Metal HL 2024
Metal HL 2024 is Gottsu’s rendition of a high-baffle, Tin mouthpiece from the 1980s (the golden-era of Fusion). The HL utilizes a special Tin alloy to achieve an excellent tone while having a greater physical strength than pure Tin. The polished, bare Tin alloy will naturally tarnish and darken over time, which causes the HL to acquire a very vintage appearance. In the 2024 edition, Gottsu’s sliding ligature system now accompanies the mouthpiece. The ligature slides into grooves cut parallel to the mouthpiece table, and utilizes a mechanism that presses the contact plate securely and evenly down onto the reed, which significantly improves performance over a conventional ligature.
Tin alloy resonates similarly to Ebonite (hard-rubber), which has a warm tone and rich harmonic overtones. The high baffle chamber causes the HL to produce an edgy and powerful tone, which enables clear and crisp expression – especially in fast passages and cadenzas.
There is a legendary mouthpiece that has curved table, asymmetrical side and tip rail, and is roughly made; it is like a wild stallion. Although difficult to control for beginners, you are able to produce a wonderfully unique tone once you master it. Many saxophonists, such as Kenny G. and David Sanborn, became addicted to the wonderful sound once they were able to control it. I think the true essence of this mouthpiece is the impression of it being bright with sharp edges; however, it has a dark side as well, which makes it very attractive. The Metal HL aims to be such a mouthpiece.”
–Masahiko Goto
Instruments: Soprano, Alto, Tenor
Opening size:
Soprano: 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 67
Alto: 71, 75, 79, 83, 87
Tenor: 89, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120
※see table below for mm sizing
Material: Tin alloy
Chamber Shape: Medium large Chamber, semicircle
Baffle: High baffle
Tone characteristics: Bright and Dark, Rich overtones, has an edge, Powerful
Style: Pop, Fusion
* Natural cane reed recommended
Artist Recordings
Metal HL Alto
Metal HL Alto
Metal HL Tenor
Metal HL Alto
Making the HL 2018
Metal HL Alto
Audio
Alto
Audio Player
Tenor
Audio Player