D’addario Royal Graftonite alto sax mouthpiece

Designed in the 1980s by the world's leading mouthpiece designer, Arnold Brilhart, the Graftonite line of mouthpieces incorporates revolutionary materials to achieve ease of tone production with a wide range of tonal colors.

• available in three facings
• ease of tone production and playability
• wide range of tonal colors
• durability- won't chip or crack

The tip opening or facing is the measured distance between the tip of the mouthpiece and the reed ... it changes the resistance of the mouthpiece.

• Open Facing : the reed is further from the tip of the mouthpiece. This creates more resistance.  A softer reed is recommended to allow the reed more space to vibrate.
• Close Facing : the reed is closer to the tip of the mouthpiece creating less resistance.  A harder reed is recommended to allow the reed to vibrate in a smaller amount of space.

The facing lengthis the measurement between the tip and the point where the curve begins on the mouthpiece facing :

• with a shorter facing, the reed will not vibrate as much, creating more resistance and a brighter sound.
• with a longer facing, the reed will vibrate more, creating less resistance and a darker sound.

3 (close) : opening of 1,79 mm in and facing length of 18 mm
5 (medium) : opening of 2,03 mm and facing length of 19 mm
7 (open) : opening of 2,29 mm and facing length of 20 mm

The chamberis essentially an extension of the bore of the instrument. The chamber size will affect the amount of airflow needed to blow through the instrument in the following way :

• chamber A : darkest sound
• chamber B : moderate brilliance
• chamber C : most brilliance and projection

A Large Chamber has more resistance since more air is needed to fill up the chamber. The sound will be darker than with a smaller chamber.  A Small Chamber has less resistance since less air is needed to fill up the chamber.  The sound will than be brighter.