Today I am reviewing another great alto saxophone mouthpiece made by Phil Engleman at Phil-Tone Mouthpieces. I have reviewed quite a few Phil-Tone saxophone mouthpieces on this site already and am always interested when Phil announces a new Phil-Tone saxophone mouthpiece model. Phil Engleman’s mouthpiece work is always top notch and he has created some phenomenal mouthpieces over the years.
A couple of months ago, Phil announced that he had a new Phil-Tone alto saxophone mouthpiece called the Topaz model. He announced it on SOTW (Sax on the Web) with this quote:
“The Topaz is done! Over the past 20 years I’ve probably worked on a thousand Meyer alto saxophone mouthpieces. I think that my Topaz mouthpiece beats them all, including my LeSon model. The Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece has everything you could want from an alto sax mouthpiece in this genre; power, depth, clarity, and focus with an even tone through the range. The palm keys ring and the bell keys are round and bold. Like every Phil-Tone mouthpiece it is handmade and adjustments made with saxophone in hand.”-Phil Engleman (Phil-Tone Mouthpieces)
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece with Engraving (the one I’m reviewing today came without engraving)
Here’s a quote from Phil Engleman about the new Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece from his website:
The Topaz is the newest addition to the Phil-Tone hard rubber family. It has all the depth and power you could ask for in a NY vintage style mouthpiece handmade and playtested without the crazy vintage price tag. If you love that Cannonball Adderley, Phil Woods or Art Pepper vibe, you owe it to yourself to try the Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece. -Phil Engleman (Phil-Tone Mouthpieces)
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece I received to review is made of hard rubber. The hard rubber is very shiny looking as well as very smooth to the touch. The exterior of this Topaz alto sax mouthpiece is pretty plain looking. I think Phil was in a hurry to get this Topaz mouthpiece out to me to review because there is no “PHIL*TONE” or “Topaz” engraved on it like there is in the first photo with the red background in this review. (I took that red photo from the Phil-Tone website so you can see what the finished mouthpiece looks like.)
The Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece I received has a 6 tip opening. According to Phil, that measures out to a .076 tip opening which is perfect for me (I usually like .076-.080 tip openings on alto saxophone mouthpieces). The mouthpiece diameter is similar in size to a typical Meyer alto saxophone mouthpiece diameter. Any ligatures that would fit on a Meyer alto mouthpiece will fit on this Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece. I used a Vandoren Optimum alto saxophone ligature for the sound clips below.
The Phil-Tone Topaz mouthpiece tip rail is very close in shape to all of my alto saxophone reeds and the reeds I tried on the mouthpiece all responded well when applying the suction test to this mouthpiece.
The table looks flat and even and the side rails and tip rail look even, thin and balanced. Phil Engleman’s mouthpiece work is always terrific so seeing this quality work on the Topaz alto sax mouthpiece is of no surprise.
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
I would describe the Phil-Tone Topaz mouthpiece baffle as a medium baffle. The baffle on the Phil-Tone Topaz mouthpiece has a smooth rollover at about the 1/4 inch point and then descends straight down at an angle towards the rear of the chamber where the bore begins. There is no edge or ledge to the baffle but it is just a smooth slope from the tip rail to where the baffle starts the straight sloped decent into and through the chamber.
As I compare the Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece to a couple of Meyer Bros Connoisseur alto sax mouthpieces I have, the baffles look very similar between the mouthpiece but what is uniquely different between the mouthpieces is that the angle of the baffle descent and the floor of the Topaz mouthpiece baffle is a bit higher than the floor of the Meyer Bros mouthpieces. This makes the floor of the chamber higher and explains why I describe the chamber as medium-small in the next section of the review.
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece has what I would consider a medium-small chamber. When compared to a Meyer Bros Connoisseur alto mouthpiece, the Topaz has a thicker roof chamber, the scooped sidewalls come inward more as they near the chamber entrance and the floor of the chamber is higher. These three elements add up to equal a smaller chamber than the typical medium chamber that Meyer medium chamber alto saxophone mouthpieces have. Although the chamber is smaller than a typical hard rubber Meyer medium chamber alto saxophone mouthpiece, I have also seen alto sax mouthpieces with smaller chambers so that is why I would describe the Topaz mouthpiece chamber as being medium-small in size. The chamber shape has a squeezed chamber look to it as the opening is smaller but then the chamber opens up within the chamber to become bigger to match the bore diameter it is attached to.
The beak height felt very comfortable and feels very similar to a hard rubber Meyer alto saxophone mouthpiece beak height to me.
