9 Best Baritone Saxophone Mouthpieces 2024

Are you looking for a mouthpiece replacement for your baritone saxophone? Are you ready for a major upgrade? Looking to try a new model?

No matter the scenario, you’ve come to the right place, because in this guide, we look at an array of baritone saxophone mouthpieces, from beginner, budget friendly options, all the way up to beautiful, premium models, and everything in between.

Here are the best baritone saxophone mouthpieces.

Theo Wanne Durga 5 Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 6 – Best Overall

The Theo Wanne Durga 5 Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 6 (compare price on Sweetwater and Guitar Center) features the most unique (vaguely Egyptian style) design of any mouthpiece you’ll find in this guide. But it should be clear from its outer coating that it was created as a luxury option.

This mouthpiece not only delivers on the reputation the Durga series has built, but it also boasts certain improvements as well.

In addition to the warm and full tones you’ve become accustomed to (if you’re familiar with the Durga series), it’s also a very versatile mouthpiece for players of any persuasion. Theo Wanne also made some changes to the chamber and baffle for added focus and better performance overall.

This is a professional grade mouthpiece, and whether you’re looking for a major step up from beginner or intermediate models, or a new mouthpiece to use at your next gig, you’ll love what the Durga 5 makes available to you as a player.

With 24-karat gold plating, this mouthpiece also comes with a protective leatherette case.

This is our best overall selection, but if you find it a little pricy, don’t worry – there are plenty of other phenomenal mouthpieces at different price points featured in this guide.

JodyJazz DV Series Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 6 – Best Premium Option

The JodyJazz DV Series Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 6 is luxury embodied, something its appearance makes abundantly clear.

The mouthpiece is ideally suited to jazz, funk, fusion, pop, rock, and genres requiring cut and richness. Basically, it can do just about anything with modern genres.

It comes with a 24-karat gold plating, and it’s everything you’d expect from a JodyJazz product in every other regard – great sounding, reliable, and highly playable.

From the concert hall to the nightclub, this mouthpiece was created with professional use in mind.

There are several other intriguing options in this guide with unique designs at premium price points, but this one is our favorite. It’s a shoo-in for our best premium selection.

Libretto Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece Kit – Best Budget Option

The Libretto Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece Kit is the ideal selection for beginners on a budget, as the kit comes with a mouthpiece, plastic cap, and a gold lacquered ligature.

This mouthpiece is known to be high quality, durable, and lightweight.

Most buyers agree – this is a good mouthpiece for beginners. But its durability may be slightly in question by users who’ve used the product over the long haul.

At this price point, though, you’ve got to keep your expectations realistic. You may notice some wear and tear after a year, if not sooner.

Either way, if you’re looking for a convenient, low-priced, all in one kit, you might want to check out the Libretto Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece Kit. It’s our best budget selection.

JodyJazz Super Jet Series Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 7

The JodyJazz Super Jet Series Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 7 (compare price on Sweetwater and Guitar Center) features a sleek, smooth, eye-catching design.

This versatile baritone sax mouthpiece was tailor made for jazz, funk, rock, fusion, soloing, and more. In addition to being a durable and reliable product, it has a slightly larger tip opening that gives you more control over power and projection.

Its bright tone is perfect for cutting through, especially for those soaring solos when you’re called upon to do them.

All in all, you’re getting a mouthpiece that was play tested by JodyJazz founder Jody Espina. The mouthpiece is made of palladium plated brass, and it features a bright, crisp tone. This mouthpiece is suitable of all styles and playing levels but makes the grade for professional use as well.

Otto Link BOLM-7 Super Tone Master Metal Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 7

The Otto Link BOLM-7 Super Tone Master Metal Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 7 is a stunner. It may not quite measure up to some of the JodyJazz or Theo Wanne mouthpieces we’ve looked at here, but it comes awful close. And there’s no mistaking this for an ordinary replacement mouthpiece.

The design comes from the legendary Otto Link himself, the man responsible for developing the Master Link metal mouthpiece, featuring a large chamber, small tip opening, and low baffle.

Otto Link mouthpieces fast became a favorite among Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, and Stan Getz, among others, who relied on them for their sound.

This mouthpiece follows in the tradition of ones that came before it, and it comes with a 24-karat plated gold exterior, and a sound that’s perfect for pop, jazz, R&B, classical, and more.

