• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MEMBER’S AREA
    • JOIN
    • FAQ
    • MEMBER LOGIN
    • Member Monthly Lessons
    • Member VIP Area
    • Member-Practicing with Neff
    • Member-Brecker Alternate Fingering Lessons
    • Member-Killin’ Altissimo Lick Lessons
    • Member-Monster Lick of the Day
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT
You are here: Home / Reviews / Mouthpiece Reviews / Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews / Tenor High Baffle Reviews / Pete Thomas PPT Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

Pete Thomas PPT Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

June 18, 2012 by Steve 7 Comments

This is a new metal tenor saxophone mouthpiece by Pete Thomas.  The  PPT metal mouthpieces have similar internal dimensions to the Onyxite PPT that I reviewed a few years ago.  The facings are based on Ed Pillinger’s original facings, and are machined from solid brass.  They are then hand finished by Morgan Fry.  Morgan Fry is a great mouthpiece refacer over in England.  This tenor saxophone mouthpiece is the brushed gold mouthpiece and looks beautiful.

 

 

Pete Thomas PPT Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

 

The mouthpiece I received to review is a 8* and is absolutely beautiful.  I really like the brushed gold finish of the piece as it gives it a bit of a vintage look.  The design of the mouthpiece is unique in that the body and bore of the mouthpiece all seem to be one flowing design.  There are no lines to separate them so it gives the mouthpiece a very modern look.  The tip and rails are very thin and precise.  It looks to have a normal sized window on it.  The metal PPT has a high baffle on it much like the Onyxite PPT I  reviewed a number of years ago.  The baffle has a high plateau to it that slopes down into a scooped large chamber with scooped sidewalls.

 

 

Pete Thomas PPT Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

 

You can see the high baffle in the picture below.  My first thought was that this mouthpiece was going to be loud and extremely bright.  The PPT Onyxite I had bought for the last review played great (that’s why I bought it) but in the end I felt it was leaning too far to the bright side of things for my personal tastes.  I expected this new metal PPT mouthpiece to be similar to that Onyxite mouthpiece.

 

 

 

 

Pete Thomas PPT Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

The factor I forgot to account for was the tip opening.  Whereas the Onyxite was a 7* tip,  this metal PPT mouthpiece is an 8*.  The tip opening is a major factor for high baffled mouthpieces.  A high baffle speeds up the air being blown through the mouthpiece so that the sound can be louder and many times brighter when you push it.  It seems like a closer tip opening brings the reed closer to that high baffle and the sound is brighter.  When you play the same model mouthpiece in a larger tip opening many times the tone is less bright.  I’m not sure of all the acoustical and design  reasons for this but I have experienced it many times. I was nicely surprised by the metal PPT mouthpiece.  I used a Vandoren Java 2 1/2 reed on it with a Selmer 404 metal ligature.  It was not as bright as the Onyxite 7* I had played but it still had a nice thick sound to it with lots of character.  It is still much brighter than a lower baffled piece like an Otto Link but you can listen to the clip below and judge for yourself.  I did feel the tone had a dry character to it.  I’ve played other mouthpiece with this same characteristic like my Theo Wanne Gaia alto mouthpiece.   When I listen to this clip of the PPT it sounds dry to me.  I’m not saying this is good or bad…….just a word I would use to describe the tone.  Because of the larger tip and high baffle, you can get tons of volume out of this mouthpiece so it would be great to use in a rock or blues band.  It was also very easy to get the altissimo notes and the intonation was great on the mouthpiece.

 

Pete Thomas PPT Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

 

I really enjoyed playing the Pete Thomas PPT Metal Tenor Mouthpiece.  If you like the sound and look of this mouthpiece contact Pete Thomas .  There are some more mouthpiece clips of the PPT metal and Onyxite side by side so you can compare them next to each other.

 

I would also like to add that all of Pete’s profit from the sale of these PPT mouthpieces as well as other endeavors on his website are contributed to charity.  He has given thousands of dollars over the years to APEC, LeukemiaBusters, Red Cross, Band on the Wall and now Gorton Education Village.  It’s great to see another sax player  and teacher giving so much of himself to further music and the saxophone and at the same time giving so much to those who need it.  Great job Pete!