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece played great with the first reed I put on it which was a BetterSax Jazz Cut #3 unfiled alto saxophone reed. It played so well that after about 15 minutes of warming up and noodling around, I decided to record the sound clips below.
I believe this is my first review trying the BetterSax saxophone reeds and this BetterSax Jazz Cut #3 unfiled alto sax reed played great for me on the Topaz alto sax mouthpiece! (Possible BetterSax reed review in the future?….)
I found the Phil-Tone Topaz mouthpiece to be a focused and powerful mouthpiece when pushed to full volume. The tone is bright and crisp while still being fat and full sounding and the Topaz can get plenty of volume and power when pushed. At softer volumes, the tone becomes more beautifully concentrated and focused. I have described some mouthpieces as having a “singing quality” to the tone and the Phil-Tone Topaz alto sax mouthpiece is included in that list as well. I had so much fun just playing the simple melodies on the second clip and listening to the character of each note while playing, that I forgot to add any improv or much embellishment to most of the clip which is very unusual for me. I didn’t realize this until I listened back to the clip. This clip should satisfy all of you who post comments like “Why do you have to play so fast?”, “Can’t you play a melody?” etc…… 😂
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
In my opinion, the Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece plays like a great NY Meyer alto saxophone mouthpiece. At one point, I remember thinking that it reminded me a lot of a terrific NY Meyer that I tried out years ago and was thinking of paying a ridiculous amount of money for. It has that tight focused tone that I can only describe as resonant and full of energy and sparkle. Even at softer volumes, the tone sounds like it as that energy kind of hidden underneath the surface of the sound and bubbling to the surface at times.
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
I think this quality is a combination of the rollover baffle with that medium-small slightly squeezed chamber. I’ve played other alto sax mouthpieces with even smaller chambers with this focused energy quality of tone I am describing, but many times, those smaller chambers just seem like too much. Like the tone becomes too focused and concentrated at the expense of fatness and character. The Phil-Tone Topaz seems like the perfect chamber size for an alto saxophone mouthpiece that gives the player that focused energy in the sound while still allowing some spread, depth and more fullness to the sound when desired.
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece was great in regard to intonation. My Selmer Reference 54 alto saxophone has some issues with being sharp in the middle register and up in the palm keys but those notes didn’t seem as sharp as they usually can be when trying out an alto saxophone mouthpiece so I see that as a major plus in the intonation category.
The Topaz mouthpiece responded great to any expressive manipulations such as dynamics, bends and vibrato. The focused concentrated tone allowed the mouthpiece to be immediately responsive to any changes in air, embouchure or voicing. I really enjoyed applying vibrato to the slow melodies clip because the vibrato responded so quickly and seemed so easy to manipulate and shape even as I faded out on the notes.
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece had plenty of power and brightness. I believe it could handle the lead alto job in a big band when pushed due to it’s focused brightness when pushed. Lay back a bit and the tone gets immediately sweeter and smoother. I would say on my 1-10 volume scale I would give the Phil-Tone Topaz mouthpiece an 8 out of 10 which is pretty good for a “Meyer” type of alto saxophone mouthpiece in my opinion.
The articulation was immediate and fast and the articulation could easily be manipulated to be smoother and more flowing or more crisp and edgy if needed.
The range of the saxophone was even and smooth as I played fast lines on the Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece. Although each note still has it’s unique character and sound, the note qualities matched each other enough to cause the melodies and fast lines to sound connected and smooth.
As usual, I did not attempt to go into the altissimo on the Topaz alto mouthpiece just because those range of notes really tend to irritate my current hearing issues and it is not a fun experience for me. I would not anticipate any issues at all with altissimo playing with the Topaz alto sax mouthpiece as that nice rollover baffle and medium-small chamber size should assist altissimo playing perfectly in my mind.
The low notes were full sounding to my ears but didn’t seem as fat and rich sounding as alto saxophone mouthpieces with medium or large chambers in my opinion. That being said, I loved how the Phil-Tone Topaz alto sax mouthpiece subtoned down low. It could easily produced a rich and velvety low note while subtoning. You can hear this subtone quality a few times in the sound clips below.
I will write, that I really enjoyed the palm key notes on the clips below. Many times when I describe a mouthpiece as having a bright and crisp tone, the high palm key notes can tend to get too edgy and thin for my tastes, but I didn’t experience that with the Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece. There was still a nice round fullness to the notes up on the high end of the saxophone that made them beautifully pleasant to listen to.
