Upgrading Your Sax Gear (Mouthpiece/Reeds)
- Matt
- Jan 27
- 4 min read
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When & why to upgrade your saxophone equipment?
As players get more serious about their saxophone playing, they may start to think about upgrading their initial equipment. A more "intermediate" mouthpiece and reed setup may offer benefits like: a more developed/complex sound, more projection and dynamic control, and better tuning... although it is still worth noting that this all has to come from the player ! Whilst a beginner setup is designed to produce a sound easily, a more advanced setup will typically provide more resistance, and call for a more developed embouchure and air stream. Because of this, I would recommend most players get at least a year of playing experience under their belts before looking at upgrades.
Where to start - reeds..
Perhaps counter-intuitively, the biggest difference in saxophone sound production can come from experimenting with reed selection. There seems to be a bit of a myth that players should always aim to move upwards in reed strength as they progress on the saxophone; although many high level players do progress into higher reed strengths in the 3-4 range (with benefits typically listed as more projection, and easier tuning in the higher register), there are also many great players who stay on softer set ups whilst still producing beautiful, strong sounds (Cannonball Adderley comes to mind).
I often find intermediate students are working extremely hard trying to play against too much resistance because they have read online that they need to move to harder reeds - for these students it be almost revelatory to drop a couple of strengths and find how much more comfortable it is to play!
It is worth approaching reed strength as a highly personal choice, as each player has their own unique physiology, approach, and ideal sound. If you have difficultly producing a quiet but full sound, or in producing clear and responsive low notes, you may wish to move down a strength. Conversely, if the sound is brash and honking, with the high notes wildly out of tune, you may wish to experiment with harder reeds.
I personally play on D'addario Jazz Select reeds, but it is worth trying a few different brands to see what works for you and with your equipment. Don't try to save money here - stick to reputable brands !
Mouthpieces
A high quality mouthpiece is an important part of producing a good sound on the saxophone. Whilst beginner mouthpieces are designed to make a sound easily and consistently (which is great to keep things enjoyable for beginners), they can be limiting in terms of tonal depth. The advancing player may wish to explore some upgrade options in the pursuit of their ideal sound.
Intermediate/pro mouthpieces will typically have larger tip openings (the distance the reed has to travel in its vibration to close against the mouthpiece). This will make the instrument feel more "resistant" to the air, allowing for more complexity of tone, and potentially a great dynamic range. I would suggest players looking at their first upgrades to consider something with a 5, 6, or 7 tip opening, and avoid handcrafted mouthpieces with huge price tags. Note that increased resistance that comes with wider tip openings may take some getting used to, and players may wish to move down a reed strength if making a large jump.
As a jazz musician, I play have played on Jody Jazz HR mouthpieces on all saxophones for the past 10+ years. For me they provide a nice free blowing option with a warm vocal quality to the sound that is suitable for both straight ahead and modern jazz. Jody Jazz mouthpieces are available here for :
Saxophones!
The actual saxophone is probably the last piece to consider upgrading - in most cases, a reasonable quality saxophone in a good state of repair will offer you 90% of the benefit of a higher level (read: more expensive) instrument. With that being said, experienced players may wish to try different horns as they look to move towards their specific sound concept and search for that last 10%.
Different instruments may offer improvements (or trade offs) in terms of : sound quality and timbre, projection, ease of response, ergonomics, and intonation. Some players opt for vintage horns like Selmers or Conns for the characteristic "vintage" sound heard on the classic jazz records, whilst some prefer the ergonomics, tuning, and modern sound offered by more modern brands like Yanigasawa or Yamaha. Sax.co.uk or Howarth both have great stores in London with knowledgable staff who can help guide you through your various (and plentiful!) options.
A great place to start looking might be the range of modern horns from P Mauriat, which are known for their modern ergonomics and rich and full sound, and are the instrument of choice for many professional players. They can be purchased from Sax.co.uk below.
I would always recommend trying instruments before buying where possible, and to get them from a reputable music/woodwind shop (not gumtree or Amazon!).
Summary
Experimenting with gear is an important part of every serious saxophonists journey. A change of reed and mouthpiece combination is a great place to start, offering a potentially large change to sound and response at a relatively low cost. Seriously players will then want to also experiment with different models of saxophone, which can help them to achieve a more specific sound. It is worth always remembering that equipment is highly personal choice - what works for one player will not necessarily works for another. Players should try a variety of options to find what works for them, but remember - expensive gear will still only sound good when backed up with strong playing fundamentals built up through study and practice.
If you are interested in taking saxophone lessons to discuss sound production and technique, jazz and improvisation, or to talk about gear, please get in touch!
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