Today, I am excited to review the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 model tenor saxophone mouthpiece in a 8* (.115) tip opening. I recently reviewed the Les Becs d’Autan Florida tenor sax mouthpiece as well as the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Pilgrimage tenor saxophone mouthpiece. I was very impressed with both of these saxophone mouthpieces, so I am super excited to try this Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece that is a recreation of one of the most iconic Dave Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece models that the renowned tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker played on.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
I received an email from Philippe at Les Becs d’Autan where he described the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 and MB1 Pilgrimage model tenor saxophone mouthpieces:
“In June, I’ll be releasing two metal tenor saxophone mouthpiece models:
After reading these descriptions, how could I say “No thanks” to reviewing these MB1 and MB1 Pilgrimage model tenor saxophone mouthpieces by Les Becs d’Autan? I was so excited……
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Les Becs d’Autan MB1 and MB1 Pilgrimage tenor saxophone mouthpieces arrived about 4-6 weeks later. The mouthpieces looked beautiful upon opening the box. Both the MB1(silver) and MB1 Pilgrimage (gold) tenor saxophone mouthpieces were well protected in the packaging they made the journey from France to the USA in.
There was no ligature included with the mouthpieces so I had to rummage through my ligature box to find a Guardala sized mouthpiece ligature. A ligature of that size is not always easy to find, but I did finally find one at the bottom of my box of ligatures.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 and MB1 Pilgrimage Tenor Saxophone Mouthpieces Side By Side with the Pink Bite Plates
The silver plating on the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece had a mirror like finish that looked thick, shiny and excellently done. The marbled ebony bite plate looks beautiful and exquisitely crafted. Philippe at LBD (Les Becs d’Autan) describes the colored marble bite plate as pink/green and he posted photos of that pink/green bite plate on social media quite a bit (you can see one of these photos above).
I have to be honest in writing that I was not a big fan of that pink/green color mix. It reminded me of Willy Wonka or one of those color swirled lollipops you got at the fair from a sketchy clown when you were a kid (you don’t have to email and tell me I need therapy, I already know that…..).
It turns out, that both of the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpieces I received have more of a purple/green mix of color in the bite plate (seen in the photo below) which I like much better. You definitely want to put a clear mouthpiece patch over this bite plate so you can see that cool colored purple/green marble design.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece (I love this color bite plate much more than the pink but if you dig pink, you be you…….)
On first inspection, the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece looks very similar in baffle design to an original Guardala Studio mouthpiece I used to own back in the day as well as a couple of WWBW Guardala Studio and Guardala MB (Michael Brecker) tenor saxophone mouthpieces I used to own. All those mouthpiece came and went soon after because they were just too bright for my tastes. They would sound great on a loud gig but as soon as I tried to play a jazz set on one of them I was immediately disappointed. Those past mouthpieces were just too bright and edgy compared to the warm, rich and velvety tenor saxophone tone I wanted while playing a jazz set.
The other thing I have to mention about these type of high baffle tenor saxophone mouthpiece is that most of the time, they would fail the most important test, which for me, is how much I enjoyed practicing with them. A mouthpiece could sound great on the gig, but if I couldn’t practice at home with it without being annoyed or going deaf, then it wouldn’t work for me. I had to practice. If a mouthpiece was producing a sound that hurt my ears or made it necessary to where ear plugs, then that mouthpiece would have to go…..
Due to my history with these types of high baffle tenor saxophone mouthpieces, I did not have high expectations for the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece. I assumed that it would be like all the other high baffle Guardala-like tenor saxophone mouthpieces that felt cool to play in the moment, but would soon lose their allure for me and quickly be posted for sale on eBay.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor sax mouthpiece looked beautiful to behold. The tip rails and side rails look thin, even and precise as you would see on a Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece if you held one. The tip rail curve is very close in shape to the reed tip curves of the BSS (Boston Sax Shop) tenor saxophone reeds I used on this mouthpiece. I detected no issues in regard to mouthpiece suction (when performing the mouthpiece suction test). The mouthpiece passed the suction test perfectly.
