Description
This is an exceptional alto saxophone mouthpiece. It does literally anything you want it to, from lead alto, to ballads, to section work, to pit and concert band. It is what I play, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Every single person who has bought one has emailed back or called me with rave reviews. I don’t normally make these kinds of pronouncements about mouthpieces, but until you play one of Ted Klum’s facings, it is possible that you don’t yet know how easy it should be to play saxophone. Ted Klum is one of the most highly-skilled and artistic mouthpiece makers in the world, and his work is just about the best that there ever has been. It would be wise to get one of Ted’s mouthpieces before he retires and they suddenly jump up in value.
How does it play? The response is instant; subtone is effortless; altissimo is right there and easy. The tone is just gorgeous – it’s based on the type of Meyer Bros that Cannonball Adderley played, and it really does lean in that full-throated, warm, lyrical direction that you think of with Cannonball. Phil Woods’ tone is another reference point for alto players, and he also played a NY Meyer like this is based on. The big reasons to buy this instead of hunting for a NY Meyer are price and consistency. Meyer Bros NY alto mouthpieces now sell 2-5x the price of this piece. And out of 5 original facing Meyer Bros pieces, you might get 2-3 good ones. Every single one of Ted’s New York Models is consistently great.
You can get this version with the silver shank band included, or you can get it without the silver band. The band is an aesthetic nod to Cannonball Adderley, whose Meyer Bros had a similar one, and it is also protects the shank from cracking over the years or from a too-large neck cork. It is dry-fit with a ring sizing machine, so you can take it off or put it on without any adhesive. If you have any questions about these mouthpieces, feel free to contact me.
Pair this with a King Super 20 alto and a lot of practice to get something approximating Cannonball’s signature alto sound. If his sound is not necessarily the destination of aspiring alto players, it is at least a benchmark and a starting point for experimentation. This mouthpiece leans toward that sound better than any other that I have played.
Nick Caplanson –
I got one of these a few months ago and have played it many times since Brian shipped it to me. Truly exceptional piece and the silver band is a striking addition that makes this a unique addition to my mouthpiece collection. I am more of a tenor player but this piece makes me pick up my alto more. Ted’s work is spectacular and Brian is great to work with. Two thumbs up for these guys and this piece.