Today, I am reviewing a new mouthpiece from D’Addario called the Select Jazz alto saxophone mouthpiece. I heard about the D’Addario Select Jazz model from a friend of mine who ordered one from Sax Quest and was blown away by it. His email and raves were enough to rouse my curiosity and review one of these so here it is……………..
D’Addario Select Jazz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
The D’Addario Select Jazz is advertised as being a mouthpiece that captures the feel and tone of the legendary mouthpieces from years past………. Here is a snippet from the Saxquest website about the D’Addario Select Jazz mouthpiece:
- 100% precision-milled, vintage-inspired jazz mouthpieces
- The Select Jazz line is milled not molded, from solid rod rubber, using D’Addario’s precise computer-controlled mouthpiece-making technology
- Classic sound and response, with even intonation across the entire range of the saxophone
- Features medium chambers and facing lengths
- Available in three tip openings: 5, 6, and 7
The Select Jazz alto saxophone mouthpiece looks great to the eye. The side rails and tip are nicely cut and even. The D7M model that I have looks to have what I would call a medium-low rollover baffle on it. The baffle slides down smoothly into what I would consider a medium small chamber. (It looks a little smaller than a JVW Meyer medium chamber as I compare the mouthpieces side by side) The side rails are slightly scooped out and look smooth and even. The roof of the chamber is thicker and also similar to my JVW Meyer as I compare it by eye.
D’Addario Select Jazz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
The D’Addario Select Jazz played well with a Java 2 1/2 reed on it. The .083 tip seemed to favor a softer reed for me. I tried a few 3’s of different brands but they felt too stiff for my tastes. I used a Vandoren Optimum metal ligature on the sound test also.
For me, the Select Jazz had a classic Meyer sound to it. It definitely leaned to the brighter side of tone for me. The tone had a nice tight core to it and a dryness and lightness to it. I had no problem getting a classic bebop sound out of this mouthpiece. It was smooth throughout the range of the horn and the intonation was excellent. I could get a respectful volume out of the Select Jazz also which is nice.
D’Addario Select Jazz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
My only negative about the Select Jazz is that the bore of the mouthpiece is smaller than most alto mouthpiece bores. I have probably 10 alto mouthpiece in my office now and they all fit on my alto neck pretty similarly. The Select Jazz is quite a bit tighter. This is nothing a little cork grease won’t fix but is kind of a pain if you plan on playing other mouthpieces. (My fix in case you don’t know it is to dip the cork into boiling water for 2 seconds. The heat expands the cork back to it’s original size……..)
D’Addario Select Jazz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
I think D’Addario has done a great job recreating a great Meyer vibe at a reasonable price. At this moment, the Select Jazz alto mouthpiece is retailed at 149.00 at Saxquest.com. That is a great price for this mouthpiece in my opinion. I wish I could have had a mouthpiece like this to choose from when I was a student in high school many years ago.
I haven’t tried the 5 and 6 Select Jazz but I am also curious as to how they compare and play. I would imagine that they are a bit brighter and even more focused sounding. I would have no problems recommending this alto mouthpiece to some of my high school alto students looking for that next step up mouthpiece…………..
D’Addario Select Jazz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
If you like the sound of the D’Addario Select Jazz alto saxophone mouthpiece clip below and the mouthpiece catches your interest then give it a try. You can get more information and purchase the D’Addario Select Jazz to try at www.saxquest.com Tell them Steve sent you………….!!
Let me know what you think in the comments below. Thanks, Steve
Audio Player
D’Addario Select Jazz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
Steve: This mpc definitely has a Meyer type sound to it. It sounds like you could play lead in a big band, or 2nd alto. In addition it sounds like it is a good combo mpc in both the bebop and swing styles.
In addition this mpc is only $149.00 so it is relatively inexpensive. This makes it a good choice for high school or college student or even a pro looking for a inexpensive good choice of a alto mpc.
I agree Larry. Thanks for commenting. If you play one feel free to come back and let us know what you think……. Steve
I bought one of these at SaxQuest a few months ago (D6M). I was able to get a great sound with a V16 size 3. It’s on the bright side with a great core sound. Response is great from the bottom to the top of the horn.
I have the 5M, .73 tip opening. Best MP I’ve played. I think it blows away other MP’s in the $300-$500 range. My biggest complaint with some of the other companies trying to replicate the vintage NY Meyer sound is that the all sound thin to me. They’re missing a richness to their sound. This D’Addario is an excellent piece.