The MB1 mouthpiece table looks flat and even and the window looks similar if not exactly the same shape and size of an original Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece window, although it has been many years since I had an actual original Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece sitting on my desk to compare so this is just my subjective opinion and not fact.
The interior of the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece side rails are straight near the tip and are scooped out as they get closer to the medium large sized chamber. The chamber looks comparable in size to the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Pilgrimage mouthpiece chamber I reviewed a few days ago. I also compared this sized chamber to an Otto Link Florida mouthpiece chamber writing that the MB1 Pilrimage and now the MB1 chamber looked pretty close in size to my Florida Otto Link mouthpiece chambers that I have on hand.
The roof of the chamber underneath the table is nice and thin like the LBD MB1 Pilgrimage mouthpiece was as well. When looking into the chamber from the tip of the mouthpiece, you can see a ridge where the bore starts at the back of the chamber area which is a sign that the chamber is slightly larger than the bore of the MB1 mouthpiece.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The baffle is a shelf baffle that is 3/4 of an inch long from the tip. At the 3/4 of an inch point, the baffle meets a jagged line and then descends towards the back of the chamber area before the bore begins. The bottom of the chamber looks scooped out similarly to how I described the bottom of the chamber on the MB1 Pilgrimage mouthpiece.
The jagged line at the MB1 baffle transition actually surprised me as Philippe has taken such care in all his attention to detail and craftsmanship. A jagged line where Dave Guardala usually put a very straight line seems a bit sloppy to me. That being said, I have played many mouthpieces with perfectly straight shelf baffle lines that I didn’t enjoy all that much so maybe I will wait to criticize until after I play the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
I was curious if the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 mouthpiece was an exact copy of a vintage Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece or just a mouthpiece that is similar to a Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece, so I sent Philippe this email:
Is the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece an exact copy of a Dave Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece you have? Or was it just inspired by a Dave Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece? I have to say, I have owned a Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece and have owned some WWBW Studio models and MB models and I really like your Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece way more than all of those other mouthpieces. I was completely surprised. I found those past mouthpieces to be way too bright, edgy and thin sounding but the Les Becs d’Autan sounds killer to me. Let me know if it is a copy of a Guardala or just your own creation that is similar to a Guardala so I know how to word it in the review. Thanks, Steve
Response from Philippe at Les Becs d’Autan:
“Thank you so much for your kind words. I truly appreciate your feedback, especially knowing your experience and your sharp ear when it comes to mouthpieces.
To answer your question: Yes, the MB1 mouthpiece is a faithful reproduction of a numbered, hand-made 1980s Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece (with the sole exception of the bite plate).
In my work as a mouthpiece refacer, I’ve had the privilege of working on and restoring many original hand-made Guardala Michael Brecker models in excellent playing condition. I’ve been able to measure dozens of mouthpieces, compare their variations, and gained a very precise understanding of Dave Guardala’s artisanal approach, with all its subtleties and evolutions over time.
As you know, he often worked on a custom basis, which explains the significant facing variations from mouthpiece to mouthpiece (and likely why the Guardala mouthpiece you owned didn’t quite suit you). That said, I was able to identify a consistent logic in how he built his facing curves — a true “Guardala signature”. I also found one curve in exceptional condition that I consider the very best among all the original Guardala mouthpieces I’ve played. That’s the facing curve I reproduced on the MB1 mouthpiece, down to the smallest detail. I’ve never encountered that same quality on any other mouthpiece, except perhaps on a hand-made Freddie Gregory — another giant of saxophone mouthpiece craftsmanship in my view.
For the interior of the mouthpiece, I’ve also respected the essential characteristics: a chamber slightly wider than the cork tenon entry, shaped by hand; and a chamber and step baffle left raw, with visible file marks — details that, in my opinion, add richness and complexity to the sound.
