PPT Tenor Mouthpiece

John Lull (verified owner) – March 17, 2017

I’ve been playing the ebonite 9* PPT tenor mpc for a couple of months now. And I can say this is one fantastic mpc. It is perfect for my purposes, playing mostly blues, old school R&B, and some jazz. This mouthpiece is extremely versatile; pushing it will raise the roof, but the sound does not get thin or shrill like it does with a lot of high baffle mpcs. At the other end of the spectrum, it plays with a beautiful subtone, especially in the low register. And the tone quality is great at any volume. Some mpcs lock you into a certain tone; but the PPT allows me to ‘shape the sound’ to get the tone I’m after.

The PPT is very responsive and plays easily, even with the large tip opening. It will take a ton of air, but also respond to the slightest whisper. When pushed it develops a nice edge, but the tone stays solid. The lowest notes play well and the altissimo pops right out, better than most mpcs I’ve played.

I’ve owned and played a few truly great mpcs, both high and low baffle styles, and this one is as good or better than any of them. The more I play it, the better it gets. Thanks for a great mpc, Pete!

John Lull

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Hi Pete,

I liked to write a review.
It’s an incredibly good mouthpiece and day after day it shows more and more of what it can do.
Great Fun and very versatile!

yesterday morning I picked up the PPT Onyxite 9 * and in the afternoon I went to the rehearsal room to try it in peace and in all volumes with different reeds.

Honestly I am thrilled and fascinated at the same time. I’ve never played such an incredibly flexible and enjoyable mouthpiece.

You will find my first feedback on your website (and copy down here).
If you like to post it further feel free to do it!

Cheers,
Leo

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Gerry baker (verified owner) – August 14, 2018

I have been playing the #8* onyxite mouthpiece on my Bauhaus M2 tenor, and found it versatility has expanded the range of the sax out of recognition. Previously dull notes now sparkle, and are more easy to express. It will Roar or whisper at will. Blues shifts can make you cry (in a good way). Swing just takes you to a different era. Jazz really feels like you are sitting behind the stand with the band’s logo. I can’t wait to pick it up to see what it will give today. Vandoren ZZ Jazz seem to give best range but unfiled Java half a point harder also give excellent response. There is however one serious drawback . I have to put it down to eat and sleep, just to keep the family happy, so be warned these mouthpieces are addictive, LOL. How lucky we are to have people like you Pete, researching and refining mouthpiece design to give us more than was even thought of before, and profits to charity. It’s a no brainer everybody should have one. Thanks again Pete

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Hi Pete, Just to let you know thanks for letting me try out your mouthpiece. I have it as essential part of my saxophone set up. It really works for me is capable of doing anything ….any style. I used this on Roger Daltreys last album. One track with Pete Townsend , there was inter play with sax and Guitar. You’re flippin terrific Pete Thomases mouthpiece was gripping to the tarmac like crazy. From down the bottom of the horn to harmonics I never even realised I could manage. Unfortunately I didn’t have his mouthpiece on my baritone. That was a Berg Larsen. Happy blowing where ever you are.

Big Mart Winning.

(Van Morrison Band. John Martyn . Nick Lowe. Lee Scratch Perry. Dennis Brown Ray Charles . Tanita Tikaram. Hillbilly Moon Explosion. Chris Farlowe . Roger Daltrey) 

“First impressions. I love the way the mouthpiece looks, and it is beautifully finished for a prototype. Fortunately had an old 2 screw Lig that fit. Spent about half an hour going back and forth between my 10MFan Boss and the Hooligan. Tried a 2 1/2 Bass Clarinet and 3 and 3 1/2 Tenor Sax Legere Signature Reeds.

Facing curve works well on all 3 no quackiness or other oddities. As expected the 3 is easier at this stage to go quietly down low but was a little more fussy on altissimo. A few hours of get to know are in order.

Sound wise my first impressions are its not quite as raspy as my Boss can be but offers a wider palette in the more civilized range of sax noises. I use a 10MFan Robusto for section work which is a great section mouthpiece.

Mid point of the soundscape of the PPT is between the two others. Time will tell, but I think the altissimo on Pete’s piece is capable of being a little fuller if not overblown. Both Boss and PPT can shriek up there if pushed.

