Mouthpiece reviews from Reddit

Summary

We analyzed 177 Reddit reviews across 8 subreddits and 67 posts to rank the best Mouthpiece brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/saxophone, r/trumpet, r/Tuba, r/Clarinet, r/Saxophonics. Top-rated brands include Vandoren (4.3/5), Selmer (4.7/5), Bach (4.2/5).

Stats

Reviews177

Subreddits8

Posts67

Brands51

Products84

Top communities

r/saxophone47 r/trumpet33 r/Tuba26 r/Clarinet17 r/Saxophonics16

177 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Vandoren

4.3

(24)

"I cannot recommend the Vandoren Optimum AL3 enough."

"For jazz: Meyer, Vandoren V16, D’Addario Select Jazz."

"Vandoren mouthpieces are really good."

"Vandoren Jumbo Java A45. Plenty of pop, great tonality and control."

"Vandoren V16, Jody Jazz HR or Jet."

"You can’t go wrong with the Vandoren mouthpieces especially the V16."

"She plays on a Yamaha YCL-650, a Vandoren M30 Lyre, a Rovner Versa ligature, and Legere Signature Cut 3.5 resistance reeds."

"Vandoren B50 is the go-to mouthpiece for soloists."

"Common places to start that aren't generally outperformed by the debut are Vandoren's M30, CL4, BD5, M13 (not the best for jazz), B45 Lyre, and many others."

"The standard starter here around is either 5c or 7c for children, 3c for adults."

Selmer

4.7

(16)

"Selmer C star for alto and a Selmer D for tenor is the closest thing you can get for going between genres."

"Best thing I can think of is the Selmer Soloist."

"I went to a Selmer C* and I absolutely can't complain."

"I played a Selmer Concept on tenor for a bit and it played like a dream"

"Selmer Concept and the Vandoren Optimums are fantastic."

"I play on an older Selmer C*. They are discontinued and have been replaced by the Selmer Concept line of mouthpieces. I love my C* much better than the Yamaha or the Fobes Debut I was playing on."

"Selmer C* is pretty much the gold standard."

"Amazing tone and such a clean sound you can get out of that thing."

"I am currently in love with my S80 in C** facing. I play mostly classical, quartet, and big band"

"I play baritone sax on a S80-D with a Silverstein ligature."

Bach

4.2

(16)

"You can never go wrong with Bach 6 1/2."

"Bach 3C is a great starting place for many players."

"Bach 11C Artisan model... feels great."

"As several have said a Bach 3C is just a standard go-to mouthpiece."

"I'm happily married to my 10.5C for 15 years now. Use it for all styles."

"Bssed on your requirements, a Bach 10.5C."

"You’ll hear a lot about 3C, and it’s a great size."

"Just about everyone I knew in school started on a Bach 7C."

"I might look at a Bach 3D."

"Hard for the money to beat a basic Bach."

Helleberg

4.4

(12)

"If you don’t have a mouthpiece already you should just buy a helleberg 120s. People of all skill levels play them to great ef"

"Helleberg 120s"

"Helleberg or Bach 18. They are the most common for a reason they work well for 95% of players and tubas."

"Helleberg, or something from the rt line. 100 all day"

"Helleberg 120"

"Helleberg ftw."

"Used to have a Helleberg, then a Denis Wick but now have a Perantucci."

"Basically supporting what everyone says: I started on heleberg and I’ve play sousaphone professionally for ~18 years."

"It's hard to go wrong with a Helleberg"

"Most things can work depending on your setup. Start with a helleberg and go from there."

Schilke

4.4

(11)

"Schilke 51d. Good for high schoolers, good enough for Hiram Diaz, good enough for me."

"I would go with something darker like a Schilke 51D... take advantage of the large shank."

"We're all going to tell you the Schilke 51D."

"I switched from a Bach 3C to a Schilke 14a4a and it’s been a revelation. I’m finding the higher notes easier to hit well consistently, and I don’t get tired nearly as fast."

