Aquilasax mouthpieces - and others...

Just to explain about the Aquilasax mouthpieces, I have both as shown below in the first three pictures (as well as an Aquilasax metal alto mouthpiece, not shown).   The ebonite 'Classic' is based on the original mouthpieces, but with a much wider tip opening than the old stuffy ones (about #5) and thankfully without the obligatory bad taste of sulphur.........

The metal C 'Metalpro' has the same chamber as the ebonite, fo good intonation and the classic sound, but with facings of 5,6 and 7, can be even more open.  The two Aquilasax mouthpieces are shown in the three pictures below.

Both are faced for tenor reeds, I'm using one in these pictures, but because of the physical size difference between C and Bb tenor mouthpieces, there can be a little bit of reed overhang, especially on the Metalpro.  Steve Aquilasax) also supplies his own brand C-Mel reeds, which are a tiny bit shorter, and fit both these and the older C-Mel mouthpieces.  Shown below with a Rico tenor reed, and (on the right in the right-hand picture) an old 20's C-Mel mouthpiece.for comparison

I'm happy to play both Aquilasax mouthpieces, excellent intonation and free-blowing, but, because I like more of a gutsy 'tenor sound' for my Martin C-mel, these days I tend to mostly use a  slim high-baffle Couf J9*S tenor mpc, shown with all the others below - in both pics it's the far right mouthpiece.. 

The left-hand picture (below) shows, for size comparison, from left to right, the original 20's C, the two Aquilasax C mpcs, and the long shank Bb tenor Couf (which does go quite far onto the neck cork !).

The right-hand picture shows a selection of high-baffle Bb  tenor mouthpieces I've tried on my C-Mel - the high baffle certainly overcomes the natural 'gentle' C-Mel sound - my favourite Couf, and the one with best intonation, is again on the far right.  They are, L-R,  Rousseau Jazz, Rico Metallite, fat bodied Couf, and thin Couf....  I think, possibly because of the smaller chamber, the 'thin Couf' by far has the best intonation.  It sometimes feels more like an alto mouthpiece, although obviously a tenor, maybe I've found the ideal compromise ?