All of this allowed me to recreate a Guardala MB mouthpiece based entirely on data and measurements from the very best original examples: internal and external surfaces, surface finishes, proportions… Nothing was altered, everything has been kept faithful.
That’s why I can confidently say that this is a true and respectful reproduction of a hand-made 1980s Dave Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpiece. My approach is always 100% artisanal: every curve, every adjustment is done by hand. My goal isn’t just to “copy,” but to honor the original idea and bring out its highest musical potential — as if one could still buy a freshly hand-made Guardala mouthpiece today, straight out of his 1980s workshop.
The WWBW Guardala mouthpieces are far removed from that reality, which explains your impression — and that of many saxophonists who send me their WWBW mouthpieces for improvement.
If you find that the MB1 plays and responds better than the others, then I feel I’ve accomplished my mission. It’s not about being brighter, louder, or more extreme, but about being authentic, inspiring, and truly musical. Thanks again for your support and for sharing your thoughts. That means a great deal to me. Best regards,“-Philippe (Les Becs d’Autan website)
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
Here is how the Les Becs d’Autan website describes the new MB1 model tenor saxophone mouthpiece (I have included the paragraph about the regular MB1 Pilgrim model as I have already reviewed that mouthpiece as well):
“We are proud to present two new metal mouthpieces for the tenor saxophone, designed for musicians in search of an iconic sound, steeped in history, and resolutely focused on contemporary expressivity.
MB1 (the mouthpiece I am reviewing here): The MB1 is a faithful reproduction of the legendary numbered Dave Guardala tenor saxophone mouthpieces from the ’80s, which are now impossible to find or overprice on the second-hand market (over $2,000 for an original Guardala saxophone mouthpiece in good condition). Every detail of the design has been rigorously recreated: the internal and external geometry, the weight, the precision of the original “Dave Guardala” facing curve found on a vintage mouthpiece in perfect condition, the interior and exterior finish…
The mouthpiece bite plate is made from premium natural German ebonite, a more refined and durable material than the pink resin used on the original Guardala mouthpiece models.
The bite plate colors pay tribute to Dave Guardala and Michael Brecker. After discussions with saxophonists, the album cover of Return of the Brecker Brothers (1992) became a major source of inspiration.
The pink recalls the original handmade Guardala mouthpieces, while the pink and green marbled pattern immerses you in the “Brecker jazz-fusion universe” of the ’80s and ’90s, symbolizing the connection between Brecker’s career and Guardala’s work.
The result? A powerful, incisive mouthpiece with a sharp, electric sound, designed for modern playing and big stages, while respecting the soul of the original models that marked the history of the tenor saxophone.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
MB1 – Pilgrimage: Michael Brecker’s legendary last breath recreated ( Gold on photos)
The MB1 – Pilgrimage is a rare and precious reproduction of Michael Brecker’s last mouthpiece, heard on his posthumous masterpiece, the Pilgrimage album. This model was never mass-produced. It was a one-off, specially modified for him from an original MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece.
At his request, this mouthpiece’s step baffle had been considerably softened and lengthened into a long roll-over, a major transformation that profoundly transformed the mouthpiece’s sonic character:
– the attack becomes softer, more vocal
– the sound gains in warmth, density and expressiveness
– Projection remains powerful, but is more controlled and broader.
– It gains in versatility and malleability
Reproducing this unique mouthpiece was a real technical challenge, a work of precision, patience… and passion… It took in-depth analysis of the few archives available, cross-referencing of testimonials, and lengthy experimentation to find exactly the precise settings for this extraordinary mouthpiece.
The facing is also an “original Dave Guardala” curve, more long. For the record, this curve combined with a .117 opening (between 8* and 9) is, in my opinion, the best choice for those who want a mouthpiece set as close as possible to what Michael Brecker played. Of course, you can order this mouthpiece in other tip openings.
