Rubber vs metal saxophone mouthpieces – how do you choose?
There’s loads of saxophone mouthpieces out there, and my Sax School members often ask me how to choose. And I can understand why – it’s very difficult to know whether to choose between rubber or metal saxophone mouthpieces when you want to update your setup.
This week I had a chat with Theo Wanne – he’s widely regarded as a world expert in saxophone mouthpiece design, to ask his advice on this.
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Is hard rubber or metal better for my sax mouthpiece?
I asked Theo this question, and here’s what he said. It might not be what you’re expecting!
Theo: Well, let me start by saying if you’re in marching band, don’t get a hard rubber mouthpiece! Because hard rubber is an organic compound that is made from latex, which is sap from a tree mixed with sulphur. And so if you put it in the sun or heat, it will oxidise. It will turn green and you’ll smell the sulphur , and it will both taste nasty, smell nasty, and start to warp.
Nigel: So even a modern rubber mouthpiece out in the sun a lot is not good.
Theo: That’s right. And so if you’re in a marching band, you could get a plastic mouthpiece, although they don’t sound very good. So you get an ABS mouthpiece but they tend to have bad facings. And the plastic of the ABS doesn’t resonate well, so that’s why you get a plastic type of sound. So I don’t really recommend it.
Nigel: So it’s about the qualities of the material itself.
Theo: They make a huge difference. We did a huge experiment. I was really curious about this. So, we made the same mouthpiece in every material, vintage and new, that I could find. And so then we did a double-blind test with several people playing and listening. And anybody who says that material doesn’t make a difference – I can say that was not our double-blind test finding.
So what we found is that everybody hears the same differences. So everybody could tell a wood mouthpiece, or a brass mouthpiece, or the differences between stainless steel and a brass versus an aluminium mouthpiece.
People liked some more than others. Like they might like the woody sound, but everybody heard the same thing. So in my experience material does make a difference. There isn’t a right answer [on what is the right material for saxophone mouthpieces], other than that we found aluminium sounds bad. Nobody liked the sound of aluminium – it does not resonate well.
And people generally liked brass, which is a good thing, because there’s most metal saxophone mouthpieces are made from brass. People loved hard rubber, particularly like very high quality, either vintage type or pure hard rubber. What makes hard rubber pure is the lack of accelerants and carbon black in it.
Nigel: That’s an interesting question too, Theo. So a more recognised brand or a better quality mouthpiece is going to be made of better materials. And that’s going to have a bearing on the type of sound that you get from it as well.
Theo: Yes because vintage is hard rubber became popular for a reason. It’s very resonant. It has very good resonant properties. That’s why it’s been hard to usurp it, even though it turns green! And if you’ve got a hard rubber don’t wash it in hot water. Wash it with cold water Soap is fine, but use cold water.
Things to think about when choosing a saxophone mouthpiece
Nigel: So if I want to get myself a good mouthpiece, I need to decide between hard rubber, and metal. The different materials are going to give me a different sort of sound. So I’m not in a marching band, if I’m just I’m playing for my enjoyment or in a jam session. What’s the first thing I should think about in choosing between a hard rubber and metal mouthpiece?
Theo: I would think about how it feels in your mouth. Because metal is a much denser, heavier material, metal saxophone mouthpieces are all much thinner than a hard rubber mouthpiece. A metal mouthpiece will be smaller in diameter. Hard rubber will almost always be bigger. So it’ll feel very different in your mouth.
Nigel: That will suit some people more than others.
Theo: That’s right. And again, there’s not a right answer here. We make both, because some people just like hard rubber. It’s just what they feel comfortable with. And other people don’t like hard rubber. They just love metal mouthpieces. I just worked. People tend to ‘click’ with one or the other.
Nigel: So it’s about finding the mouthpiece that feels comfortable to you. And then, you need to decide on the internal qualities and shape, to suit the sort of playing you want to do.
Theo: That’s right. Because if you want that bright rock and roll sound, you can do that with a hard rubber mouthpiece , and you can do that with metal. And if you want a dark deep rich sound, you can do that with metal and you can do it with hard rubber too.
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That’s an important point. You can use a metal mouthpiece or a hard rubber mouthpiece to get whatever sound you’re looking for.
It comes down to the sort of mouthpiece that suits you and also the internal dimensions, the shape, and the quality of the inside of that mouthpiece. That’s what gives you the sound, more than the actual material.
Theo: The metal does tend to have a kind of ring to it, and that’s what people are talking about when they say it’s brighter. Whereas with the hard rubber, I would say you get a resonance, more than a ring.
Nigel: And that’s because of the qualities of the different materials and the way they vibrate.
The Chamber of Saxophone Mouthpieces
I also asked Theo about the chamber of the mouthpiece and how that affects the sound because this is one of the big things that make a difference. And you should look out for that, when you’re choosing your mouthpiece.
Theo: You can think of a chamber like light. So if you focus light down into a small beam, like with a small chamber, then you get a laser beam or a spotlight. And that’s good when you want to cast light on a very specific point. As you open up that light, you get a floodlight, which can illuminate a large area. So for a big fat sound you’re going to need a big chamber. And to get a “pointed,” good rock and roll sound it usually works better, with a small chamber.
Nigel: Not all mouthpieces are labelled as a big chamber or a small chamber. So a really easy way is just picking up, and looking through the mouthpiece. And compare one mouthpiece with another.
TW: So the bore is is the part on the inside of the mouthpiece that touches the neck cork on your saxophone. So using the bore as a baseline, if the chamber, or very centre inside the mouthpiece is bigger than the bore, you’ve got a large chamber. If it’s the same size as the bore, that’s a medium chamber. If it’s smaller than the bore, you’ve got a small chamber.
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I love that tip because you can instantly pick up a mouthpiece in the shop, and see whether it’s got a big chamber or a small chamber. It’s a really quick way to identify things. Personally, I love big chamber mouthpieces. All my saxophone mouthpieces are big chamber mouthpieces. It’s a sound that I like, but maybe you like a small chamber mouthpiece. Also, the baffle is important. And in the other video I made with Theo we talk a lot about baffles. Check it out here.
So ultimately though, you want to find that saxophone mouthpiece that’s going to light you up and get you excited about playing saxophone.
What the right mouthpiece does for you
Theo: That’s the whole point. Because once you’re inspired, then you want to practice. Then you’ll want to play, and it’s not work anymore. It’s fun! We’re very blessed with the saxophone because you can do so much. The saxophone is it’s my favourite instrument because it doesn’t lock you in.
At one moment you can be playing this small staccato phrase, and in the next moment, drop your draw, bend that note a whole pitch. You can get a flexibility that just makes the saxophone magic. And so find a mouthpiece that allows you all of those dynamics and expressive qualities. That’s the key. And that’s when the magic happens.
Final Thoughts
I love talking with Theo. He’s such a clever guy. And I hope the things we’ve talked about today have been helpful to you.
Find out more about Theo Wanne here: www.theowanne.com
And if you’re ready to take your saxophone playing further, come and see what we are doing in Sax School. Get started here.