Alto Sax Mouthpiece Battle: Selmer Jazz Flow vs. Meyer Bros. Connoisseur Series

In this review video, I’m going to introduce you to 2 new alto sax mouthpieces that have been generating a lot of interest lately.

Selmer has introduced their first (official) jazz mouthpiece, the Jazz Flow for alto saxophone. They have other jazz mouthpiece models in the works to keep an eye out for. And there is the new Meyer Bros. Connoisseur Series alto mouthpiece that is meant to be based on Cannonball Adderley’s New York Meyer.

I was somewhat surprised by both of these.

Selmer Paris Jazz Flow

The Selmer Paris Jazz Flow has a unique design that I’ve never seen anywhere else, that is the angled cut on the shank. It does look cool but also seems to be for purely aesthetic reasons rather than having any affect on how the mouthpiece plays.  The price on Jazz Flow is $210 at Sweetwater at the time of this video.

I did notice that it has thicker sidewalls than other pro level mouthpieces. It has sidewalls that are mostly straight but round into the baffle, and the chamber is like a rounded horseshoe shape, and it has a low baffle.

My first impression of this mouthpiece was good, however I did notice when playing this that the lower register doesn’t speak as clearly as I would like it to. The chamber is quite small which can lead to less bottom end, and the impression of more resistance when you play.

Meyer Brothers Connoisseur Series

Next up is the Meyer Brothers Connoisseur Series which draws inspiration from Cannonball Adderley’s New York Meyer mouthpiece. Due to a crack in his mouthpiece, Cannonball had a brass ring fitted onto his and they’ve incorporated that into the design. While is is also probably mostly aesthetic as well, I think it looks really cool.

The chamber is a lot larger than the Jazz Flow, and it has a low baffle like you see on typical Meyers. The rails on this mouthpiece are nice and thin as well. It is currently priced a bit more at $366 at Sweetwater at the time of this video.

How Each Mouthpiece is Made

There are major differences in the way each mouthpiece is made. The Selmer Jazz Flow undergoes modern CNC machining for precise shaping, and this is evident by the machining lines on the interior. There is evidence of hand finishing to the tip but it is fairly minimal. In contrast, the Meyer Brothers mouthpiece embodies traditional craftsmanship, with raw rubber squares molded by hand to form its shape. There is much more hand finishing that goes into the Connoisseur mouthpiece. Despite differing production methods, both mouthpieces showcase exceptional quality and attention to detail.

BetterSax Burnin’

I’ve also included to the BetterSax Burnin’ for context and comparison. The Burnin’ is a bit brighter than the Meyer, which makes it a great option for contemporary music styles while still retaining the warmth and roundness that you want for traditional jazz. The Burnin’ is currently priced at $249 at Sweetwater.

While getting new mouthpieces can be fun, it can get expensive very quickly and it’s important to note that most of the sound you product is a product of what you listen to and how much you practice. Check this video out next to learn more about mouthpieces.