Again first impressions but I think the PPT Hooligan has the widest sound palette of any mpce I have played so far. Intonation on my SML Gold Medal 1 requires a wee bit less correction on the PPT than the Boss which indicates to me that the mpce and SML are a great match. Big bore horn and big open mpce.

Nicely free blowing which Suits my style. A few hours of long tones at the bottom and altissimo ends will tell the tale.

Oops forgot to add, it’s nicely balanced across the range of the horn.”

Jazzaferri (PPT Tenor Hooligan prototype)

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Hi Pete
This is just a feedback. Just received this morning a tenor onyxite #9. At first when I placed my reed on the mouthpiece and saw the gap at the tip, I said to myself, “I’ll never be able to get a decent sound out of my sax !” Then my first reaction was : If possible, I’ll exchange it for a #8.

Just finished playing with the #9 for 1 hour 1/2. At first, as planned, nothing decent came out. But after fiddling around with different reeds and ligatures, the sound just blew out ! Then the next level I experienced was not being able to control the sound to my liking ! But hey… I ‘m getting there. The sound is still not as I want it to be but it’s looking good and I think it holds lots of possibilities. So I’ll keep my #9.

And a big thumbs up for all the work you’ve been doing for many years. I’ve been coming to your site for severals years now.

All the best

Pierre

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By email:

From the Cafesaxophone Forum:

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Very thanks for mouthpiece… It’s Great !!

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Hi Pete,
I received the mouthpiece yesterday and just love it. My teacher also said that he thought the tone on my SX90R was very good with the PPT. The piece is very easy to play and I cannot put my sax down, Thanks again. Best Regards, Hermann

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Just got the mouthpiece plays incredibly! thank you so much. Not only for a great cause but I now get this wonderful rich smokey jazz tone on my tenor, Just incredibly responsive to my embouchure and I can’t stop raving about it. – Mark Lesser

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Mr. Thomas,
Just wanted to let you know that I finally got the mouthpiece in the mail today. i was getting a little worried seeing that im in Afghanistan right now and it had to go all the way back to the states then over here. It took me a couple tries to find the right set up, but once i did i instantly fell in love with it. I cant wait to play on it for my next dixieland jazz gig over here.
Thanks again, Matt

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Pete,
After a few scales to warm it up, I played a couple favorite pieces and liked the sound. Smooth when you want it that way and will bark when you ask it to.
Brian Kidwell

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Hello Pete,
Just to let you know: I collected the two mpc’s from the postoffice and finished testplaying them. They are fabolous! My grilfriend liked the new onyxite even better than the one I was borrowing from Ruud de Vries, but we both are absolutely enthousiastich about the bronzite! It seems to give me just that litlle extra ‘bite’ I was hoping for! Yesterday I did a gig with a 1930’s swingorchestra (in which I play the lower tenor parts and a couple of solo’s). I used the borrowed onyxite and I got the impression, judiging by the reactions of the band and the audience, that I came close to my idea of a “bigger than life” sound. We played acoustically and I had no trouble at all in either blending in the section or ‘competing’ with the full orchestra – and this all with a nice ‘vintage’ sound. Thanks a lot for your beautiful work!I intend to use the bronzite also in a more modern project. It may very well be that thanks to your mpc’s I finally found the sound I was looking for.
Best wishes, Kurt Schwab

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Hallo Pete,
this is Klaus from Bonn. I just playtested the PPT Bronzite 7* for about one hour. Here is my first impression.I am enthusiasticated about the MPC. It is very freeblowing from the first minute and the sound is very much variabel. I played it soft in a Ballad and hard and loud in a Rock’n Roll tune. The PPT works perfect form low to high. You can produce a soft tone or even an edgy sound. And it is not necessary to use too much power. I tried it with two types of reeds. First with my standard reed Vandoren V 16 , 3.0. Here the MPC works superb. Then I tried the Vandoren new red Java 3.0 which I use also on my JJ Hard Rubber 7*. This reed is not the best one for the PPT. I also tried my standard Vandoren Optimum Ligature. It fits perfectly and works excellent with the PPT. So far my first comment. I will play the PPT on a gig in the next days and will give you a report again afterwards. All over I can say in the moment : The PPT Bronzite 7 * topped my expectations.
I hope, I found the right words. It is not so easy for me to do it in english. Thank you.
Klaus

