Buescher True Tone Tenor Mouthpieces

The Buescher True Tone tenor saxophone (typically from the 1920s–early 1930s) is a vintage horn known for its warm, dark, resonant tone. It pairs well with a variety of mouthpieces, though players often note it's somewhat "mouthpiece friendly" while favoring certain designs for optimal intonation and character.

Key Considerations

Original/stock Buescher mouthpieces from that era are hard rubber with very large round chambers and small tip openings. They produce a classic vintage sound but are often considered difficult to play today (requiring very hard reeds like 5+ strength and can feel stuffy or sharp in certain registers). Many players recommend avoiding unmodified originals unless refaced.

Vintage American horns like the True Tone often respond best to large-chamber mouthpieces for the signature dark, spread tone, though medium-chamber modern pieces work well too without major intonation issues.

Recommended Mouthpieces

For authentic vintage tone (dark, warm, classical or early jazz style):

Vintage Buescher hard rubber (if you can find one in good condition; often needs refacing).

Sigurd Rascher mouthpiece (a modern copy of the old Buescher design—large chamber, close tip; highly praised for capturing the horn's baseline personality).

Caravan mouthpieces (large chamber, very dark; popular for vintage Bueschers in classical setups).

For jazz or more versatile modern playing (balanced, with some edge or projection):

Otto Link (hard rubber Tone Edge or Super Tone Master, medium chamber, e.g., 6–7* tip; frequently mentioned as pairing excellently with later Bueschers and working well on True Tones for good intonation).

Meyer (hard rubber, medium chamber; easy-blowing and common suggestion for vintage horns).

Vandoren V16 (metal or hard rubber; one review paired a metal V16 favorably with a 1921 True Tone for a brighter but controlled sound).

Morgan Vintage or Excalibur (large or medium chamber; designed to evoke vintage feel while being playable).

Theo Wanne models (e.g., Ambika; works on similar Buescher Aristocrats).

Some players report success with metal pieces (e.g., Yanagisawa metal or Berg Larsen) for more cut/projection, but others note potential intonation quirks across the break (C#-D) with high-baffle or very modern designs.

Ultimately, mouthpiece choice is highly personal—depending on your desired sound (dark vintage vs. brighter jazz), reed strength, and embouchure. Trying several (via return policies from shops like WWBW or local stores) is ideal, as the True Tone can highlight differences more than modern horns. Ensure the sax is in good regulation (recent overhaul recommended for vintage models) to avoid tuning issues blamed on the mouthpiece.