best tenor sax mouthpiece for altissimo LAKSHMI Tenor Mouthpiece

best tenor sax mouthpiece for altissimo LAKSHMI Tenor MouthpieceThe LAKSHMI is the evolution of the traditional vintage tenor sound! A BIG Vintage Large Chamber Sound but with incredible Focus and Core. Not too bright, or too dark. The perfect balance. It is the evolution of the traditional Vintage Otto Link Florida Dukoff Hollywood style of sound. I have been on a journey for several years to find a tenor mouthpiece that would cover the full spectrum of the music and styles I love and play. The Lakshmi has

 The LAKSHMI is the evolution of the traditional vintage tenor sound!

A BIG Vintage Large Chamber Sound but with incredible Focus and Core. Not too bright, or too dark. The perfect balance. It is the evolution of the traditional Vintage Otto Link Florida Dukoff Hollywood style of sound.

“I have been on a journey for several years to find a tenor mouthpiece that would cover the “full spectrum” of the music and styles I love and play. The Lakshmi has finally achieved that goal.  It’s a really amazing mouthpiece! I used to use a vintage mouthpiece that came from Dexter’s widow. The LAKSHMI is far superior! Theo is the only one qualified to carry on the legacy of the great vintage mouthpiece manufacturers.” – Glenn Zottola (Chick Corea, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, Louis Armstrong)

"The LAKSHMI is my number 1 favorite mouthpiece! It is a liberating mouthpiece to play! It is like an old soul but with modern sensibilities. The intonation is laser beam accurate, the response is incredibly fast and the range of sound is nothing short of astounding. It has that indescribable magic and mojo… whatever you want to call it.  Soul. Thanks, Theo!!!" – Ian Hendrickson Smith (Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan, U2, Amy Winehouse, and Ed Sheeran)

The LAKSHMI Tenor lends itself well to a traditional Jazz taste but is at home in any style of playing, as it has very good projection.  It comes in two materials, 24k Reticulated gold and premium vintage-style Hard Rubber

Take a close look at our baffles, rails, and chambers, you will see they are manufactured with a quality and accuracy higher than any other mouthpiece ever made, vintage or new!

SOUND

• Built to outplay Theo’s very best Vintage Florida Otto Links and Dukoff Hollywoods. Theo succeeded!
• Inspired by the genius of Dexter Gordon.
• Full, rich, and fat traditional sound with a big projection and plenty of edge.

DESIGN

• Includes our newly designed Elongated-Roll-Over-Baffle™ and our new Large-Stadium-Chamber™
• Rounded inner side walls all the way to the tip.
• Crafted to the highest accuracy in the history of saxophone mouthpieces.
• Designed by Theo Wanne, the foremost expert on the design and manufacturing of vintage and new mouthpieces.

DESIGN & INNOVATION 

The LAKSHMI Tenor uses a unique and proprietary Elongated-Roll-Over-Baffle™, as well as Theo’s new Large-Stadium Chamber™.    The Large-Stadium Chamber™ is a technologically advanced version of a traditional large chamber, combining True-Large Chamber sections with Medium Chamber sections for a focus and core that is incredible while maintaining the full, rich sound of a Vintage-True-Large-Chamber.  The ‘Stadium Chamber’ name comes from its shape, which approximates the shape of a sports stadium.

VIDEO & AUDIO

REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS

“I have been on a journey for years to find a tenor mouthpiece that would cover the “full spectrum” of the music and style’s I love and play. The Lakshmi has finally achieved that goal.  It’s a really amazing mouthpiece !!!   I used to use a vintage Otto Link that came from Dexter’s widow. The LAKSHMI is far superior !!!    Theo is the only one qualified to carry on the legacy of the great vintage mouthpiece manufacturers like Meyer, Brilhart and Otto Link. The other guys aren’t even close; comparatively they don’t know anything. Many thanks to Theo Wanne for his Artistry and dedication and Bryan Vance for his service above and beyond in that quest. I would also like to share, that the sound of the LAKSHMI mouthpiece brings me back to what I heard growing up in my parents jazz club in the 1960s (my jazz college education). I was 13 years old and played every week with jazz legends. Louis Armstrong was my first mentor, my dad was friends with him. This picture has Bobby Timmons on piano and that is Booker Ervin to my right.” –Glenn Zottola (Chick Corea, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé)

