{"id":105466,"date":"2021-10-15T13:48:29","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T17:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neffmusic.com\/blog\/?p=105466"},"modified":"2025-03-08T12:45:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T17:45:43","slug":"theo-wanne-shiva-3-gold-tenor-saxophone-mouthpiece-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neffmusic.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/theo-wanne-shiva-3-gold-tenor-saxophone-mouthpiece-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Theo Wanne Shiva 3 Gold Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, I am reviewing the Shiva 3 gold tenor saxophone mouthpiece made by Theo Wanne<\/a>.\u00a0 I just reviewed Theo Wanne’s darkest tenor sax mouthpiece which is the Ambika 3 (Ambika 3 Review<\/a>), so today, I thought I would jump to the complete opposite end of the saxophone tone spectrum and review Theo Wanne’s brightest tenor saxophone mouthpiece called the Shiva 3.<\/p>\n

Theo describes this Shiva 3 tenor sax mouthpiece as “Our brightest tenor mouthpiece. The biggest, baddest sound possible!” <\/em>(I’m assuming the “baddest sound possible” is a good thing…….. we will see as I complete the review.)<\/p>\n

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Theo Wanne Shiva 3 8 Gold Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Theo Wanne Shiva 3 tenor sax mouthpiece was shipped with the usual high standards of the Theo Wanne company.\u00a0 Each mouthpiece comes in a perfectly designed box with stylish gold printing on it with all the details about the sax mouthpiece inside.\u00a0 Inside the box is a beautiful black leatherette Theo Wanne mouthpiece case with the Shiva 3 tenor saxophone mouthpiece well protected inside. The Shiva 3 tenor saxophone mouthpiece I am reviewing today has an 8 tip opening which is measured at .110.<\/p>\n

The Shiva 3 metal tenor sax mouthpiece has a built in ligature included called the \u201cLiberty Ligature\u201d that is already attached to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece comes with a detailed information card with specific directions on how to adjust the built in ligature, the affects on the saxophone tone when the ligature is in different positions and directions on how to change the pressure plates on the ligature.<\/p>\n

The Shiva 3 mouthpiece comes with a reed replacer cap which is on the mouthpiece where the reed goes and the ligature is tightened down on the reed replacer cap to protect the mouthpiece in shipping and when you are not playing it.<\/p>\n

Although the reed replacer cap is a cool idea, the Shiva 3 tenor mouthpiece does not come with a \u201cregular\u201d mouthpiece cap that you slide on the mouthpiece over the reed and around the ligature. At the time of this review, there is a page on the Theo Wanne website that has new Theo Wanne mouthpiece caps for sale<\/a> so hopefully he will start including these with his mouthpieces in the future.<\/p>\n

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Theo Wanne Shiva 3 8 Gold Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

As you can see above, the Liberty ligature on the Gold Shiva 3 tenor saxophone mouthpiece is connected to the mouthpiece through screws on the ligature that tighten into holes on the sides of the Shiva 3 mouthpiece.\u00a0 The mouthpiece comes with a hex screwdriver that can be used to loosen these screws and move the ligature forward or backwards in relation to the reed and mouthpiece table.<\/p>\n

The Shiva 3 tenor sax mouthpiece has five positions (holes) that can be used to adjust the ligature.\u00a0 I personally liked the ligature in the middle hole setting as it puts the ligature plate towards the rear of the saxophone reed allowing the reed to vibrate and flex freely but not so far back that I feel it might not put enough pressure on the reed to seal.<\/p>\n

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Theo Wanne Shiva 3 8 Gold Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even before you look at the Theo Wanne mouthpieces themselves, everything about the Theo Wanne packaging and presentation just speaks to quality and high standards.\u00a0 Just the process of opening the package and unpacking the mouthpiece brings about an excitement and anticipation that this mouthpiece you are about to play is going to be amazing!<\/p>\n

Here is how the Theo Wanne website (save 15% by using this link)<\/a> describes the new Shiva 3 tenor saxophone mouthpiece:<\/p>\n

The SHIVA 3 \u2018The Destroyer\u2019 tenor saxophone mouthpiece has EVEN MORE power, fullness, and ease-of-play!!!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The SHIVA 3 uses Theo\u2019s newest design technology to optimize the airflow across the high step baffle.\u00a0 This means more dynamics, to the effectiveness of the airflow; you can literally put more air into the mouthpiece, but doing so with greater ease.\u00a0 This makes the SHIVA 3 a very expressive saxophone mouthpiece!\u00a0 \u00a0 Of course the SHIVA 3 also includes the Theo Wanne proprietary \u201cshark-gill\u201d chamber\u2122 too. \u00a0These features give the SHIVA huge power and edge making it suitable for Rock n\u2019 Roll, R&B or any situation where dynamics and power are important.<\/em><\/p>\n

The SHIVA 3 tenor sax mouthpiece is currently being used by Gerald Albright, Warren Ham on tour with Ringo Starr, as well as by Mark Douthit (Elton John, Michael McDonald), Najee, Nelson Rangell, and many many others.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI LOVE the Shiva! I\u2019m a happy man. I love the brightness and the added bonus is how \u2018full-bodied\u2019 it is.\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Gerald Albright (3 Grammy Nominations)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI just stopped and said WOW\u00a0\u2013 I Feel Like I\u2019ve Come Home! The SHIVA\u00a0is very aggressive and great for those screaming tenor solos.\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Mark Douthit (Elton John, Billy Joel, Lionel Ritchie, Amy grant, Vanessa Williams, Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Theo Wanne Shiva 3 8 Gold Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

The SHIVA 3 tenor sax mouthpiece is available in 24K gold plated brass! Like all Theo Wanne\u2122 products the SHIVA 3 is made using state-of-the-art design and manufacturing technologies. You will receive the most consistent and highest quality mouthpiece available in history.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cI have been a Rock & Roll and Blues-Rock sax player since the late 50\u2019s when I performed with some of the early pioneers of rock and rockabilly as a teenager. Early in my career I had the vintage Duck Bill Bergs, Dukoff\u2019s and Brillhart Level aire\u2019s. Later on it was Guardala\u2019s and a\u00a0Clarence Clemon\u2019s favorite \u2013 the Rovner Deep V. But with all the credibility of my many years wailing a tenor sax to back me up, this latest mouthpiece, SHIVA the Destroyer from Theo Wanne tops them all. It brings back the edge, projection and brightness of the classic vintage pieces, but with a less shrill tone, more volume, and a easier bottom end. The DESTROYER came along late in this rocker\u2019s career, but I\u2019m sure thankful it did!\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Ace Barton (Bobby Vee, The Champs \u201cTequila fame\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n

SOUND<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n