The MB1 – Pilgrimage is not just a mouthpiece inspired by Michael Brecker. It’s a respectful and meticulous attempt to revive his last sound, the one he chose to end a lifetime of sound research and musical demands. It’s also a collector’s item for any saxophonist attached to the living history of his instrument.
Each MB1 and MB1-Pilgrimage tenor saxophone mouthpiece is meticulously crafted in our workshop in France to reproduce the feeling, response and timbre of the original models, down to the smallest detail.
The MB1 mouthpieces are sold as new, already hand-refinished in the traditional manner by Philippe, checked and tested before dispatch, guaranteeing the highest level of finish and playability to recreate the magic of these emblematic mouthpieces while ensuring modern manufacturing consistency. The marbled bite plate is made of the highest quality natural German ebonite in the world.
Treat yourself to an exceptional musical experience with the superior craftsmanship and sound of Les Becs d’Autan mouthpieces.“-Les Becs d’Autan website
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
As I wrote earlier, I didn’t have high expectations for the MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece but I was immediately surprised when I started play testing it. The Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece played effortlessly with the same BSS Silver box 2 1/2 tenor saxophone reed I had used on the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Pilgrimage mouthpiece.
The tone of the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece had a focused compact core to the sound like the MB1 Pilgrimage mouthpiece but the tone seemed a bit more husky, strong and thick to my ears. This strong thick core to the tone really balanced well with the brightness and the edge the MB1 mouthpiece could provide.
Whereas my past Michael Brecker mouthpiece trials left me feeling like the mouthpiece was too bright, edgy and even thin sounding, the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 didn’t make me feel that way at all. The thick powerful tone seemed really full of overtones which made the tone sound rich and and full while still sounding dense and focused. The attributes really balanced so well with the brighter side of the MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
At softer to medium volumes the tone of the MB1 tenor sax mouthpiece was very flexible as you can hear in the sound clips below. Like the LBD MB1 Pilgrimage mouthpiece, the tone still has brightness but coupled with the thick and full tone of the MB1 mouthpiece, I could see myself still being able to play a jazz set or cocktail hour on the MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece, I just think it would be dangerous to go to full volume on it in that setting.
When playing with full volume, the MB1 tenor mouthpiece would get quite a bit louder and brighter but it never lost that thick and full tone. As expected, the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 is really a power house in regards to volume.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
I found the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece to give me a similar volume as I would typically get from a great Guardala MB high shelf baffle type of tenor saxophone mouthpiece.
On my volume scale, a great Guardala style tenor sax mouthpiece with a shelf baffle usually gives my a 10 out of 10 for volume. I would say the LBD MB1 tenor mouthpiece comes in at that same level of a solid 10 for volume. I would have no problems recommending the LBD MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece to those looking for a tenor saxophone mouthpiece to compete with the electronic instruments in the loud bands they are playing in.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The articulation on the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece was clean and precise and I found I could tongue fast for repeated notes and I was able to articulate jazz lines at a fast tempo easily as well. The range of the saxophone was smooth and even from note to note making fast lines really fun to play.
The intonation on the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece was excellent which really surprised me. Usually high baffled mouthpieces would be way sharper in the midrange of my SBA tenor saxophone (D, Eb, E) and although these notes were a little bit sharp, they were very manageable and easy to bring in to tune. I think this speaks to Philippe really doing a great job in balancing the size of the chamber with the height of the baffle.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
The altissimo register on the MB1 tenor sax mouthpiece was effortless (by effortless, I don’t mean that you can play altissimo notes if you don’t know how or haven’t worked on overtones. I am simply stating that those notes were very easy to get for me on this mouthpiece).
I recorded one clip below in the altissimo range of the tenor saxophone and you can hear how easily the MB1 mouthpiece performs up in that range of the tenor saxophone. I actually play a chromatic run going up in half steps that I don’t know if I have ever done this before and it was really easy to do! The altissimo notes were easy to produce and manipulate with bends and other expressive devices.
