H. COUF Superba II Alto

The H. Couf Superba II alto saxophone, a professional-level instrument built by Julius Keilwerth in Germany (often described as having a dark, powerful, and versatile tone with excellent projection), pairs well with a variety of mouthpieces. Recommendations from players emphasize pieces that complement its characteristically fat, dark, and spread sound while maintaining good intonation and response.

Common Recommendations

• Stock/original H. Couf mouthpieces: Many Superba models (I and II) originally came with H. Couf Artist series hard rubber mouthpieces (e.g., 6* tip opening). Players often praise these for delivering a fat, dark tone that's well-suited to the horn's voice. Vintage Couf Artist pieces are still highly regarded and sought after for this matchup.

• Vandoren models: The Vandoren A27 (or similar Optimum series) is frequently mentioned as an excellent modern choice for Superba altos, offering good tuning stability and a balanced dark tone.

• Large-chamber classics: Pieces like Otto Link (vintage or modern resissues), Meyer, or similar medium/large-chamber hard rubber mouthpieces are popular for enhancing the horn's warmth without making it stuffy.

• Other options: Some players experiment with J.J. Rousseau or even metal pieces for brighter setups, but large-chamber hard rubber tends to be preferred to avoid intonation issues or thinning out the core sound.

Keilwerth-based horns like the Couf can be somewhat "mouthpiece-picky" regarding tuning, so trying several in person is ideal. The horn generally favors pieces that support its naturally robust, dark character rather than high-baffle bright ones.

Famous Saxophonists

Few well-known saxophonists are documented as primary users of the H. Couf Superba II specifically on alto (the brand was more associated with tenor and baritone among pros). Notable Couf players include:

• Sax Gordon (Gordon Beadle) → Known for playing Couf Superba models (primarily tenor, often modified).

• James Carter → Owns and has played a rare black-gold Couf Superba baritone.

• David Liebman → Switched to Couf horns (model details vary, but associated with the brand via Herb Couf's endorsements).

No specific mouthpiece details are widely documented for these players on Couf altos. Herb Couf himself promoted his own mouthpieces (often blanks from German maker Zinner) with the horns.

Ultimately, mouthpiece choice is highly personal—start with a stock-style Couf Artist or Vandoren if seeking that classic dark Keilwerth sound.