What makes the Super Session different from other Selmer soprano mouthpieces?

The Super Session is currently the only soprano mouthpiece from Selmer Paris that features a round chamber. Most other models, like the S80, utilize a square chamber which produces a different tonal focus.

Is the Selmer Super Session suitable for jazz?

Yes, it is described by the manufacturer as a purpose-built soprano jazz mouthpiece. Its design allows for greater dynamic width and a rounder tone suited for improvisational styles.

What tip opening does the 'F' designation represent?

The 'F' designation indicates a medium-open tip opening. It provides more space for the reed to vibrate compared to C* or D facings, offering more volume and flexibility for experienced players.

How is the Super Session manufactured?

Each mouthpiece is expertly milled from hard rubber and finished by hand. This ensures that the final product meets the high tolerances required for professional performance.

Can a beginner use the Selmer Super Session F?

While it is marketed as a 'first professional mouthpiece,' the F tip opening might be challenging for absolute beginners. Students transitioning from an entry-level piece like a Yamaha 5C usually find it to be a significant upgrade.

Does the mouthpiece include a ligature and cap?

Usually, Selmer Paris mouthpieces are sold individually. Players often pair them with high-quality options like the Rovner 3RL Dark ligature or a Vandoren Cuir leather ligature.

What kind of reeds work best with the Super Session F?

Professional players often use jazz-specific reeds such as D'Addario Organic Select Jazz or Vandoren Java. The choice of reed strength will depend on the player's preference for the F tip opening's resistance.

Why is a round chamber significant?

A round chamber typically results in a smoother, rounder tonal profile. It helps preserve the dynamic width of the instrument, ensuring the sound stays full even when playing loudly.

What is the typical price for this mouthpiece in the UK?

The typical price range for the Selmer Paris Super Session Soprano mouthpiece is approximately £201. This reflects its status as a professional, hand-finished instrument component.

Where are Selmer Paris mouthpieces made?

All Selmer Paris mouthpieces are manufactured in France. The company has a long history of producing woodwind instruments and accessories in their French workshops.

Is this mouthpiece made of plastic or hard rubber?

The Super Session is made of high-quality hard rubber (ebonite). This material is preferred for professional mouthpieces due to its resonance and durability compared to standard plastic.

How does the Super Session compare to the Yamaha 5C?

The Yamaha 5C is a mass-produced plastic mouthpiece designed for students. The Super Session is a hand-finished professional mouthpiece with a round chamber, offering significantly more tonal depth and dynamic range.

Gear article

Selmer Paris Super Session Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece (F)

The Selmer Paris Super Session is a professional-grade soprano saxophone mouthpiece specifically designed for jazz performance, featuring a unique round chamber. Milled and finished by hand in France, it is noted for its ability to maintain dynamic width and a round tonal character across the instrument's range.

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Overview

The Selmer Paris Super Session Soprano Saxophone mouthpiece represents a specialized departure from the traditional square-chamber designs often associated with the brand. It is marketed as a purpose-built jazz mouthpiece, intended to provide the flexibility and power required for modern improvisation while retaining the high manufacturing standards of the French atelier. The F facing provides a medium-open tip, offering a balance of resistance and airflow for advanced players.

Design and Construction

Expertly milled from high-quality hard rubber, each Super Session mouthpiece is finished by hand to ensure precision in the rails and tip. Its most defining technical feature is the round chamber, which is currently the only such design in the Selmer soprano mouthpiece catalogue. This geometry is specifically engineered to enhance the roundness of the tone and provide a consistent dynamic response, preventing the sound from becoming thin or overly piercing at high volumes.

Sound Character and Performance

The Super Session is characterised by a 'beautifully round' tone that preserves its dynamic width throughout the registers. Unlike some classical mouthpieces that may feel restrictive in a jazz setting, the Super Session allows for greater projection and a broader harmonic profile. It is designed to enhance every aspect of the player's natural tone, providing the stability needed for professional work while allowing for the expressive nuances required in jazz.

Suitability and Progression

Selmer Paris mouthpieces have long been recommended by teachers and professionals as the ideal 'first professional mouthpiece' for advancing students. The Super Session, particularly in the F tip opening, is best suited for musicians who have moved beyond entry-level equipment like the Yamaha 5C and require a more sophisticated tool for jazz studies or professional performance. It provides a platform for developing a personal sound without the extreme instability found in some high-baffle jazz mouthpieces.

Comparison to Alternatives

Within the Selmer range, the Super Session stands out due to its round chamber, contrasting with the square chambers found in the S80 and S90 series. While entry-level plastic mouthpieces such as the Yamaha 5C offer ease of play for beginners, the Super Session offers significantly more depth and tonal variety. When compared to high-baffle pieces like the JodyJazz Super Jet, the Super Session offers a more traditional, round jazz sound rather than aggressive brightness.

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Frequently asked questions

What makes the Super Session different from other Selmer soprano mouthpieces?: The Super Session is currently the only soprano mouthpiece from Selmer Paris that features a round chamber. Most other models, like the S80, utilize a square chamber which produces a different tonal focus.
Is the Selmer Super Session suitable for jazz?: Yes, it is described by the manufacturer as a purpose-built soprano jazz mouthpiece. Its design allows for greater dynamic width and a rounder tone suited for improvisational styles.
What tip opening does the 'F' designation represent?: The 'F' designation indicates a medium-open tip opening. It provides more space for the reed to vibrate compared to C* or D facings, offering more volume and flexibility for experienced players.
How is the Super Session manufactured?: Each mouthpiece is expertly milled from hard rubber and finished by hand. This ensures that the final product meets the high tolerances required for professional performance.
Can a beginner use the Selmer Super Session F?: While it is marketed as a 'first professional mouthpiece,' the F tip opening might be challenging for absolute beginners. Students transitioning from an entry-level piece like a Yamaha 5C usually find it to be a significant upgrade.
Does the mouthpiece include a ligature and cap?: Usually, Selmer Paris mouthpieces are sold individually. Players often pair them with high-quality options like the Rovner 3RL Dark ligature or a Vandoren Cuir leather ligature.
What kind of reeds work best with the Super Session F?: Professional players often use jazz-specific reeds such as D'Addario Organic Select Jazz or Vandoren Java. The choice of reed strength will depend on the player's preference for the F tip opening's resistance.
Why is a round chamber significant?: A round chamber typically results in a smoother, rounder tonal profile. It helps preserve the dynamic width of the instrument, ensuring the sound stays full even when playing loudly.
What is the typical price for this mouthpiece in the UK?: The typical price range for the Selmer Paris Super Session Soprano mouthpiece is approximately £201. This reflects its status as a professional, hand-finished instrument component.
Where are Selmer Paris mouthpieces made?: All Selmer Paris mouthpieces are manufactured in France. The company has a long history of producing woodwind instruments and accessories in their French workshops.
Is this mouthpiece made of plastic or hard rubber?: The Super Session is made of high-quality hard rubber (ebonite). This material is preferred for professional mouthpieces due to its resonance and durability compared to standard plastic.
How does the Super Session compare to the Yamaha 5C?: The Yamaha 5C is a mass-produced plastic mouthpiece designed for students. The Super Session is a hand-finished professional mouthpiece with a round chamber, offering significantly more tonal depth and dynamic range.