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Dear Pete,
I have received your mouthpiece, thank you! It really shows craftmanship. I am an Otto Link player for 20 years, therefore I have to get used to the PPT and blow it for a longer period to see if it’s for me or not. The mouthpiece is much smaller in the mouth so I get tired in the muscles soon. So: to early to really say something about it right now. I let you know later how it worked out!
Thanks again,
With kind regards, Ruud de Vries

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Hi Pete,
the ppt mpc. arrived today. Initially I wasnt convinced, I thought the bottom end was nice but the top was shrill, but after half an hour or so I began to warm to it and now I love it.Its as warm and as fat as my berg but the top has more projection and the overall sound has more focus. It works and fits great with an alto francois louis lig. Will give it a good blast at a couple of gigs over the weekend. Aside from the sound, it looks fantastic!!!
regards, Declan Whitston

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Pete, The mouthpiece arrived in the mail today and all I can say is -WOW- I didn’t think it would be THIS GOOD! I’d hoped but I’ve tried many a mouthpiece that were pretty good but they lacked something. This mouthpiece has it all! As soon as I started to play it it started singing from top to bottom and man, what a bottom! It is so easy to play and every note is clear and full. I had trouble putting it down in order to write this. Finally I have the sound coming out of the horn I’ve wanted to produce for years. Oh happy day! Thank-you and Ed so much for producing one awesome mouthpiece! Alan Theberge (A Train on SOTW)

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Hi Pete – Thanks for the mouthpiece I love it. I was playing a 130/2 Berg so I ordered the 9* PPT. When it arrived I tried it out and thought “Oh no – this is not for me”. I then tried different reeds on it and moved down from a 3.5 plasticover to a medium Fibracell and it made all the difference. I have now been playing it solidly and driving the neighbours mad and it does exactly what you said it would do. I can get the low notes easily and (although not fluent yet) get as far up as high altissimo ‘D’. I am also using your altissimo fingerings which are now starting to pay off.

Many thanks for posting out the PPT Tenor 9* mouthpiece…my first session on it was superb..its the nearest sound on an ebonite piece that duplicates a metal piece but without the screech and wildness…I will update you once I have played it on a gig… Kindest regards David Cole

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OK, no rush
I own a PPT 8 already and it’s my main piece now.
It’s so good that I am trying to sell my more expensive pieces like a Parvati and some LAWs and others.
Great job
Keep swinging
Klaus

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Hi Pete,
first of all I wish you a happy 2010. Today I got my new Tenor PPT Onyxite 8 * and I don’t hesitate to say : It is fantastic !!!! The sound which I produce on my Selmer Ref 54 is even better as with the PPT 7* Bronzite. I am going to play it with Vandoren V16 or Hemke reeds 2,5 and Vandoren Optimum or Rovner EVO and I will continue to play the PPT 7 * Bronzite with reeds of strength 3,0.

As you know, my schoolenglish is not sufficient to describe the sound, but that would be difficult anyway. But for you it is surely essential to know, that I am very happy with the PPTs. Please give my compliments to Ed Pillinger. He is really a great MPC producer.
Klaus from Bonn

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Pete,
I received the mouthpiece last week.
It took a little while to get used to the sweetspot as it seems to require a lot less mpc in the mouth than my metal link. But once I found the correct mouth placement and reed (Vandoren Traditional 2) it’s a huge improvement. It was definately worth the wait just to see the look on my teacher’s face at my lesson on Wednesday – he was very impressed and a little jealous. The only thing that I need to work on with it is not overblowing as I’m used to really having to force air through the link. Thanks a lot – money well spent.
regards, Kristian

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Hi Pete, The mpc arrived today and I couldn’t resist trying it straight away… This beauty plays on a shoestring, litteraly since I couldn’t find a lig that fit in my drawer. First notes and it sings like my Tone Edge or screams like my STM. Many many thanks to Ed and you 😉 Tomorrow I’ll try and find a suitable lig to really push it, but I already know this one is a keeper and stated so on our French saxofan forum.
StephenD

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Hi Pete,
I played the Bari at the big band today. Everyone noticed the amazing quality, intonation and edge that I played today. No fooling. You have a winner. I will tell my friend Mike Brignola about it. He might be interested. Now he is using a Lawton 7BB
Regards, Wally

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Hi Pete,
I received the mouthpiece yesterday and just love it. My teacher also said that he thought the tone on my SX90R was very good with the PPT. The piece is very easy to play and I cannot put my sax down, Thanks again.
Best Regards, Hermann

