What Is the HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece?
The HR* CUSTOM DARK series is our premium line of hard rubber saxophone mouthpieces, where the goal was to make the most beautiful sounding and playing pieces that we possibly could. As Baritone sax players, we know that finding a pretty sounding mouthpiece might mean that it doesn’t have enough cut and highs in the sound, and we will be buried in the mix. With the HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone, we retained the clarity of the mid register while taking off annoying highs by designing a rollover baffle which gives nice feedback to the player that Baritone players are used to and then making a big, large chamber and bore to give it this mellow, warm pretty sound.
The HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone uses the finest material uses our proprietary Chedeville® Rubber. CHR (Chedeville Rubber) is a softer purer formula than regular standard hard rubber. This rubber imparts a rich warmer sound than standard Hard Rubber.
Next, we made rounded sidewalls that add complexity to the core sound.
A large round chamber puts the timbre in a warm dark zone and the thick heavy gold-plated brass band on the shank boosts the amount of harmonics in the sound.
The facing curve and baffle on the HR* CUSTOM DARK are what truly make the mouthpiece a joy to play. We have applied our twenty years of making mouthpieces on these two key components of a mouthpiece, with a combination of science, technology and old fashioned made by hand craftsmanship.
Thanks for reading the description of this mouthpiece. Now all we need is for you to try it and see what you think.
Jody Espina – Designer, Founder and President – JodyJazz
JodyJazz HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone Sax Mouthpiece Price: $450
The mouthpiece comes with a deluxe mouthpiece pouch and Free Domestic Shipping (USPS Priority Mail). For different shipping options and for Overseas Shipping Prices click the “Buy Now” button and fill in your address. You will be able to see your options and pricing before you have to buy the item.
$450.00
Jody Espina demonstrates the HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone Mouthpiece
JODYJAZZ ARTIST TESTIMONIALS
Chuck Currie
“Jody Espina has knocked it out of the park again with the new HR* CUSTOM DARK Tenor mouthpiece. After establishing a stellar classical saxophone mouthpiece division using his proprietary CHR Chedeville rubber, he has now used the rubber for a jazz tenor saxophone mouthpiece for the first time. When played softly, it reminds me strongly of the sound of Stan Getz. John Coltrane said “Let’s face it–we’d all sound like that if we could,” and who are we to argue with Trane? When you go for it in a big band or commercial setting, it will stand up to the brass and amplified instruments as well as any mouthpiece out there. I don’t know of any other mouthpiece that can inhabit both those worlds so well. The Chedeville classical mouthpieces Jody designed have made a clean sweep on my Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone, and I told him the HR* CUSTOM DARKS will do the same for my jazz setups. Bravo, Jody, and keep ’em coming!” “The JodyJazz HR* Soprano 5* mouthpiece allows for the rich warm tonal center that pleases me on all single reed mouthpieces, and just adds that slight edge that allows us to cut through the brass when playing with large ensembles. In my opinion the Soprano should never be strident and should have a contained ringing tone (like ALL musical instruments, including the human voice.) The JodyJazz HR* allows for that with great intonation, and can also provide incredible projection. The key to projection is tone, and it is also the key to “in-tone-ation!” All of Jody’s mouthpieces provide a great big tone, and the HR* line can also provide gentleness and beauty.” “The JodyJazz POWER RING is a work of genius. The heavy mass of the ligature lends incredibly rich resonance to the tone, while the limited contact points allow for great life in the sound and terrific ease of articulation. I own over a hundred excellent ligatures, and the POWER RING blows them all away. These are not just for jazz… they are also beautiful classical ligatures with the most resonant core sound you’ve ever heard for soloists, large ensemble, and chamber players.”
Jason Marshall
“Jody, This mouthpiece is so complete. It’s perfect just the way it is. I love the thick heavy sound it gets. I can’t wait to play it in the Duke Ellington Orchestra tonight.”
Claire Daly
“…it’s a thing of beauty – the sound is warm, very dark and wonderful. Try it, I think you’ll like it. I’m loving it! Thanks Jody, great work!”
What Does The HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone Do?
