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Rousseau ER50 Custom Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece (Dr. Stephen Page)
Stephen Page Interview on the Rousseau ER50 Mouthpiece
The Rousseau ER50 Custom Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
What makes the Rousseau ER50 Custom Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece one of the very best classical saxophone mouthpieces in the world?
The new ER50 series mouthpieces are inspired directly from Eugene Rousseau’s most famous and successful mouthpiece, the Rousseau NC4. The ER50 is constructed from JodyJazz’s proprietary Chedeville Rubber which is a softer hard rubber producing a warmer sound. The tapered gold-plated brass ring on the shank gives the sound more warmth, beauty, and subtleness. The mouthpieces were designed by Jody Espina with direct input and feedback from Kenneth Tse, Stephen Page and Javier Valerio. Two distinct facing curves were designed to achieve the different feeling and sound between the ER50 Classic and the ER50 Custom. Both models measure .064” / 163.mm tip opening.
Rousseau mouthpieces are designed for saxophonists at every level from World Class Concertizing Artists, To University Professors to aspiring students from Middle School to College.
The ER50 mouthpieces are made from Chedeville Hard Rubber and manufactured 100% in the USA at the JodyJazz Factory on our State-Of-The-Art CNC Lathes and Mills and then expertly hand finished by our artisans on the crucial and indispensable final details of the mouthpiece such as baffle and tip rail.
At the JodyJazz Factory we play test every single Rousseau Mouthpiece after we do extensive hand work and gauge and measure each piece. Consistency and Excellence is our Obsession.
What is the difference between the ER50 Custom and the ER50 Classic?
The basic difference is that the ER50 Custom has a shorter facing curve producing some resistance which some players prefer, which for them gives a response that produces enhanced control over articulation, altissimo and timbre. Other players prefer the classic facing curve of the ER50 Classic, which has a freer blowing, more open feel.
From Jody Espina:
I had several goals in mind when I went set out to create the ER50 Series:
- To Honor Dr. Eugene Rousseau and the Rousseau mouthpiece company’s 50th Anniversary by making a new Rousseau mouthpiece with our state-of-the-art technology at JodyJazz.
- To make a mouthpiece that every player that was already playing a Rousseau NC4, would love even more than the NC4. By subtly enhancing the great NC4 with better low note response, more control and slightly more warmth in the sound.
- To use the finest materials, meaning Chedeville Rubber and a tapered Gold-Plated Brass ring on the shank to enhance harmonics and warmth of sound.
I’m very grateful to Dr. Kenneth Tse, Dr. Stephen Page and Dr. Javier Valerio. All three of these great musicians and educators are disciples of Dr. Rousseau. Each, travelled to the JodyJazz factory at separate times and spent a whole week working with us on prototypes. I wanted to be sure that we didn’t lose the Rousseau magic, but we pushed to the limit what we could do to address every issue that a modern classical saxophonist has to deal with. I’m extremely proud of what we accomplished. The entire JodyJazz/Rousseau/Chedeville crew and I humbly offer the ER 50 series as a tribute to Dr. Rousseau’s life works and to serious saxophone players around the world.
Testimonials
The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music
“Después de usar las Boquillas Rousseau durante muchos años, encuentro que los nuevos modelos inspirados en ER50 Classic y ER50 Custom son muy especiales. Estas boquillas, con sus propiedades de sonido y acústica únicas, demuestran el creciente deseo de la Fábrica Jody Jazz de mejorar sus productos, manteniendo la esencia y el legado de las Boquillas Rousseau. Estas pueden mejorar instantáneamente el color, la producción de sonido, la articulación y ayudar a desarrollar su técnica al brindar confianza en la interpretación. El anillo de metal dorado permite un sonido compacto con mayor profundidad y proyección. Después de sólo unos días, noté una diferencia significativa en mi comodidad y durabilidad al tocar. Recomiendo positivamente los modelos ER50 Classic y ER50 Custom a cualquiera que busque mejorar su ejecución actual”.
Profesor de Saxofón – Universidad de Costa Rica
Clemson University
Ouachita Baptist University