{"id":99811,"date":"2020-07-15T09:36:53","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T13:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neffmusic.com\/blog\/?p=99811"},"modified":"2022-11-15T15:20:02","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T20:20:02","slug":"syos-dayna-stephens-signature-model-soprano-saxophone-mouthpiece-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neffmusic.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/syos-dayna-stephens-signature-model-soprano-saxophone-mouthpiece-review\/","title":{"rendered":"SYOS Dayna Stephens Signature Model Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, I am reviewing the Dayna Stephens signature model 7 soprano saxophone mouthpiece from SYOS mouthpieces<\/a> in France.\u00a0 This is my first soprano sax mouthpiece from SYOS that I am reviewing and I have to admit that I am pretty blown away by this Dayna Stephens soprano mouthpiece.\u00a0 \u00a0I literally took this mouthpiece out of the bag today, put a random “used” BSS (Boston Sax Shop) 2 1\/2 soprano reed on it, played for about 2 minutes and then hit record.\u00a0 I loved the sound and playability of this Dayna Stephens soprano mouthpiece so much that I didn’t even feel the need to practice on it any longer.\u00a0 Actually, the truth is, it sounded so awesome I was afraid if I didn’t record it, then I would lose the moment.<\/p>\n

This SYOS company hit the saxophone mouthpiece scene not too long ago and immediately caught the world’s attention by producing these really bright colored 3D printed saxophone mouthpieces made of plastic.\u00a0 I remember thinking they were strange looking and looked like something one of my fourth grade saxophone students might have walked into their sax lesson with.<\/p>\n

I must admit, that at first, I was very skeptical when I received my first SYOS mouthpiece months ago.\u00a0 First, these bright colored sax mouthpieces looked like Legos to me.\u00a0 Like something I might give my nephew, who just turned one year old, as a toy he could play with.\u00a0 Secondly, they look like plastic.\u00a0 I have been reviewing mouthpieces for about 14 years now and if it’s one thing I know, it’s that sax players like their sax mouthpieces made of costly materials like hard rubber, gold plated brass, stainless steel, ebony, silver plated brass and sterling silver.<\/p>\n

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SYOS Dayna Stephens Signature Model Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you haven’t heard of Dayna Stephens before this, check out his impressive bio on his website at daynastephens.net<\/a>.\u00a0 There are some great Youtube videos and a multitude of recording available that I am going to check out more thoroughly after this review.<\/p>\n

But then I reviewed the Chad LB SYOS Signature model mouthpiece for tenor sax,<\/a> the Tivon Pennicott Signature model mouthpiece for\u00a0 tenor sax<\/a> and the Godwin Louis Signature model mouthpiece for alto sax.<\/a> All three of these mouthpieces were excellent as you will see in my reviews.\u00a0 The SYOS Dayna Stephens Signature model soprano sax mouthpiece is just as impressive in my opinion.<\/p>\n

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SYOS Dayna Stephens Signature Model Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have had a bunch of requests over the last few months to review other SYOS mouthpieces but with the whole COVID-19 pandemic going on, I decided to take a break from mouthpiece reviews.\u00a0 I took about four months off and then couldn’t take it any longer!\u00a0 I emailed SYOS and asked if I could review the Steve Kortyka alto mouthpiece (Steve is a burnin’ sax player with Lady Gaga that I first encountered on Facebook), a Michael Wilbur tenor mouthpiece, a Lorenzo Ferrero tenor mouthpiece and this Dayna Stephens soprano mouthpiece.\u00a0 \u00a0SYOS also sent a Knoel Scott alto mouthpiece to try as well.\u00a0 I will be reviewing all of these mouthpieces in future reviews.<\/p>\n

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SYOS Dayna Stephens Signature Model Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before we get to the playing of the SYOS Dayna Stephens soprano sax mouthpiece, let me share\u00a0 a few tidbits of info from the SYOS website on these sax mouthpieces.<\/p>\n

First of all, you have two choices when you visit the SYOS website<\/a> and order a sax mouthpiece.\u00a0 You can order a “SYOS Signature Mouthpiece” which is basically what the mouthpiece that the player whose name is on the mouthpiece plays.<\/p>\n

If, however, you want to be unique and are on a quest to find your own unique sound, you might want to pick the second choice of ordering a custom mouthpiece from SYOS which I have to say looks like a pretty cool process.\u00a0 Here’s what you do on the SYOS website<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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  1. First, you choose what saxophone you play. Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bari Sax<\/li>\n
  2. Second, you choose whether you are a beginner, intermediate or professional sax player<\/li>\n
  3. Third, you choose what type of music you play (you can pick more than one category)<\/li>\n
  4. Fourth, this is the coolest part, you choose your sound preferences.\u00a0 There is a slider for tone that goes from very dark to very bright.\u00a0 You can choose where in that tone spectrum you feel you would like to be.\u00a0 There is also a slider to choose how powerful you want to be.\u00a0 The slider goes from soft to powerful.\u00a0 \u00a0Now here’s the coolest part because as you are reading this you might be confused about how you might choose what you want or you might be confused about what your preferences are.\u00a0 SYOS gives you a bunch of examples with sound clips!\u00a0 \u00a0How cool is that?\u00a0 The following list of player are listed and rated for tone and power. Ben Webster, Chris Potter, Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and Wayne Shorter. (Can I just point out at this point,\u00a0 how awesome Chris Potter must feel about being included in this list!)<\/li>\n
  5. You click “Submit” and wait by your mailbox for your custom mouthpiece that will answer all your dreams to be delivered.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    SYOS Dayna Stephens Signature Model Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Here is a quote from the SYOS mouthpiece website on the specifics of ordering a custom mouthpiece from SYOS:<\/p>\n

    Syos is the first custom mouthpiece maker to use a high-tech process to design its products. It is different from all the other brands who only make standard series of mouthpiece models. Syos gives you the possibility to have your custom mouthpiece created on-demand according to your needs and preferences.<\/em><\/p>\n