Henri Selmer Paris S80 Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece

The Henri Selmer Paris S80 Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece comes with a hard rubber construction. This mouthpiece offers a warm, expansive, wide sound.

Selmer mouthpieces have a strong reputation, and since they do focus exclusively on saxophones and clarinets as a company, it would be hard to go wrong here.

So far, we don’t know of anyone that has spoken ill of this mouthpiece.

JodyJazz HR Series Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 7

The JodyJazz HR Series Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece – 7 (compare price on Sweetwater and Guitar Center) offers versatility, durability, and a great sound.

This mouthpiece is well suited to beginners and intermediates, especially in jazz band and concert contexts. The medium tip opening makes it highly playable, offering maximum balance and control.

With a traditional feel and a warm tone, the rubber construction of the HR Series mouthpiece ensures long lasting performance.

Vandoren B7 V16 SM833 Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece

The Vandoren B7 V17 SM833 Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) is crafted from ebonite and its design was inspired by vintage jazz greats. But it can do everything from vintage to modern, Vandoren insists.

Overall, we find the SM833 offers consistency, evenness, and smoothness. What you get in exchange for money spent is well worth it, and most users agree.

Some said it did not work for them, but they were outliers. Mouthpieces are individual, so not everything is going to be the right fit for you, but for most, the Vandoren B7 V17 SM833 should prove a nice step up from stock, plastic, and low-cost mouthpieces.

Yamaha YAC BS5C Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece

The Yamaha YAC BS5C Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece is a step up from stock and cheaply made mouthpieces. It would be our best budget option if not for the Libretto kit covered earlier!

This baby was made of phenol resin, and it even takes inspiration from Yamaha’s Custom Series pro level mouthpieces.

This is the best bang for buck option in this guide and it’s a budget friendly option too. But unless you’re replacing a stock or plastic mouthpiece, this one may not prove much of an upgrade.

What To Look For In A Baritone Saxophone Mouthpiece

As you’re starting to see, there isn’t a shortage of mouthpiece options for baritone saxophone players. You might even say we’re a little spoiled! Of course, this can always make the buying decision a little tougher too.

There are an array of options across a relatively wide price range, and there are many creative designs to boot. That doesn’t simplify matters at all. If you’re feeling a little lost, we feel you.

So, in this section, we’ll look at several key criteria that can help you arrive at a buying decision faster. They are as follows:

• Sound quality / tone
• Versatility
• Playability / control
• Budget

Ready? Let’s get into it.

Sound Quality / Tone

The sound quality or tone of a mouthpiece is determined by an array of factors, including the material it’s made of (plastic, rubber, ebonite, metal, crystal, etc.), the baffle (position), and more.

And while it’s easy to get caught up in the technical details of mouthpiece room, table, and other elements just mentioned, at the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing – how does the darn thing sound?!

Plus, we find that a lot of people talk about the technical details to the exclusion of sound, and that just doesn’t make sense.

The sound of your instrument is determined by more than just the mouthpiece – the reed and the body of the instrument also play a part – but you’d be surprised at how much of a difference just the mouthpiece can make.

Okay, but how do we know how any one mouthpiece sounds?

Best case scenario, you’d be able to walk into a store and try an array of mouthpieces before deciding. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s a single store out there that would let you do anything of the sort (for very obviously reasons)!

If you have a frame of reference to work with, great. You can use what you know as a starting point to determine which mouthpiece to buy next. If you’re starting from scratch, it might be a little harder to figure out which to buy, but it’s okay. There are a couple of other ways we can get clear on this whole issue of sound quality and tone.

One is to read reviews. Of course, there’s only so much information we can gather from reviews, but it’s far more effective than just reading product descriptions, which always talk up the product! Reading what others are saying (and noticing commonalities) is still a great way to figure out which piece to buy.

The other option, which I suggest using in combination with reading reviews, is watching YouTube demos and reviews. Something can get lost in translation with videos, due to speakers, headphones, your room, and the way our ears work. Still, it’s a lot better than nothing!

Armed with this knowledge, along with your own experience, you should be more than ready to find a great sounding mouthpiece. But there is more to think about, including…

Versatility

This will matter to greater or lesser degrees depending on the player. Most saxophone players use multiple mouthpieces or at least have backups. Unless you’re still in the process of learning, or always find yourself playing the same style, you’ll probably require multiple mouthpieces for practice, jamming, performance, and more.

