{"id":59080,"date":"2019-07-27T11:18:32","date_gmt":"2019-07-27T15:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.neffmusic.com\/blog\/?p=59080"},"modified":"2025-03-08T12:51:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T17:51:04","slug":"theo-wanne-gaia-3-hard-rubber-tenor-mouthpiece-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neffmusic.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/theo-wanne-gaia-3-hard-rubber-tenor-mouthpiece-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Theo Wanne Gaia 3 Hard Rubber Tenor Mouthpiece Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was excited to hear that Theo Wanne was releasing a new tenor saxophone mouthpiece called the Gaia 3 a few months ago and asked Theo if I could review it.\u00a0 I had reviewed the original Gaia tenor saxophone mouthpiece back in 2009 and it was one of\u00a0 the best tenor saxophone mouthpieces I had reviewed in my opinion. Original Gaia Tenor Mouthpiece Review<\/a>\u00a0 It had a beautiful lush, smooth as butter tone that I absolutely loved, but at the end of my time with the original Gaia tenor mouthpiece, I decided to send it back rather than purchase it because I felt like the original Gaia didn’t have the brightness and power I needed as a working sax player.<\/p>\n

Years later, Theo came out with a Gaia 2 tenor sax mouthpiece which I tried also.\u00a0 Unfortunately, I didn’t review that tenor sax mouthpiece, but I remember the Gaia 2 sax mouthpiece was brighter and had more power than the original Gaia but I felt it had lost the round, fat, lush character in the tone that I loved about the original Gaia tenor sax mouthpiece.\u00a0 \u00a0I ended up returning the Gaia 2 mouthpiece also………<\/p>\n

Last week, I reviewed the metal Gaia 3 and absolutely loved it! Theo Wanne Gaia 3 Metal Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review<\/a> \u00a0Because this review is of the same model of the Gaia 3 in hard rubber, I will be keeping much of the review the same as the metal Gaia 3 review as my observations were similar.\u00a0 Any changes or differences will be highlighted in red violet for this review.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Theo Wanne Gaia 3 7* Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

Theo Wanne sent me a gold plated Gaia 3 tenor sax mouthpieces as well as a hard rubber Gaia 3 tenor sax mouthpiece to check out.\u00a0 Both saxophone mouthpieces are 7* tip openings which is my preferred tip opening on tenor sax mouthpieces with low to medium height baffles these days.<\/p>\n

The mouthpieces were 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 of the mouthpiece inside.\u00a0 Inside the box is a beautiful leather looking mouthpiece case. Each mouthpiece has a ligature included with it as well as a high quality perfectly designed card with specific direction on how to adjust the ligatures, the affects on the saxophone tone when the ligature is in different positions and directions on how to change the pressure plates on the ligatures.<\/p>\n

The mouthpieces come 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.\u00a0 Although the reed replacer cap is a cool idea, the Gaia 3 mouthpiece does not come with a “regular” mouthpiece cap that you slide on the mouthpiece over the reed and around the ligature.\u00a0 This is a bit surprising as Theo has dialed in every detail pertaining to his mouthpieces and yet there is no mouthpiece cap for these mouthpieces as of yet!\u00a0 (*I did find that a Vandoren leather mouthpiece cap for metal mouthpieces I have fit on the Gaia 3 and around the ligature perfectly so that is what I have been using with this mouthpiece over the last month.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Theo Wanne Gaia 3 7* Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Theo Wanne Gaia 3 hard rubber tenor saxophone mouthpiece comes with a Theo Wanne Enlightened Ligature to use with the mouthpiece. I have a general rule to always check the inside of metal ligatures before using them on sax mouthpieces but have to confess that I didn’t follow my ligature rule for this mouthpiece trial.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the Enlightened ligature that came with the mouthpiece had some roughness on the inside edges that put some scratches on the hard rubber mouthpiece before I realized it.\u00a0 I would suggest checking the ligature before using it by running your fingers over the inside of the ligature.\u00a0 If you feel any rough or sharp areas, do not use it!<\/span><\/p>\n

After I noticed the roughness on the inside of the ligature I switched over to a Selmer 404 silver metal ligature which I used for the rest of my time playing the Gaia 3 mouthpiece as well as on the sound clips.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have used the Theo Wanne Enlightened ligature for my Gaia soprano sax mouthpiece and I have an Enlightened alto ligature also that I sometimes use.\u00a0 The Enlightened ligature works well but you have to be careful when moving a sax mouthpiece that is tight on the cork as the ligature can move on the mouthpiece and scratch the hard rubber.\u00a0 If I am using an Enlightened ligature and need to move the mouthpiece I try to grab the mouthpiece in areas where I don’t touch the ligature.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Theo Wanne Gaia 3 7* Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even before you look at the 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 describes the new Gaia 3 tenor saxophone mouthpiece:<\/p>\n

The GAIA 3 lends itself well to a traditional Jazz taste, but due to its amazing flexibility, it is at home in any style of playing.\u00a0 \u00a0It comes in 24K gold plated or a unique thin-body premium hard rubber which has amazing vibratory qualities.<\/em><\/p>\n

The GAIA 3 has a medium roll-over Shark Gill\u2122 baffle, precision-sculpted inner sidewalls, and our\u00a0True-Large-Chamber\u2122\u00a0 which is similar to the vintage mouthpieces of the 1940s but more evolved in design. Take a close look at our baffles, rails, and True-Large-Chambers\u2122, you will see they are manufactured with a quality and accuracy higher than any other mouthpiece ever made, vintage or new!<\/em><\/p>\n

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