Let me know what you think in the comments below. Thanks, Steve

Pete Thomas PPT Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

https://public.neffmusic.com/PPTMetal.mp3

Filed Under: Tenor High Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Ed Pillinger, morgan fry, Pete Thomas, PPT, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone

Steve

About Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarMark Rybiski says

    July 1, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    Steve, I really like your tone with this mouthpiece. Did you use any reverb or effects? Just wondering I think the piece has a great versatile fat tone…of course much is due to your ability as a player too!

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      July 1, 2012 at 3:21 pm

      Thanks Mark. No effects. I record all the review clips totally dry.

      Reply
  2. AvatarJohn Turner says

    July 4, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    Steve
    Have you compared this PPT metal mouthpiece to the equivalent PPT standard (non metal) ? I have a PPT plastic that I really like but it’s rather large in its outer dimensions. I am wondering if the equivalent metal PPT plays and sounds the same as the non-metal. I assume that the inner chambers are equivalent. Do you have any comments or experience on that?

    Reply
  3. AvatarCliff Tetle says

    July 21, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Nice playing Steve

    Reply
  4. AvatarWalter says

    June 9, 2013 at 4:22 am

    Hi Steve,

    thankYou for another great review! With Morgan Fry involved in the finishing and plating, there are similarities concerning baffle/chamber-concept. How would You compare the PPT to Morgan Fry’s Rhodium plated large chamber Tenor piece?

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      June 17, 2013 at 11:06 am

      Walter, the Rhodium MF piece had a rounder, darker, sweeter sound than the PPT. Not as much power. The PPT was definitely brighter and more powerful. It wasn’t Guardala bright but had a more of a thicker tone to it than a Guardala………hope this helps. Steve

      Reply
  5. AvatarVince Salerno says

    May 1, 2019 at 9:34 am

    I was fortunate to get a mint condition 9* metal mouthpiece about 5 years ago for less than half of its retail price. I’ve been using as my main mouthpiece since I got it but it’s had to face some strong competition from 3 different Ponzols, 3 Bergs and a metal .120 Boss mpc.
    I just recorded a CD using this mpc on one of my Super 20s. It’s on the bright side of the spectrum but if I think fat, low and breathy I can achieve that. I like the Boss a lot too but the altissimo is blood curdling intense on the PPT and good but not great on my Boss. The PPT is very worthy of consideration for anyone considering this type of mouthpiece. It’s not very well known and I think more people would be using these if it wasn’t a mouthpiece that you buy off a website in Great Britain.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Subscribe to the Neffmusic Newsletter for the latest reviews and best deals delivered straight to your inbox every month. Join now and you will also receive my 40 Ultimate Michael Brecker Licks free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to


Thanks for joining!


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

Hi Steve, I have been shedding your materials for quite a while now and I love them! They are extremely well organized and presented and there are tons of ’em! I really appreciate your methodical approach and find myself referring students to your resources often.  Thanks so much!  
Kenyon Carter

Your material is great! I got your New Altissimo Lesson 6 months ago and I have learned more from that than in all my 44 years of playing! I appreciate your down to earth teaching method and I really appreciate the heart that you teach with. I have been a subscriber to your lessons for the past 6 months and I have learned a great deal. Over that period of time I have had some questions and you have never failed to respond. Thanks! I have already recommended your lessons to a number of players in… Read more

Michael Byington
I want to say something about Steve Neff’s series of lessons, Beginner Jazz Improvisation. For a couple of years I tried many beginner lessons and my problem was that there was a gap between lessons that were fairly simple and ones that I was not quite ready for and my progress stalled out. That problem was solved with the series Beginner Jazz Improvisation. He guides you step by step along the way and builds a foundation for learning jazz and blues. He leaves no question about what to practice … Read more
Pete
I like so many other subscribers feel so encouraged by Steve’s learning techniques; you will enjoy reading the comments of praise others have left as you too will feel that you share a common view and path. I feel very lucky to have come across Neffmusic and that feeling will remain with you as you search through a treasure trove of learning materials on offer, you will quickly find the lessons that you are suited to. You will instantly recognize the unparalleled quality of Steve’s teaching … Read more
Stephen

Love your lessons!  I have been using your lesson packages for many months now, and am learning a lot.  It is so perfect for me with a very busy adult schedule and difficulty in taking jazz/improv music lessons from reputable instructors who live and hour or more away from me.

