course here. BetterSax.com/shed

[@tessaoboyle3126]

Does it come with a ligature? I like the idea and the price point but to then have parents/guardians have to go buy that too might be even more of a challenge to convince them

[@bettersax]

Does not come with a ligature but the size is universal so the ligature that came with the sax will fit.

[@MTB_2311]

Mine was, and is a selmer concept

[@esteban.t]

I want to get one but they’re now sold out 😢

[@bettersax]

Check Sweetwater. We will have more on the site very soon.

[@EricPalmerBlog]

Also Jay, was thinking. Choice of colours. The young set would love it. OK so would I. Pretty sure I will never be as good as the great "Bird", but I would like one in white. This would define, "shut up and take my money". Take care 👍

[@twindaddy01]

👋

[@puggyboiw4086]

Baritone?

[@bettersax]

Coming soon

[@wuestar2651]

I just bought new mouthpiece for 250$ it's a lot better than the stock one

[@jerryr574]

Thanks to my great private teacher he started me on metal tenor Berg Larsen 100/2.

[@WallyZ1950]

You do know that currently there's a standard mouthpiece with the Bettersax Alto Sax? I know that's going to soon change with the BetterSax Classic mouthpiece will replace that not so good standard mouthpiece. As I'm sure you know this has already been done with the BetterSax Tenor.

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

That Yamaha 4c still works…1981 yas 23 Japan model😉🎶🎵🎷

[@EricPalmerBlog]

Off-topic. Better Sax tenor: wow.

[@kat8604]

lol i play a selmer bundy 2 with original neck and mouthpeice. it hasnt been repaired since it was made LOL

[@a.j.nicoll477]

Ferling!!

[@BartvandenBoomgaard]

Selmer S80 C*

[@Tismposterchild]

Vandoren al2 optimum

[@cheknfaks]

This is about the range of what I can afford rt now.

[@jamesjefferson8353]

Brilhart 6 then to an Ottto Link 9

[@BrunoNeureiter]

Ma favlurite one is a cheap knock-off of a famous very expensive mouthpiece

[@Desperation_Personafied]

Bari players: