D'Addario Woodwinds Rico Metalite Soprano Sax Mouthpiece, M7

8 months ago, I bought a bari that came with the original Yamaha 5c piece and a metal Otto Link 7. The Otto Link (~$200) is a very nice piece and I am happy playing it, but I read that the Metalite was the current version of the Brilhardt (the piece I prefer on tenor) and at $25 figured why not see how it compares.I think the Metalite is a better piece for what I do (Jazz and Rock). I had assumed the metal piece would be more aggressive, but the Metalite surprised me with more power, edge and bite than the Otto!THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS PIECE IS THE WAY IT OPENS UP THE UPPER REGISTER!I understand the stuffiness of the upper register (compared to tenor or alto) is a design compromise so the Bari could hit those wonderful, full bottom notes without the "honkyness" I have to be fight off on Alto or Tenor.The Yamaha 5c piece is stuffy through the upper register despite having a reputation as easy to play.The Otto does a lot to open these notes up, but, WOW! the Metalite is so open, I can almost think I am playing tenor in the upper register! It is great if you want to wail out a solo and also ideal for getting raunchy with your sound!Nonetheless, I think the Otto would be the better piece for playing in a small, intimate setting with microphone. It has a great full, round, and mellow sound and it plays "soft and soulful" unlike any other piece I've tried. However, I primarily play in a big band so that just doesn't fill the bill for me.I bought a M9 before finding out about the M7 and M5. The packaging says to use the M9 with a soft reed. I use my standard #3 reed and it works great. But I had to buy and try a M7 to see if it made any difference. I could detect no difference of consequence between these two pieces. I think the different facing options are more of a marketing ploy than anything else. That said, I am curious enough to spend another $25 to see if I can tell a difference between the two extremes - M9 and M5. I will post my findings here or check under the M5 reviews after I have a chance to log some time on both of them.At $25, I think anyone who plays bari should try this. I'd recommend the M7 since it is in the middle. If you are a beginner and don't like it, stick it aside and try it again a year later after your embouchure muscles have had time to develop. I mentioned the power, but it also play nice and soft for concert band.Note: I play a Yamaha YBS-62 which has two pads that open when the octave key is pressed in the upper (G and higher) register. This might effect how the piece reacts in the upper register. Please post your experiences with other horns!

8 months ago, I bought a bari that came with the original Yamaha 5c piece and a metal Otto Link 7. The Otto Link (~$200) is a very nice piece and I am happy playing it, but I read that the Metalite was the current version of the Brilhardt (the piece I prefer on tenor) and at $25 figured why not see how it compares.I think the Metalite is a better piece for what I do (Jazz and Rock). I had assumed the metal piece would be more aggressive, but the Metalite surprised me with more power, edge and bite than the Otto!THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS PIECE IS THE WAY IT OPENS UP THE UPPER REGISTER!I understand the stuffiness of the upper register (compared to tenor or alto) is a design compromise so the Bari could hit those wonderful, full bottom notes without the "honkyness" I have to be fight off on Alto or Tenor.The Yamaha 5c piece is stuffy through the upper register despite having a reputation as easy to play.The Otto does a lot to open these notes up, but, WOW! the Metalite is so open, I can almost think I am playing tenor in the upper register! It is great if you want to wail out a solo and also ideal for getting raunchy with your sound!Nonetheless, I think the Otto would be the better piece for playing in a small, intimate setting with microphone. It has a great full, round, and mellow sound and it plays "soft and soulful" unlike any other piece I've tried. However, I primarily play in a big band so that just doesn't fill the bill for me.I bought a M9 before finding out about the M7 and M5. The packaging says to use the M9 with a soft reed. I use my standard #3 reed and it works great. But I had to buy and try a M7 to see if it made any difference. I could detect no difference of consequence between these two pieces. I think the different facing options are more of a marketing ploy than anything else. That said, I am curious enough to spend another $25 to see if I can tell a difference between the two extremes - M9 and M5. I will post my findings here or check under the M5 reviews after I have a chance to log some time on both of them.At $25, I think anyone who plays bari should try this. I'd recommend the M7 since it is in the middle. If you are a beginner and don't like it, stick it aside and try it again a year later after your embouchure muscles have had time to develop. I mentioned the power, but it also play nice and soft for concert band.Note: I play a Yamaha YBS-62 which has two pads that open when the octave key is pressed in the upper (G and higher) register. This might effect how the piece reacts in the upper register. Please post your experiences with other horns!

