ALTO SAX Mouth Piece

[Gary Deripaska]

I use a Berg Larsen 110/2 On my “The Martin” Tenor sax and I love the sound I get from it. I was wondering if anybody here has used a Berg on an Alto sax, and if so what sound your getting from it. I know the sound depends on a lot of things mainly yourself. I just bought a new “Kenny G” Alto sax with a silver bell and silver neck and was wanting to use either a silver or gold Mouth Piece.

Thank you

[john]

yes, when I used a Berg many years ago, my buddy who played alto also did. they can be very bright. For alto, too bright for many people as this is not what most alto players are going for. But it’s all a very personal thing.

[Michael]

I think Berg Larsens are awesome, love the sound you get out of a Berg Larsen 🙂 What kept me away from them is the shape of the beak. They have a really sharp beak. I have to use something that sits more flush in my mouth like a Claude Lakey, Jody Jazz, Otto Link, etc.

@Johnny Oh wow, didn’t know you used to play Berg Larsens, pretty cool 🙂 Did you switch to a Guardala after playing Berg Larsens? How do Berg Larsens compare to Guardalas?

[Gary Deripaska]

Thanks Johnny and Michael I Appreciate it, Thanks for the heads up Johnny. I have a music store here in Southern Cal that’s going to let my try the Berg, Otto Link , Jody Jazz and a few others to see what sound I get.

Yes, Michael I love the sound too I get out of my Berg on the tenor especially when I “growl” sounds pretty awesome on the old Martin Tenor.

Johnny, I went to the recording studio last week and recorded “last date” for this album I’m doing for my parents using your background track and music. It came out pretty amazing I think. I looked at the lyrics of the song and the way I interrupted the song was the guy is making his last date with his women cause shes dumping him, so I figured he would be hurt and mad at the same time so I did a few more growls than you did in a few different places,but mostly where you did the growls, didn’t add a tongue twirl to it though figured that would be too much.

[john]

right on Gary love to hear it! also, you’re lucky to live in or near a large town with a music shop that has some mp’s to try…many don’t!

Hey Michael, oh ya, I played a Berg and a Dukoff way back, seems like another lifetime so I don’t remember that well but put it this way….as I moved on to the next one I never went back and today am still with the Guardala. It’s the only one that satisfied me enough to not keep looking….you know, like finally getting that gal you know will be with you!
I’m pretty sure there are ones out there that are better than my Guardala but I don’t have the time and energy and interest to go searching.

[Jose Luis Hinojosa]

@johnny – Why mess with success? You’re happy with your Guardala and that’s awesome!

@gary – As Johnny says, you’re very lucky to have a “local” music store with mouthpiece selections! I live in rural Kansas and am planning on attending the Summer NAAM in Nashville (July 2019) to try out some MPs. I guess I could test them long distance, mailing them back and forth… don’t wanna go there.

@michael – I enjoy your comments (invaluable input) on a lot of threads in this forum. Thank you.

[Michael]

@Jose Luis Hinojosa Johnny’s forum is a great place to learn from other players like you said. Johnny sounds great with his Guardala–I couldn’t see him playing with anything else on the Tenor Sax, definitely fits him. I think as players we all go through an experimentation phase. Once we discover what works for us, then we stick with it–just like you said. Pretty cool how Johnny said it we find the 1 woman that we want to stick with for the rest of our lives 🙂 🙂 🙂

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