Dukoff Super Power Chamber

[Gareth Edwards]

When I bought my vintage King it came with a goody bag of various old mouth pieces, which to tell the truth, are probably worth more than what I paid for the horn. I’m using one, an ebonite Berg Larsen, which is great – but amongst the others there’s a metal Dukoff Super Power Chamber S5, from way down in Florida, where the oranges grow. It’s a pig to play, loud and harsh in the lower register, screaming in the high (and not in a good way). Now, whilst I’m sure this has a lot to do with my novice technique, there is an ugly, pitted lump on the ramp and pitting in the chamber (I’m guessing it’s corrosion – nasty stuff, saliva!). So my question is – would this make the MP unplayable and can it be salvaged?

Looking online, these MPs seem to go for a lot of moolaw, and I understand they can be great for hard, powerful RnB playing – so I’d like to give it a go. Anybody got any experience of these? Any advice gratefully accepted!

[Gareth Edwards]

Here’s the offending article, by the way:

[john]

Doesn’t look like corrosion as much as it does sloppy work but hard to tell. Still, you can have a sax guy do some work on it if he’s good with mp’s …not all are.

I used a Dukoff for a while many years ago while I was searching for the “perfect” metal mp. It was a good step up from what I was using but I soon found something better, but yes, it’s well-known for it’s bright R&B sound if that’s what you’re after.

Johnny

[Dan Fleming]

I don’t know if Johhny has a policy against promoting sax repair/mouthpiece refacers, but I have had good luck with Mojo refacing my Dukoffs. The inside looks like faulty casting but he’ll make that smooth as a baby’s butt and it’ll play pretty sweet too. Dukoffs take some getting used to but soon enough you’ll control the loud and harsh tone and enjoy playing the piece. Good luck.

[Gareth Edwards]

Thanks for the advice – I’ll get my tech guy to take a look.

[Stevan Thomas]

Quote:

Quote from saxjohnny on September 21, 2013, 10:36
Doesn’t look like corrosion as much as it does sloppy work but hard to tell. Still, you can have a sax guy do some work on it if he’s good with mp’s …not all are.

I used a Dukoff for a while many years ago while I was searching for the “perfect” metal mp. It was a good step up from what I was using but I soon found something better, but yes, it’s well-known for it’s bright R&B sound if that’s what you’re after.

Johnny

I have a Tenor LD6 I love on a dark horn. It has pizzazz and some edge while still being round and dark. I was looking at this site which has a link to MP refacers http://theowanne.com/knowledge/refacers Theo Wanne also makes MPs and horns. I just discovered the site, so do your own poking around.

I have a Martin alto (1945) that’s the same horn Art Pepper played. I tried the Gregory that he used and didn’t like it. Paul Desmond apparently also used a Gregory. I’m liking my Meyer 5MM with a large chamber and have another 5MM with a medium chamber, which is a little brighter and both are very easy to play.

The other tenor MPs I have are a Meyer 6MM large chamber and a Florida Link Super Tonemaster 5 that seems to be an early Babbitt. The link to the mouthpiece museum is: http://theowanne.com/knowledge/mouthpiece-museum

Have fun!

[john]

I like the Meyer on alto too. Better yet is the Claude Lakey for a bigger and brighter sound.
Theo is one of the best mp makers living today I beleive.
he was in town where I live a year or so ago and did a session at the sax shop where I go to. it was great and he sat there touching up a few mp’s. I did play one of his better ones and loved it, it went for over $700 tho.

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