Mouthpiece Sizes
by Paul R. Coats
Concert Band/Solo, etc. High School College/Pro
Alto Sax .065″-.070″ .065″-.080″
Tenor Sax .070″-.085″ .070″-.090″
Baritone Sax .080″-.090″ .080″-.090″
Soprano Sax .048″-.055″ .050″-.060″
Jazz/Rock/Theater
Alto Sax .070″-.080″ .075″-.090″
Tenor Sax .080″-.090″ .085″-.105″
Baritone Sax .085″-.095″ .090″-.110″
Soprano Sax .050″-.055″ .055″-.070″
Examples:
A high school alto saxophonist, for concert band, would choose a Selmer C*, C**; Runyon #4, #5; Vandoren V-5 A20, A25; etc.
A high school tenor saxophonist, for jazz/rock would choose a Runyon #5-#7; Otto Link #5-#6; Berg Larsen 80-90.
Try jazz mouthpieces with a #2–#2 1/2 reed. With these larger tip openings for jazz type mouthpieces a softer reed is usually required. Even two different designs of mouthpieces with the same tip opening (Runyon 88 #5 and Selmer C**) will blow with different resistances and may require a harder or softer reed for best results.
Refer to the charts in the Woodwind & Brasswind catalog, or on Steve Goodson’s Saxgourmet site, www.saxgourmet.com.
Concert/symphonic mouthpieces include: Selmer S-80 and S-90 (in both rubber and metal); Runyon 88, Classic, Symphonic, and Finesse; Bamber Concert; Vandoren V-5; Rousseau; Bilger; Morgan; Hite; Ridenour; Larry Teal Alto Sax (Selmer).
Popular jazz type mouthpieces include: Runyon Custom Spoiler, Metal Spoiler, Quantum; Meyer; Otto Link; Beechler; Berg Larsen; Brilhart; Vandoren Java; Selmer Metal Jazz; R.I.A; Claude Lakey; Guy Hawkins; Dukoff.