That’s great Erik. I’m glad you are digging the mouthpiece…………
Hey Steve, here are some guys from Rico playing the D’Addario and talking about the piece. https://youtu.be/HbtGE_MjyUw
Did you use java green box or red filed reeds in this test?
Daniel,
If they were Vandorens then it was the Java Green Box. I hate the red box Javas. I have no idea why but every time I try the red box Javas I can’t stand them………..
I have played tenor for years and decided to obtain an alto. I purchased a vintage Buescher 400 from Saxquest and decided to try
the Select Jazz mpc along with the vandoren Java 21/2 green box reed. I have always used metal on my tenor and decided to try
something different on the alto. Glad I did. Love the sound and wished I had this mpc ten years ago on a Selmer series 80 I think?
Put a Bobby Dukoff D7 silverite mpc on it and it was nothing short of awful!
Great mouthpiece, relatively free blowing with rich sound. Much better than many other more expensive mouthpieces. My only gripe is that I had to send it off to have the bore increased so I can use it along with other mouthpieces. This one squeezes the cork down so every other mouthpiece is too loose.
Mark, Yes, I agree about the bore. I really hope they fix that! I don’t have one now for that reason. I can’t play and review other pieces if I have a piece that crushes the cork down to nothing every time I use it……Steve
I just got a brand new Alto D’addario D7M Jazz Select on my refacing workbench. I haven’t played it yet but startet to measure it and found that it has a perfect flat table and facing curve. I have never seen any mpc that perfect directly from the factory.
Egil, Thanks for sharing that. That is a good sign. I hope they continue to keep their quality and standards that high. Steve
I would like to get a mouthpiece to replace a 1980’s Otto Link 6*. Which D’addario would you recommend as the closest match, 6 or 7?
Steve Buckley
Steve, You could go either way. I think a 6* Otto Link alto mouthpiece is .080 (according to Theo Wanne’s tip opening chart) The D’Addario 6 is .078 I believe and the 7 is .083 from what I have read online. Me personally, I would go with the 6 as .080 is the top tip opening I feel comfortable with (I can go higher if the baffle is high though). Either way, both are pretty close. Steve
Hi. Does anyone know if they’ve resolved the small bore issue? I’ve got a Yanagisawa AW010 and want to be sure it will fit, without modifying my sax!
Hi. Sorry to say, but the bore issue is still the same.
Hi Steve, pleased to report that D’Addario seem to have resolved the small bore issue: the D5M I just received in the post today has a pretty normal size bore – in fact, it is ever so slightly looser than my 2 Meyers and my Drake Phil Woods!!
Hi, Yes, I can second that – the bore on my new D6M is just fine.
Ken–
Where did you get your “fixed bore” D6M? WWBW has them on sale; I’m considering taking the plunge.
Thanks,
Eric
Note that WWBW used pieces are the best deal going, in my opinion. I’ve bought several Level 2 and they were in perfect condition, at a substantial discount.
My recent SJ D5M was fine overall on the cork but I did sand a chamfer onto the bore at the butt. The stock factory sharp angle creates a crisp step-off ledge on the cork which limits tuning with any other piece.
I didn’t trust a factory piece that was CNC milled with no hand finish so I sent mine to Mojo and he assessed that it was perfect as-was, needed no tweaking at all. Pretty good endorsement of the D’Addario manufacturing process, I believe.
Hi Steve
As always you sound great on this mouthpiece!
Previous comments have mentioned the bore issue has been rectified – I can also confirm this is the case – & as such the mouthpiece goes very easily onto the crook cork.
You might be interested to know, that the D6M, which is what I have & I believe is probably closer to the tip opening you usually favour, plays super great, allowing for a really crisp articulation with a nice amount of resistance, that some of the higher priced, hand made mouthpieces available don’t always have, which in my case makes me play too much ahead of the beat – it’s all subjective of course, but the slicker they are, the less controllable they seem to play for me.
A nano second more time to think and react is a good thing for musical creativity also!
All the best, I hope everything is going well for you
cheers
Andy
Thanks for coming by and adding to the discussion, Andy. You have me curious about the D6M now…….
Hi again Steve
You are very welcome, I reckon you should scratch that itch, after all you never know….
Cheers
Andy