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Hi Pete,
Thank you for the PPT 9* tenor mouthpiece (which I received early July) ! I have been playing this mouthpiece for nearly two weeks, and I have to say, this mouthpiece is amazing – even better than the 8* you supplied; very easy to play, great tone and free-blowing. Absolutely brilliant !
Thanks one again !
All the best, Eric

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Pete,
Mouthpiece arrived today. I unpacked and gave it a test as quickly as possible. I haven’t the time for extensive testing yet, but the initial test was excellent. I used a Brancher lig that also arrived today (ordered it just for this mouthpiece) and a previously played 2 1/2 Java reed. After a few scales to warm it up, I played a couple favorite pieces and liked the sound. Smooth when you want it that way and will bark when you ask it to.
I will send a sound sample later when I have some time.
Brian

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Just got the mouthpiece plays incredibly! thank you so much. Not only for a great cause but I now get this wonderful rich smokey jazz tone on my tenor, Just incredibly responsive to my embouchure and I can’t stop raving about it.

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Hi Pete
This morning the PPT it’s arrived. It is very exact and versatile. It is very more differentiated than the O. Link 9*.
Thank you very much!
Hansueli Marti

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Hi Pete
I received the mouthpiece yesterday, many thanks for the excellent service. Thought I’d provide a bit of initial feedback.

I usually use an Otto Link Tone Edge 7 with Rico Jazz Select reeds strength 2M. My tone on this is fine and blows fairly easily. I also have an Otto Link TE 7* and this blows a bit easier and louder although I find soft playing not quite as controlled.

Before ordering I tried this dark coloured PPT I mentioned elsewhere, and it was the sound of it that made me decide to purchase one.

The one you sent me sounds the same so that’s great 🙂

In comparison I find the Otto Link very stuffy and dull compared to the PPT, when I play the PPT it’s like someone turned the volume up. Instead of now having to really blow to make it sing I can be gentle and it comes out the same volume. Not only that but when I do push the sound really comes out. The sound from the PPT is very pure and clear. The PPT is not at all stuffy, beautifully free blowing. I notice a similarity in the sound produced by the PPT vs Otto Link in that it’s still warm and smokey albeit a bit brighter, but nothing like some other mouthpieces I’ve tried where they are really edgy.

Today I had a lesson with my tutor, James Rawlinson, and played the Otto Link 7* and then the PPT. He was amazed again how clear the PPT is and told me to definitely stick with it, and over time I’ll learn all the differences between the Otto Link and PPT and adjust my playing accordingly. In fact in the lesson he got out the PPT had been lent and played on it the whole lesson too.

So from what I can see so far the description of what the mouthpiece can do matches what I can see, and that’s great! Soft and smokey when you want it to be, and powerful and direct at other times. Amazing projection.

I have also tried a RJ Select 2H and it plays fine too, I’ll have to experiment a bit more the strength of reed I should be using.

Anyway many thanks, love the mouthpiece 🙂

Andy

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I got my ppt yesterday. Thank you so much. It plays beautifully
-Jacobus

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From: Simon Geschwindt
Message:
Hi Pete, I bought one of your mpcs quite some time ago – an 8. I nearly gave up on it. I’d been playing on a Dukoff D8, and the tip opening of your mpc seemed too daunting. However, I decided to keep at it, and many months later it’s gone into overdrive. High and low notes are much easier than with the D8, and the range of tone is so much wider – from rich subtone to a very rocky edge. I use a YTS-62 with Vandoren Java 3s. Joburg winters are extremely dry, and 3s last a lot longer than softer reeds. I’m writing to you because if any customers get dispirited about how long it takes for the embouchure to adjust, tell them to persevere, even if it takes half a year or more. This is an amazing MPC, and the effort is well worth it. Best wishes

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Hi Pete, sure you can quote me. If you want to clean it up a bit, or cut it, feel free. I’d be delighted. I’m absolutely thrilled with the way the MPC has developed. I play mainly outside gigs (see www.simongeschwindt.com), but for lessons inside, the richness and variation of tone colour is an inspiration for students. (They all want one!) And despite the wide tip opening, a hard reed works well if you want a clean sound, especially for solos on tenor of works originally done on soprano, for example,Branford Marsalis on Sting’s Little Wing.
All the best, Simon