Improve Your Altissimo with a Mouthpiece Baffle

[@skimanization]

Wow, this is a great lesson because I never thought I could make any modifications to my mouthpieces. I've learned so much. Thanks.

[@MarkPeotter]

@skimanization Glad to help! Be careful not to affect any surface where the reed will touch. I've done so on purpose and by accident, never a good result. Leave another comment on what you come up with?

[@super20dan]

great idea to use cd case as materiel

[@juanmiguelorrego7271]

Incredible and most informative, my Meyer 6m has changed over the years and needs to be faced but it does not let me get up to altissimo D never mind G over the first altissimo.. Anyway thank you, most instructive.

[@MarkPeotter]

@juanmiguelorrego7271 Yes, all Hard Rubber Mouthpieces will eventually need to be re-faced, or (my preference) replaced. They will - very slowly - deteriorate and warp. In my 40 plus years playing sax, I have replaced my Meyer 6M (coincidence we have the same thing?) 3 times.

[@Shawn-US]

I've just tried Baffle mod with Modeling Clay. It's much easier but your method looks much more stable if doing it right. I will try it out your method too. Thank you.

[@MarkPeotter]

I bought a used mouthpiece that had modeling clay in it. But when I washed it, the clay became soft and gradually eroded. Thanks for the "sub"!

[@Caglarsax]

There is a clay named fimo that can be owened.then it can be rigid and stuck on the metal mouthpieces.I will try that

[@tikibarry2279]

The clarinet players in Albania use clay to change the mouthpiece , and they get a wild, aggressive sound this way.

[@MarkPeotter]

@Shawn-Thekl-2 I just did my first modeling clay baffle. Works great! And it was certainly easier. Wonder if it will tolerate washings. I learned that there are basically 2 types of hobby clay: Air Dry, which is what I used , and Oven Dry , which I thought might be risky with a hard rubber mouthpiece.

[@Caglarsax]

I have tried with a clay today if it is worth.I have got a rovner copy 7 from China .I love the tone but not easy altissimo.after the clay modified I can’t tell how positive my playing is now.baffle is everything I believe now.not the altissimo also playing is better comfortable and faster with less air.thanks for the video I will improve the baffle modfification with black epoxy for a stable and rigid mouthpiece.I am not able to afford 650 usd for jody jazz mpcs.this will work fine for me.thanks again for the video❤

[@MarkPeotter]

@segeffect Glad to know there are more people who are like us.

[@CimarronLeatherStudio]

You called the Jet a Super Jet second time around

[@MarkPeotter]

@CimarronLeatherStudio Maybe I misspoke. The JET is the black piece made from a hard plastic. The SUPER JET is nickel plated brass. Thank you for your comment.

[@enoffz8021]

A higher baffle can definitely make it easier to get higher altissimo notes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6jKl4h_brWAjcksi=4SQI5UlSEEB8L2Jw I used a Berg Larsen 130/0 SMS metal mouthpiece with a plexiglass wedge that fits in snug without glue. Three or more octaves of altissimo.

[@MarkPeotter]

@enoffz8021 I am surprised that there is enough space to fit a wedge into a Berg "/0" because that is their highest baffle already. Great demo video, but I wish you would have shown your mouthpiece modification to the camera?

[@enoffz8021]

@@MarkPeotter I have changed the thumbnail photo for that altissimo video to show a photo of two of the wedges I use. I have also made wedges for Dukoff mouthpieces. Let me know if you get a good look at the photo or if you have any questions.

[@MarkPeotter]

@enoffz8021 I saw the new thumb photo. I am impressed that you can make the wedge fit tightly without glue. Can I buy a few of these from you? Or do you only make them one at a time to fit each mouthpiece? I would be happy to get them slightly too wide, and I can sand them down to fit.

[@enoffz8021]

@@MarkPeotter Yes, I only make them one at a time to fit each mouthpiece. I would have to have the mouthpiece in my possession to make it fit, and some brands of mouthpiece work better than others. A couple of my Berg Larsens were curved inside, so I used a heat gun on one .They take a long time to make so I only do them for my mouthpieces. The plexiglass is pretty easy to find and I've added a list of tools used.

[@MarkPeotter]

@@enoffz8021 Thanks for your reply. Yes, I understand the need to have the mouthpiece when you make them. Keep up the good work!

[@ubongntiah2000]

😂 "If you want to create a removable high-baffle for your saxophone mouthpiece, here's a quick method that works well! Take an old soprano reed, and if you're working with a tenor mouthpiece, placing the tip side of the reed faciing the mouthpiece tip rail -to replicate a step-baffle. This design boosts airflow speed, giving you a louder, edgier tone. Turn the reed flat side up, cut it to your desired baffle length, and wedge it in the mouthpiece, leaving a small gap from the tip. ( You can as well adjust the height ),cut a small size of a used wine cork as a secondary wedge to place underneath the end part of the reed for extra support, and secure both it with a small amount of shoe contact cement for a firm bond. This setup mimics the characteristics of high-baffle mouthpieces, offering more projection and brightness for genres like rock or funk. Hope this helps! 🎷" That's how i turned my large chamber ,low baffle 0.115 to a heavyweight .. best you can file down the soprano reed edges so that the baffle goes down more into the mouthpiece to reduce the brightness 😂

[@MarkPeotter]

@@ubongntiah2000 Genius! You should make a video for this! And thanks for the tip with shoe contact cement, because I have been squeezing super glue and it usually touches my fingers somewhere. Lately I have used Air Dry Modeling clay. Easy to mold with a screwdriver. Work ing great for 6 months now.

[@ubongntiah2000]

@@MarkPeotter kzbin.infogvG1mHmGSj4?si=yTvwYYndB2sx97pu