I was the biggest fan of the Rico mouthpieces. I've had many. But I swear they make them differently now. In the 90s, it wasn't cheap plastic. According to them was a special mix that included in part hard rubber.One of mine actually cracked on the cork recently. But specifically this piece, I couldn't get a decent sound out of at all--no matter what I did. I was a sax major. I've played on and off for decades. reed didn't matter. And I could hear, when it would play that it was a decent sound for plastic, but mostly it squeaks and cracks.Do not buy this model period. Save up a little more and buy a real $100 jazz mouthpiece. OR buy an actual metal mouthpiece, even a cheap one - I have better luck with the brass, gold plated? Yibuy? the cheap Chinese stuff sold here. don't buy this one for anyone. Let the Metalite line die. Returned mine.The regular Rico "graftonite" I'd still recommend as your first step-up piece.

This is a great mouthpiece for blues or rock band settings. I play mine routinely in those bands and have no complaints. Tone is very bright. As others have mentioned, it's pretty easy to reach altissimo notes with the Metalite. For the price it's worth picking one up just to hear what playing a "bright" mouthpiece is like. If you find the tone too simplistic, you haven't lost your shirt. And yes, it is loud.Looking at some of the other reviews, this mouthpiece is inappropriate for concert band or even jazz ensembles because it is so bright it will not blend with the rest of the group.

I purchased this as a cheap alternative to the mouthpiece which came with my inexpensive bari sax. I have really enjoyed playing it for the past year, I enjoy the strong, penetrating sound it makes with plenty of gravel and guts to it. I and the band leader loves it. Not everyone has been as happy though, in the band, the neighbouring flute players seem to be backing away from me, and in our sax quartet, they keep telling me to pipe down - it's not easy to play quietly, you have to blow at least moderately to get any sound out of it. Finally, when I started my busking, I noticed that I managed to clear the square of pedestrians when I started playing with it (they were OK with my other instrument I hasten to add). So, I have now purchased a less open French mouthpiece which enables quieter, as well as quite loud playing, which I use in quartets and quieter pieces, reserving this Rico for rock numbers in the full band.Plus points:- It's cheap- In the M9 version, really makes a statement - it's loud and penetrating, with character, and it's a great sound for jazzy and rock numbers.Minus points- It's difficult to play quietly, it takes some effort to play moderately loudly, even.- It's grey, so, not impressive looking.

Value for money. A nice mouthpiece and works well for me. I had to experiment with different reed strengths for me to get the best out of it but that's to be expected no matter what new mouthpiece one buys. At these prices it's not expensive if you should find it not suitable. Makes me wonder why other mouthpieces have to be so much pricier. My recommendation is try one, if it turns out it's not for you then at least you haven't spent £100's. Mouthpiece / reed combinations are a personal thing anyway what works for me may not for you. I found this particular mouthpiece very good. You shouldn't be disappointed.

Really good value, I have had less response and sound from mouthpieces costing more than ten times as much! I used this in conjunction with a Rovner L8 Ligature and Rico Hemke 2.5 reeds and was very happy with tone and response in both quiet and rocky passages.

great value. Not a soft and subtle piece - this is all about volume. If you want your bari to be heard (who doesn't?) this is louder than most other pieces I've tried.

A remarkable mouthpiece for a ridiculously low price. I play in an 18 piece rhythm and blues band and it has brought my bari sax to life. I can't believe the difference it has made.