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece is a great alto saxophone mouthpiece for those of you who are looking for a medium bright and focused alto saxophone sound reminiscent of Cannonball Adderley or Phil Woods. In my opinion, the tone can be powerful enough for lead alto work but also blend enough for sectional playing when needed. The Topaz alto sax mouthpiece can be played bright and powerful for solos or beautifully delicate for ballads. The tone has depth, as well as character, and the Topaz mouthpiece would be a great choice for any student or professional player. Listen to the clips in the review and decided for yourself if it might be the perfect alto sax mouthpiece choice for yourself.
If you like the clips below and the Phil-Tone Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece interests you, contact Phil Engleman via his website at Phil-tone.com. Phil is very knowledgeable about sax mouthpieces and will answer any questions you might have about the Topaz alto mouthpiece or any of his other mouthpiece models. Thanks for letting me try the Topaz alto saxophone mouthpiece, Phil! It was a pleasure!
If you have played or end up playing a Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece or have any other thoughts or comments about this review, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below. Thanks, Steve
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece (Reverb Added)-Better Sax Jazz Cut Unfiled #3 Reed
Same Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Clip as Above (No Reverb Added)-Better Sax Jazz Cut Unfiled #3 Reed
Phil-Tone Topaz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece (Simple Melodies with Reverb Added)-Better Sax Jazz Cut Unfiled #3 Reed
It sounds great , Steve , Good review
The Topaz mouthpiece is not only a good mouthpiece: it is the sound of the mouthpiece that recalls the classic sound of the alto.
Imagine a black and white film from the 1950s and Harlem at night: a dark blue sky, buildings that can be glimpsed in the dim light created by a crescent moon, a few lit windows and… silence.
Then the silence broken by the soundtrack: a magnificent sound, an alto that plays; and it plays, at that time, with the sound that was the very essence of the alto: the sound of a Meyer.
Images that arise in the memories of those who, as children, began to love jazz and the atmospheres it created.
Then enhance this sound in such a way that, while remaining the same in spirit, it becomes even more magnificent and with all the qualities perfectly described, and played, by the very talented Steve: this is the Topaz, in my opinion.
A magnificent mouthpiece that sings, as well as playing.
A mouthpiece that fills you with emotion just listening to it, imagine in playing it.
Bravo Phil Engleman, a true masterpiece; a work with a result that, until now, I thought unattainable.
Giuseppe.
Giuseppe sei un poeta. il tuo commento vale 1000 recensioni, sembra di sentirlo questo sax che descrivi.
condivido le tue opinioni , ottimo materiale costruttivo, ottimo progetto e e realizzazione. Non ultima ottima esecuzione , bravo sempre Steve.
forse il migliore mpc per alto degli ultimi tempi.
Translation:
Giuseppe you are a poet. your comment is worth 1000 reviews, it seems to hear this sax that you describe.
I share your opinions, excellent construction material, excellent project and realization. Last but not least excellent execution, well done Steve.
perhaps the best mouthpiece for alto of recent times.
Grazie per il complimento e anche per condividere il commento che mi è stato evocato spontaneamente ascoltando quel bellissimo suono.
Sono italiano, un saluto,
Giuseppe.
Translation:
Thanks for the compliment and also for sharing the comment that was spontaneously evoked in me listening to that beautiful sound.
I am Italian, greetings,
Giuseppe.
Very nice sounding mouthpiece. I wasn’t expecting such a distinctive edge to it. I play a Selmer Soloist C* for jazz and like its fullness. I’m impressed with the Topaz for having a mellow tone with an clear edge yet a smooth timber. Thanks for the demonstration.
Hi Steve, great review – and a really necessary one! I have a Topaz since some weeks – it’s a true revelation and for me beyond all other HR alto pieces I tried and owned since 20 years…the balance between softness, airy harmonics, body, focus and dynamic response to more powerful playing is nothing but outstanding in my opinion. So I think this one should be among the very first choices for many players searching for a superb “Meyer”-type HR piece.
Best to you, Walter
I think that this wonderful mouthpiece will be highly sought after in a few years, perhaps more so than a vintage Meyer New York is today.
Giuseppe.
Got one! My Topaz 6 sings and wails but also plays so sweetly and delicately. I just love the tone and flexibility. This one is def a keeper. BTW Phil is a great guy to deal with.
That’s great to hear! Enjoy!
Hello I like this Phil Tone a lot but I have this issues: I dont like high frequencies and high volumes; I am searching an alto mpc that is very dark but is very colourful, that plays rich and fat not loud and with medium low resistance: could you recommend any ? I saw Jody Jazz custom dark but maybe you know others. Thank you