Eb Alto saxophone 
As for the Tenor, clear options have been made: 7 different tip openings combined with different facings. The efficiency has been privileged maintaining a real “Alto” character. It gives the player the flexibility to make it play the way HE wants.
1/1000 inch |
70 178 |
72 183 |
75 190 |
80 203 |
85 216 |
88 224 |
90 229 |
92 234 |
95 241 |
100 254 |
105 267 |
110 279 |
112 284 |
115 292 |
120 305 |
128 325 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
François Louis |
- | A 185 |
A 190 |
A 203 205 |
- | A 225 |
- | A 235 |
A 242 |
A 254 255 |
- | A 280 |
A 285 |
- | - | A 318 325 |
| Meyer | 5 | - | 6 | 7 | 8 | - | 9 | - | - | 10 | 11 | 12 | - | - | - | - |
| Otto-Link | 5* | — | 6 | 6* | 7 | - | 7* | - | 8 | 8* | 9 | 9* | - | 10 | 10* | 11* |
| Bari | - | 72 | 77 | 82 | - | 87 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Vandoren | A27 | A25 | A35 | A45 | - | A9 | - | A55 | A75 | A95 | - | - | - | - |
- A185 is a 1.85 mm tip opening (72/00”) equivalent to the traditional “5*”/“6” opening. Combined with a medium short facing length and a progressive facing curve. Very stable with enough flexibility to vary sound colors, fast response. Best fit with 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 reeds, Jazz cut as well as Classical cut.
A190TR is a 1.90 mm (75/00”) tip opening equivalent to the traditional “6” opening. Combined with a short facing length and a progressive facing curve. Very precise and centered with a fast response. Best fit with 2 to 3 1/2 reeds, Jazz cut as well as Classical cut. - A205 is a 2.05 mm tip opening (80/00”) equivalent to the traditional “6” opening. Combined with a short facing length and a progressive facing curve. This is the “universal” mouthpiece: very stable, centered pitch, small enough to be playable by amateurs and students, big enough to put some air and be playable by professionals. Very precise. Extremely responsive and fast staccato with a lot of projection. Best fit with 2 1/2 to 4 reeds, Jazz or Classical cut.
A203TR is a 2.03 mm tip opening (80/00”) equivalent to the traditional “6*” opening. Combined with a short facing length and a progressive facing curve. This is the universal mouthpiece: very stable, centred pitch, small enough to be playable by amateurs and students, big enough to put some air and be playable by professionals. Very precise. Extremely responsive and fast staccato with a lot of projection. Best fit with 2 to 3 1/2 reeds, Jazz or Classical cut. - A225 is a 2.25 mm tip opening (88/00”) equivalent to the traditional “7” opening. Combined with a medium facing length and a progressive facing curve. Great flexibility combined with stability and a well-centered pitch.Best fit with 1 1/2 to 5, Jazz or Classical cut.
A230TR is a 2.30 mm tip opening (90/00”) equivalent to the traditional “7*” opening. Combined with a medium short facing length and a progressive facing curve. Great stability with a well centred pitch. Best fit with 1 1/2 to 4 reeds, Jazz or Classical cut. - A235 is a 2.35 mm tip opening (92/00”) equivalent to the traditional “7*” opening. Combined with a medium long facing length and a soft facing curve. Due to the longer facing curve, it brings more resistance and takes more air. (This make it feel “bigger”) The soft curve gives it a lot of flexibility. This is the best mouthpiece for the professional players that need to use all possibilities of dynamics, sound colors and range in one mouthpiece, without having to struggle too hard on a real big mouthpiece.Best fit with 2 1/2 to 4 reeds. Even if the Classical cut will play good, the “Jazz cut” will be a better fit with this type of facing.
A242TR is a 2.42 mm tip opening (95/00”) equivalent to the traditional “8” opening. Combined a medium long facing with medium soft facing curve. A good compromise for the professional player that doesn’t want to have to struggle too hard while offering the access to the universe of the big mouthpiece. Best fit with 2 to 4 reeds, Jazz or Classical cut. - A255 is a 2.55 mm tip opening (100/00”) equivalent to the traditional “8*” opening. Combined with a long facing length and a progressive facing curve. Very well balanced and efficient, due to the progressive curve it keeps a well-centered pitch with flexibility, lot of projection and a big low range. For the player who likes to blow a lot of air without loosing control.Best fit with 2 to 4 reeds. Better fit with “Jazz Cut”.
A254TR is a 2.54 mm (100/00”) tip opening equivalent to the traditional “8*” opening. Combined with a medium long facing length and a progressive facing curve. Very well balanced and efficient. This can be considered as a “big” mouthpiece for alto saxophone. It demands some control from the player but he is rewarded by a full bodied and rich sound. Due to the medium long facing length, it remains perfectly controllable. Best fit with 2 to 4 reeds. Better fit with “Jazz Cut”.
- A285 is a 2.85 mm tip opening (112/00”) equivalent to the traditional “9*” opening. Combined with a long facing length and a smooth progressive facing curve. Perfect mix of resistance and flexibility, very demanding, for players who are prepared to work hard and get rewarded by a full, rich and big sound, without loosing response and center. Best fit with 2 to 5 reeds. Better fit with “Jazz Cut”.
A280TR is a 2.80 mm tip opening (110/00”) equivalent to the traditional “9*” opening. Combined with a long facing length and a progressive facing curve. Perfect mix of resistance and flexibility, very demanding, for players who are prepared to work hard and get rewarded by a full, rich and big sound, without loosing response and center. Best fit with 2 to 5 reeds. Better fit with “Jazz Cut”.
- A325 is a 3.25 mm tip opening (128/00”) equivalent to the traditional “11*” opening. Combined with a long facing length and a progressive facing curve. Enormous sound, flexibility, projection, very big and full low range. For the players who need a total freedom of expression and are prepared to put a lot of air, having developed a good control of the embouchure/air stream balance. This has been specially conceived for Tenor players used to “big mouthpieces” who can hardly find a big enough mouthpiece while they have to double on the Alto Saxophone.Best fit: at this stage, you know about your reeds!
A318TR is a 3.18 mm tip opening (125/00”) equivalent to the traditional “11” opening. Combined with a long facing length and a progressive facing curve. Enormous sound, flexibility, projection, very big and full low range. For the players who need a total freedom of expression and are prepared to put a lot of air, having developed a good control of the embouchure/air stream balance. This has been specially conceived for Tenor players used to big mouthpieces who can hardly find a big enough mouthpiece while they have to double on the Alto
ENJOY.
Ligature’s fit
All “XL ALT” ligatures fit the Alto “Spectruoso” Mouthpiece.
Signature
Every single Francois Louis® mouthpiece is hand finished: tip, baffle, window, facing, front rail, side rails and beak.
The FL “Signature” “Spectruoso” & “Amber” mouthpieces are High End mouthpieces. They are entirely hand finished by FL himself, signed on every mouthpiece’s table.
It features :
- Perfect finishing of the baffle, tip, and side walls.
- Perfect connection of the side walls with the chamber.
- Perfectly adjusted front and side rails.
- Perfectly hand finished facing.
- Fine finishing and polishing of the beak & body of the mouthpiece.
Suggested 2024 Retail Prices (VAT included on European market)
| Signature | Soprano | Alto | Tenor | Baritone |
| “Spectruoso” | 400€ | 400€ | 430.5€ | 505€ |
| “Amber” | 352€ | 352€ | 379€ | 442€ |
Make sure you are buying your favorite Francois Louis® mouthpiece!