The good news is that there are some truly versatile options out there. Some can handle just about whatever you throw at them, and we have covered a few options like that in this guide. You will pay more for them, but depending on your needs, quality mouthpieces will make a big difference.

If versatility is important to you, take a closer look at the products we’ve already identified as such.

But we also need to look at…

Playability / Control

Again, when it comes to mouthpieces, there are many technical factors affecting playability, control, and even intonation. We’ve covered most of them already, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to what works for you.

Larger opening? Smaller opening? Baffle position? These and other factors are important, but it is a matter of preference and what gets the job done.

I’m the type of player that will sacrifice sound for playability. But not everyone’s like me, and honestly my opinion doesn’t matter as much as your own experience and what you like. Plus, the best of both worlds does exist.

The goal is simple – find a mouthpiece that makes your instrument sound great and makes it more playable. Getting there isn’t always so straightforward, but with a bit of research and asking around, you should be able to find your way.

Budget

Okay, so baritone sax mouthpieces can get very expensive. Some of the prices are on par with intermediate level guitars. Maybe you knew that already, but just in case.

This isn’t to say there aren’t more affordable options, and we have featured a few in this guide, but it does mean that a quality product will cost you.

If you’ve got the budget for it, then you’re welcome to choose any product that pleases you. Otherwise, we do recommend spending wisely. Please avoid going into debt for any musical gear related purchases. We want you to enjoy music, not be worried about the credit card bill you can’t pay!

Best Baritone Saxophone Mouthpieces Brands

From brands that make all types of musical instruments, all the way over to brands that focus almost exclusively on saxophone and clarinet, there are multiple brands pumping out quality mouthpiece products.

But who’s the best?

Here we’ll look at the best baritone saxophone mouthpiece brands.

Yamaha

Yamaha has essentially set the standard for saxophone mouthpieces, and their products serve as the reference point for most brands looking to manufacture their own mouthpiece products. As a matter of fact, their most popular mouthpieces are often sold out online!

Yamaha makes just about everything you can name, whether it’s keyboards, pianos, strings, guitars, basses, percussion, music production tools, or otherwise.

Not everything they create is great, but everything they create does meet a certain quality standard. And that’s an amazing thing for a company that does so much.

Henri Selmer Paris

Selmer, Selmer Paris, or Henri Selmer Paris is the legendary French enterprise focused on the creation of saxophone and clarinet products. It’s very unlikely you haven’t heard their name if you’ve been around the saxophone world for any length of time.

It’s nice to know that they’re specialized and dedicated to their line of products too. Overall, the company – which has been going since 1885 – has a strong reputation, and their products are always at least okay if not great (they’re great most of the time).

Vandoren

Vandoren (or Vandoren Paris) has so much in common with Henri Selmer Paris that it may as well be a copycat (I say that mostly tongue in cheek). This French manufacturer, founded in 1905, makes mouthpieces, reeds, and accessories, specifically for saxophones and clarinets.

You can find plenty of professional players who prefer Vandoren, and it’s no surprise. They make great quality products.

JodyJazz

The U.S. based JodyJazz makes a surprising array of mouthpieces suited to a variety of needs. The company’s inception story is quite fascinating, in that it essentially began when musician and jazz educator Jody Espina met saxophonist and mouthpiece maker Santy Runyon.

Santy created a mouthpiece for Jody, and Jody immediately fell in love with it. Santy then decided to start producing the mouthpiece and it was his decision to call it a JodyJazz mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece continued to spread via word of mouth, until the company reached the point it’s at today. Creating high quality mouthpieces is still their bread and butter.

Theo Wanne

Theo Wanne specializes in saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces, instruments (soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones), and accessories, like ligatures, caps, pressure plates, cases, bite pads, refacing tools, and more.

Their artists include Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, Marcus Anderson, Dominic Amato, Eric Darius, Adrian Crutchfield, and others.

They have surprisingly little about their company on their website, but by reputation, Theo Wanne makes some of the best mouthpieces in the world.

Top Baritone Saxophone Mouthpieces, Final Thoughts

Were you surprised to see all the baritone saxophone mouthpieces that are out there? Or did you already know about all of them?

One thing’s for sure – this is a very well served market. If there’s something you’re looking for, chances are you can find it.

You should now have everything you need to find the perfect mouthpiece. We wish you all the best on your saxophone journey!