I have a question about some of the common adjustments you all make to
Selmer "Classical" Alto Mouthpieces.  For example, S80, S90, C*, C**,
etc.  I teach jazz and classical saxophone in a University setting,
and I think it is obvious that Selmer mouthpieces are recommended to
most young classical players.  However, as we all know, they are very
inconsistent.  While I believe that there are many "superior" legit
mouthpieces out there, Selmer seems to be the popular choice.  In my
studio, I have adjusted around a dozen C*'s and they all play
extremely better.  However, my adjustments are based on the facing
measurements from my Alto C** that was refaced many years ago by Frank
Wells.  So, I was curious as to some of the schedules others use on
these mouthpieces, and are there other adjustments that can be done to
encourage these pieces to play better? Especially in the low end.  My
process involves flattening the table, evening the rails, putting the
right tip opening an facing on them and sometimes taking roll out of
the baffle.  basically reworking everything.  Any more suggestions or
measurements?

Thanks everyone.

To say that Selmer mouthpiece facings are inconsistent is an 
understatement. However, a well designed mouthpiece can forgive an 
imperfect curve.  After measuring hundreds of C* alto mouthpieces 
over the years and averaging the results, the following appears to be 
the intent for a Selmer C* lay schedule using the Winslow kit:

.0015 - 48
.0005 - 40 
.010  - 34 
.016  - 30 
.024  - 24
.035  - 18
.050  - 10 
.063  - 4    

The tip opening is usually .068"


--- In MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com, "richardpkelley" 
<richardpkelley@...> wrote:
>
> I have a question about some of the common adjustments you all make 
to
> Selmer "Classical" Alto Mouthpieces.  For example, S80, S90, C*, 
C**,
> etc.  I teach jazz and classical saxophone in a University setting,
> and I think it is obvious that Selmer mouthpieces are recommended to
> most young classical players.  However, as we all know, they are 
very
> inconsistent.  While I believe that there are many "superior" legit
> mouthpieces out there, Selmer seems to be the popular choice.  In my
> studio, I have adjusted around a dozen C*'s and they all play
> extremely better.  However, my adjustments are based on the facing
> measurements from my Alto C** that was refaced many years ago by 
Frank
> Wells.  So, I was curious as to some of the schedules others use on
> these mouthpieces, and are there other adjustments that can be done 
to
> encourage these pieces to play better? Especially in the low end.  
My
> process involves flattening the table, evening the rails, putting 
the
> right tip opening an facing on them and sometimes taking roll out of
> the baffle.  basically reworking everything.  Any more suggestions 
or
> measurements?
> 
> Thanks everyone.
>

If I remember right, the Selmer C* Alto Mouthpieces were from the Selmer
homepage said to have a tip opening on 0,67inch, and the length of the lay
was 22 mm.

Based on that, I am using the following numbers on the C* for alto:

 

I have a circular arc where R = 7,8

            

             0,0015   --  44  

             0,005    --  38

             0,010    --  32

             0,016    --  26

             0,024    --  21

             0,035    -- 14

             0,050    --   7

             0,067    -- End of tip

 

I am not shore if this is the very best  facing for these mouthpieces, but
it works very well for the students and others that I have been refaceing
these mouthpieces for.  I can tell you that they are very popular in Norway
too, and they are at least as inconsistent.

 

Best Helge

  _____  

Fra: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com]
På vegne av richardpkelley
Sendt: 26. februar 2008 19:22
Til: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com
Emne: [MouthpieceWork] Selmer Mouthpiece Adjustments

 

I have a question about some of the common adjustments you all make to
Selmer "Classical" Alto Mouthpieces. For example, S80, S90, C*, C**,
etc. I teach jazz and classical saxophone in a University setting,
and I think it is obvious that Selmer mouthpieces are recommended to
most young classical players. However, as we all know, they are very
inconsistent. While I believe that there are many "superior" legit
mouthpieces out there, Selmer seems to be the popular choice. In my
studio, I have adjusted around a dozen C*'s and they all play
extremely better. However, my adjustments are based on the facing
measurements from my Alto C** that was refaced many years ago by Frank
Wells. So, I was curious as to some of the schedules others use on
these mouthpieces, and are there other adjustments that can be done to
encourage these pieces to play better? Especially in the low end. My
process involves flattening the table, evening the rails, putting the
right tip opening an facing on them and sometimes taking roll out of
the baffle. basically reworking everything. Any more suggestions or
measurements?

Thanks everyone.

 

This is closer to what I have measured on good C*'s.
   
  But I have found facing lengths (.0015" feeler) as short as 16 mm (32).
   
  Paul

Helge Solvang <helgsolv@...> wrote:
              If I remember right, the Selmer C* Alto Mouthpieces were from the Selmer homepage said to have a tip opening on 0,67inch, and the length of the lay was 22 mm.
  Based on that, I am using the following numbers on the C* for alto:
  
  I have a circular arc where R = 7,8
              
               0,0015   --  44  
               0,005    --  38
               0,010    --  32
               0,016    --  26
               0,024    --  21
               0,035    -- 14
               0,050    --   7
               0,067    -- End of tip
  
  I am not shore if this is the very best  facing for these mouthpieces, but it works very well for the students and others that I have been refaceing these mouthpieces for.  I can tell you that they are very popular in Norway too, and they are at least as inconsistent.
  
  Best Helge
      
---------------------------------
  
  Fra: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com] P� vegne av richardpkelley
Sendt: 26. februar 2008 19:22
Til: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com
Emne: [MouthpieceWork] Selmer Mouthpiece Adjustments

  
        I have a question about some of the common adjustments you all make to
Selmer "Classical" Alto Mouthpieces. For example, S80, S90, C*, C**,
etc. I teach jazz and classical saxophone in a University setting,
and I think it is obvious that Selmer mouthpieces are recommended to
most young classical players. However, as we all know, they are very
inconsistent. While I believe that there are many "superior" legit
mouthpieces out there, Selmer seems to be the popular choice. In my
studio, I have adjusted around a dozen C*'s and they all play
extremely better. However, my adjustments are based on the facing
measurements from my Alto C** that was refaced many years ago by Frank
Wells. So, I was curious as to some of the schedules others use on
these mouthpieces, and are there other adjustments that can be done to
encourage these pieces to play better? Especially in the low end. My
process involves flattening the table, evening the rails, putting the
right tip opening an facing on them and sometimes taking roll out of
the baffle. basically reworking everything. Any more suggestions or
measurements?

Thanks everyone.

  



  

                         


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