Berg Larsen Stainless Steel Alto Sax Mouthpiece 115/1 SMS - Out of Range - BLS402

The Berg Larsen BLS402 115/1 SMS stainless steel alto sax mouthpiece pairs a bright chamber with the SMS facing in the Out of Range Facings selection. Developed for increased service life and distinctive tonal quality, the stainless steel design has a highly reflective finish and a bright, edgy sound. A high-grade black ebonite insert completes the material combination.

BLS402 115/1 SMS specifications

• Instrument: Alto saxophone.
• Body: Stainless steel with a highly reflective finish.
• Insert: High-grade black ebonite.
• Tip opening: 115 thousandths of an inch.
• Chamber: 1, bright.
• Facing: SMS, shorter, steeper French-style curve.
• Range: Out of Range Facings, BLS402.

Match the chamber to your sound

This 115/1 SMS configuration uses the bright chamber 1. Chamber size and the baffle influence edge and brightness: 0 is brilliant, 1 is bright, 2 is round, and 3 is mellow. More baffle generally adds edge, with chamber 0 offering the most edge and chamber 3 a mellower character.

Understand your facing and tip opening

The SMS (French) facing is shorter with a steeper curve; the M (American) facing is slightly longer with a flatter curve. The facing designation describes curve length, not the mouthpiece's actual sound.

Tip opening measures the distance between the tip of the reed and the tip of the mouthpiece in thousandths of an inch. Wider openings generally allow softer reeds. Narrower openings can help beginners achieve a clearer tone and more consistent intonation. Compare this 115 opening with your current mouthpiece when selecting your setup.

For reference, the original guide's tenor example 100/0 SMS means a medium-close tip opening, brilliant chamber, and short facing. This listing is specifically for the alto saxophone 115/1 SMS configuration.