Lenore
It is so refreshing to have a great player, who can provide lessons and examples in a manner which is understandable to most any enthusiastic saxophonist who is ready to improve. not just the, do this, do that, memorize this, memorize that… while all that is absolutely necessary, you go on to give reasons and examples to explain and validate why you have to do all of these things, the benefits, if you will… that is the key for me, you tell, explain, demonstrate, explain some more, you give perso… Read more
Cedric
Steve’s monthly lessons are entirely valuable. Without brow beating, he tells you all the stuff you deep down know you really should be working on, instead of just relying on the same old patterns. In spite of the fact that you’re taking a video lesson, Steve’s presentation is comfortable and “real”. In a little more than a year, he’s developed a library of lessons that seem to offer any player a lifetime’s worth of practice material. I’m just glad I stumbled upon it.… Read more
Grant
First, I’m really excited about your materials! This site is a vast resource for any aspiring (and maybe already inspired) jazz musicians. I’m not a sax player, I play mandolin and fiddle, but have been learning jazz and playing weekly with a quintet for the past 6 months and have been struggling with all of the issues you get into in your lessons. I bought several books and lessons and plan to continue with some others as soon as I organize my practice routine. Thanks again for a great site … Read more
Tony Galfano

After reading your story I will never feel quite right about complaining about any of my MINOR health issues!!    God bless Steve and I really hope that your health doesn’t stop you from fulfilling your calling.    These books have been such a help to open up my jazz vocabulary…   Thanks so much for sharing your story and for providing these great teaching tools…   John Leclerc   Saxophonist / composer/ EWI player and professional working musician of 35 years….

John Leclerc
By the way, BIG COMPLIMENTS to you, Steve! Not only are you a great player, you are also a great teacher! I, too, am a woodwinds player/teacher. I have new inspiration to play and teach because of you. The concepts and “thinking” is similar to what I already learned in College, but hearing you explain and PLAY the concepts REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE! Also, your written patterns are more interesting than other books I have seen! Keep up the good work. I will be recommending your sit… Read more
I will be recommending your site to others!

Featured Video Lessons

  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.90 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99

Now over 600 video and audio lessons to choose from!
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY AND SAVE BIG ON EACH LESSON!

The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)

Free Lessons

  • Free Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering Altered Pentatonics
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Blues Scale Volume 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale and Language Book 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Approach Note Velocity Book

Recent reviews

  • Mastering Altered Pentatonics (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Dino Govoni
  • Mastering the Bebop Scale Review-Blues in All Keys Lesson 1
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Steve Nye
  • Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Mark White
  • Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Mark White
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Christopher Lutyk

Jazz Improvisation Books

Mastering Altered Pentatonics
Mastering Altered Pentatonics
Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz & Funk
Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz & Funk
Mastering the Minor ii-7b5 V7b9 Bebop Scale
Mastering the Minor ii-7b5 V7b9 Bebop Scale
Dominant Bebop Scale Book
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk-Thirty 5 Star Reviews!!!
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
Best II-V-I Patterns Book
Best II-V-I Patterns
Approach Note Velocity Book
Approach Note Velocity
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Major Bebop Scale Book
Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Steve on 10mFan Celebration Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Arya Boustani on 10mFan Celebration Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Steve on 10mFan Celebration Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Arya Boustani on 10mFan Celebration Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Will T on One Ligature to Rule Them All? Roberto’s Winds Uovo Tenor Saxophone Ligature Review

Top rated products

  • Harmonic Minor Seventh Chords Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • Playing Outside-NEW Altered Pentatonic Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Style of Michael Brecker-Lesson 2
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Developing Relative Pitch-Lesson 3
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Product tags

alto sax alto saxophone approach notes audio lesson bebop scale beginner beginner saxophone blues blues licks blues patterns blues scale blues scales diminished scale dominant chords ear training fundamentals II-V-I improvisation jazz improvisation jazz lines jazz patterns jazz sax jazz saxophone jazz standard jazz standards licks Mastering the Blues Scale Michael Brecker modern improv modern improvisation online lesson patterns playing outside practice habits reading music sax basics sax lessons saxophone scales smooth jazz steve neff tenor sax tenor saxophone video lesson video lessons
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • SUPPORT

Neffmusic © 2023