- Beautiful Warm Spread Tone
- Free Blowing
- Reed Friendly
- Player Can Shape their Sound
- Huge Bottom End with Power on Top When Needed
- Traditional Jazz Sound
- Annoying highs in the tone rolled off
How Does The HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone Do It?
- Proprietary Chedeville Hard Rubber Formula
- Large Round Chamber
- Curved Undercut Sidewalls
- Heavy Solid Gold-Plated Brass Ring on Shank
- CNC Machined From Solid Bar Stock
- Expertly Hand Finished Baffle, Tip Rail and Table
- Unparalleled Quality Control
- Play tested by Jody Espina and Professional Sax playing staff
Do you need a facing comparison chart?
CLICK HERE to compare JodyJazz mouthpieces with other brands.
JodyJazz HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone Sax Mouthpiece Available Tip Openings
- 5 = .090
- 6 = .100
- 7 = .110
- 8 = .120
- 9 = .130
Does Not Include Ligature
This mouthpiece does not come with a ligature. Your current ligature (if you have a hard rubber mouthpiece) should fit this mouthpiece, but for upgrades on the ligature you can look here at our POWER RING® Ligatures.
The POWER RING HRB1 – Gold and HRB1S – Silver models are made specifically for the HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone mouthpiece. You can also look here at our H-Ligature options as well.
Upgrade to a POWER RING® Ligature
You will love the simplicity, beauty, and effectiveness of the POWER RING Ligature. The POWER RING provides both a significant improvement in performance and greatly enhanced visual appeal. The POWER RING features a concave inner design, which reduces the touch points on the reed, thereby maximizing reed vibration. There are no moving or added parts, thereby increasing the efficiency of vibration. The increased mass and greater wall thickness of the new POWER RING Ligature, together with its more contoured shape, provides a more solid contact with the reed at the points where they touch. This allows the most freedom and vibration of the reed, which in turn also increases the amount of harmonics present, allowing the fullest saxophone sound containing high, mid, and low frequencies.
One more note From Jody
In designing the HR* Custom Dark Baritone, I played many of the classic Jazz Baritone pieces, but I couldn’t find anything with the warmth and darkness that I was seeking that still had enough clarity and cut for live gigs. After testing this new piece on many gigs, and on many different Baritone Saxophones I knew that I had found the sound I was after. I really enjoy going after the Classic Gerry Mulligan sound on the Custom Dark Baritone because it’s the best mouthpiece I have found that allows me to get that bark that he had when the lower register is breaking though on 2nd octave notes.
Customer Reviews
No Honeymoon needed
"Thanks to Jody Espina and his quality control. I studied the HR* CUSTOM DARK mouthpiece via YouTube and a couple other internet sites for a few weeks. Just got this 7 in today and without question it’s exactly what I was expecting. It’s now married to my 50’s Dolnet Bel Air Bari. The only thing hard about it besides the Chedeville rubber is putting it down. I purchased the Power Ring with it so of course it’s a perfect match. It’s so much easier to play than my other two good mouthpieces of the same tip opening. Now I’ve got a greater advantage when it comes to the amount of air needed to support and the fantastic response. As Jody would say “it plays Pretty “, Cuts enough for my liking. I can concentrate on other playing matters now. #7 with 2 1/2 Alexander Superials. The only other mouthpiece I’ll consider is the same make and model only for fun a larger tip opening."
-Cimarron
Instantaneous Adoration!
"I play a P Mauriat Le Bravo, bronze, and I left the OEM mouthpiece not long after. Got another brand with a 5 opening, and that was ok, but still not right. Then, I got a really nice one. Played well, but brighter than I knew I wanted.
Finally, I got the HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone 9 tip opening and the very moment I played my first note, a D, the sound that came out was PRECISELY what I had been wanting! It gave me chills it was so good!! I’m now playing with more depth and control—not to mention JOY—than I’ve ever experienced!
This mouthpiece delivers on its promise and then some! Best decision I ever made!"
-Michael
Simply Sublime!
"Rich. Reverberant. Robust. Sonorous. Sweet. Sinewy. Simply Sublime! Ben Webster said in 1957, at a release party for Soulville at the Village Vanguard, 'I like the pretty things. I think they say more; the important thing is to be able to feel them.' All of Jody's mouthpieces help us feel the beauty in what we play."
-Chuck Currie