Berg Larsen Ebonite Alto Sax Mouthpiece - 85/1 SMS - BL402

Designed with a bright tone chamber and SMS facing, the Berg Larsen 85/1 SMS alto saxophone mouthpiece brings this specific BL402 configuration to a traditional black ebonite design.

Berg Larsen has used ebonite for mouthpieces since 1945. This traditional hard-rubber material has absorbent qualities that contribute to a resonant sound.

The 85/1 SMS designation identifies this listing's tip opening, tone chamber and facing length. The BL402 range offers traditional SMS and longer M facings; this mouthpiece is the SMS version.

Understanding your mouthpiece configuration

1.) Tip opening: 85

Tip opening is the gap between the reed tip and mouthpiece tip, measured in thousandths of an inch. Here, 85 identifies the tip-opening designation. Wider openings generally allow softer reeds, while a narrower opening can help beginners achieve a clearer tone and more consistent intonation.

2.) Tone chamber: 1 (bright)

This 85/1 SMS configuration uses the 1 chamber, described by Berg Larsen as bright. Chamber shape and baffle influence the sound's edge and brightness: more baffle creates more edge. Across the range, chamber 0 is brilliant and has the most edge, chamber 1 is bright, chamber 2 is round, and chamber 3 is mellow.

3.) Facing length: SMS

The SMS, or French-style, facing has a shorter length and steeper curve. For comparison, SMS is the shorter French facing and M is the longer American facing. These labels describe facing-curve length rather than the mouthpiece's tonal character.

Reading Berg Larsen designations
As a reference example, the original sizing guide describes a tenor mouthpiece marked 100/0 SMS as having a medium-close tip opening, brilliant chamber and short facing. That tenor example explains the naming system; this listing is for the alto saxophone 85/1 SMS BL402 mouthpiece.