"A 5G is excellent... but if she is already playing trombone you might want to go with a Schilke 51D."

"Schilje 14A4A is a classic upper register mouthpiece I bought 50 something years ago."

"Try a Schilke 51D and Wick 4AL. You can probably find both used for less than $100."

"Schilke 51D and Bach 5G or 4G are good places to start here, depending on what you currently play on."

"Schilke 51D is pretty standard. It's what I use."

"I also at this point moved and just play a factory schilke 51D"

Yamaha

4.1

(10)

"Comes with a Yamaha 48 mouthpiece. Works nicely for learning."

"Start on a Yamaha 4C or if that’s not to you liking get a Meyer 5. Nothing bigger."

"Yamaha 4C. A Yamaha 5C is also another good option, but a 4C if you can find one."

"A new Yamaha is around $40."

"My students typically move up to some “3C ish” mouthpiece based on things I hear and see: typically Hammond (5ML), Warburton (4MD), Yamaha (14C4) all are slightly deeper."

"The Yamaha 4C is probably the best 'included' mouthpiece to come with any clarinet."

"Definitely worth the upgrade to a Yamaha or Clark Fobes Debut. Your nephew will have an easier time with those ones."

"They’re cheap and reliable."

"I personally use it and believe that the Yamaha 5C is one of the rare instances where cheap is actually good enough."

"Yamaha 4C."

Meyer

4.4

(8)

"I play on a Meyer MR 402 7MM and strongly recommend it."

"Meyer for Alto is the go to jazz mouthpiece."

"It's easy to play, sounds great on every alto and not expensive."

"For alto the Meyer, Vandoren V16, and the new Theo Wanne Jazz Essential series or Morgan Jazz medium are sure bets."

"I recommend Meyer mouthpieces (with a 6 facing) to my students looking for a well rounded but big jazz sound."

"Get a Meyer 5M."

"Meyer 5m and call it a day."

"You can also look into a Meyer 5m or 6m."

Clark Fobes

4.0

(8)

"Clark Fobes Debut - Clarinet Convert Friendly, Mostly Classical."

"Clark Fobes "Debut"-model mouthpiece, though I've often noticed it being mentioned in posts like these."

"The Fobes Debut, $29!"

"I have high school students in Texas who use the Debut still. There's a reason it's recommended as much as it is."

"Fobes Debut"

"My kid started on this one and it sounded great."

"Selling online for about $40."

"Fobes Debut. Checks both your boxes."

Bobby Shew

4.2

(6)

"Extended my range from a weak high C to a strong double G"

"Bobby Shew lead off of amazon changed my life."

"The Bobby Shew lead was the ticket."

"Go for the bobby shew jazz, not lead. It is milimiters smaller than a regular 3C and still gives plenty of support for higher register."

"I was going to suggest trying the Bobby Shew Jazz. It's very close to a 3c from what I have gathered."

"Bobby shew lead. But a lot of other good mouthpieces."

#10

Greg Black

4.0

(6)

"Greg Black makes great great, so does Pickett or Warburton mouthpieces."

"Greg Black was the clear winner for me on both flugelhorn and trumpet so I highly recommend you try to find a shop where they sell those."

"Personally, Ive been liking both a Greg Black NY 3.25 and a LI Brass Eon 600 recently."

"Greg Black has a line called Braces Pieces (BP). Super unique rim design."

"Greg Black or Griego in my experience."

"Greg Black is contest."

#11

Doug Elliott

4.7

(3)

"At this moment I’m using six different brands on five different trombones. Doug Elliott, Greg Black, Hammond, Long Island Brass, Griego and Wedge."

"Doug Elliot no contest"

"Doug Elliot or Greg Black"

#12

Giddings

4.0

(3)

"A stainless steel piece from Giddings would be a good choice."

"I use a giddings Diablo on CC."

"Giddings makes great mouthpieces."

#13

Conn

4.0

3.0

4.0

4.0

(1)

"Or the faxx copy of the 51d, it’s 95% there and cheaper."

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