The low register of the saxophone sounded great as well. Although the low notes didn’t have that thick and lush low note resonance an Otto Link tenor saxophone mouthpiece can give them, the notes were full and round within that thick, full core focused sound I described earlier in the review. My approach to bringing more lushness to those low notes is by the magic of sub-tones. I love sub-toning on high baffle tenor mouthpieces because it allows those low notes to become more rich, dense and lush sounding and the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece performed great in that regard.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
I’ve included three sets of sound clips for you to check out. The first two are the same sound clip but the first one has reverb added and the second one is a dry recording (no reverb added). The sound clip was recorded using a BSS (Boston Sax Shop) #2 1/2 Silver Box tenor saxophone reed. It is a recording of my usual lines, licks and various melodies I play in every mouthpiece review so that you can compare the various sections of the clip to other mouthpieces on my website.
I will write, for the record, that I enjoy recordings of high baffled mouthpiece immeasurable more with some light reverb added to the mix. Not enough that is sounds sappy, but just enough so it sounds like Michael Brecker playing in a big hall.
I can’t help but think of the old Brecker Brothers “Live in Barcelona” VHS tape from the 90’s that had Michael and Randy Brecker warming up in the hall they were about to play in. Michael Brecker’s tenor saxophone sound just resonated around the room with a natural reverb that sounded amazing to me. If you haven’t seen that video, check it out.
Lastly, the third sound clip is a clip of mainly altissimo lines with some reverb added to the mix so you can hear how the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece performs in the altissimo range of the saxophone in that more bluesy style of playing.
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
In my opinion, the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece is a terrific tenor sax mouthpiece for those of you looking for a tenor saxophone mouthpiece that is inspired by that classic Michael Brecker tenor sound from the 80’s-90’s, I’m thinking specifically of the later Brecker Brothers recordings in the 90’s, but the earlier ones, although not on a Guardala tenor mouthpiece still have that sound vibe. The tone of the MB1 is brighter and edgier than the MB1 Pilgrimage but it still retains ample depth and character to the tone that makes it beautiful to listen to.
To be honest, I reviewed many of the past high baffle “Michael Brecker” type mouthpiece as giving me that “Brecker Brothers” type saxophone tone but the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 seems different because the MB1 mouthpiece seems, to me, to have a thicker and more substantially thick tone that many of those past mouthpieces I have played lacked. Even listening back in my headphones, while I type this, the MB1 just has a thick solid character and foundation to the tone that balances out the brightness and edge that the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor sax mouthpiece produces. I’m a big fan of this MB1 mouthpiece for those reasons!
The body and design of this mouthpiece is in the Guardala style but the true test is how the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece performs for the player. The LBD MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece is a beautifully crafted mouthpiece that in my mind captures or at least comes darn close to capturing that amazing sound quality that Michael Brecker was so famous for in those 90’s Brecker Brother recordings.
Philippe at Les Becs d’Autan did an absolutely incredible job creating the MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece. His artistry and craftsmanship are evident from his work. I am looking forward to seeing more of his mouthpiece work in the future.
If you like the sound and look of the Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece, you can find them at the Les Becs d’Autan website.
If you try a Les Becs d’Autan MB1 tenor saxophone mouthpiece or have any thoughts, comments or questions on this review, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below. Thanks, Steve
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece-Boston Sax Shop 2 1/2 Silver Box Reed-Reverb Added
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece-Boston Sax Shop 2 1/2 Silver Box Reed-Dry Recording with no Reverb
Les Becs d’Autan MB1 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece-Boston Sax Shop 2 1/2 Silver Box Reed-Altissimo Clip with Reverb Added
Terrific sound and playing as always Steve – interesting that I have been looking for MB mouthpiece for while and just stumbled on your online review.