“The LAKSHMI is Theo’s best instantiation in a long line of masterpieces. It is a fantastic, versatile and full bodied mouthpiece. I’m not usually a dark mouthpiece guy but I really like this! You can be Ben Webster or Michael Brecker. It does it all! Definitely fuller sounding than a Link. Altissimo notes are much easier and it is much easier blowing too. Great job on this one Theo! I love it 😻.” – Michael J. Parlett (Talented Productions, Solar Radio Host)

“The LAKSHMI felt so immediately comfortable on both my horns.  I felt free to go for anything.  It was probably the most clear I’ve ever felt playing in the upper register too.” – Chelsea Baratz (Rising star in the NY Jazz Scene.  Played with Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Talib Kweli, Om’mas Keith, Murs, Locksmith, Ski Beatz, etc)

“This is a very cool mouthpiece!  It’s similar to my vintage link, but has more projection. More focused, but still lots of character. I really dig this mouthpiece!” – Steve Kaldestad (Coordinator of Jazz Studies – Capilano University)

“LOVE IT!!!! It’s EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for… you nailed it.  I never thought I’d find anything better than my vintage metal Florida link but Theo has done it again and created a masterpiece that surpasses all my expectations. It’s a really special piece, man. Lots of magic in there! This is my number 1 favorite mouthpiece. I’ve been looking for a long time, and now I’m done looking! It is a liberating mouthpiece to play! It is like an old soul but with modern sensibilities. The intonation is laser beam accurate, the response is incredibly fast and the range of sound is nothing short of astounding. It has that indescribable magic and mojo… whatever you want to call it. Soul. Thanks, Theo!!! – Ian Hendrickson Smith (The Roots-Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan, U2, Amy Winehouse, and Ed Sheeran)

“The Lakshmi is f#$%^ awesome! 😎” – Keith McKelley (Earth Wind & Fire, Usher, David Mason)

“Guys, just got a Lakshmi, and I’m simply mind blown. Oh boy, this piece can really play… Was initially surprised to see how many people said it’s the best metal tenor mouthpiece they have ever owned but 110% same for me. Lakshmi is just incredibly flexible: insane number of ways the sound can go from very soft to R&B, beautiful potential of tonal colours to it !! I thought it was a very pretty blowing yet not without resistance with my reed (6* – ZZ 2.5-3.0). All notes from the lowest to highest come out super clean without difficulty. Honestly everything I could expect from a mouthpiece as an intermediate player, makes me wanna play non-stop. And it just looks so damn beautiful 🙂 GOOD JOB THEO & TEAM !! This is my 2nd Wanne piece, I first got the Water for my Alto which is also my favorite alto piece. And I must say it’s also the best value piece I have ever owned. Keep making these amazing things !!! Thanks again!” – Can Turkmenoglu

“Wow Theo! I just got into that 7* Lakshmi. I feel like I’m in the center of a sphere with that piece with unlimited choices of direction, not only tonally but dyamically as well. It matches up to my Chu really well. Its very easy to play at low volumes and equally easy to kick it up a several notches. You know I get the chance to try lots of pieces and while many do the job just fine this has more the feel of an extension of myself. This is the kind of piece that once I know it a little better I won’t even know its there and I mean that as the highest praise. Thank you!” – Jim Warshauer (jwsax.com)

“I’m really digging my Lakshmi 7* tenor piece. I’ll admit It has taken a bit of getting used to — it requires more air than my previous mouthpiece, and some areas of the horn need a little finessing to get an even tone. But it’s worth the small effort to make these adjustments. It’s can go loud or soft with ease, has a big bright sound, but rounded at the edges, which hits a sweet spot for me. Add in the beautiful design and craftsmanship, and I feel like it’s money well spent, even with the hefty price tag.” – David Barrett

“The Lakshmi pieces we bought are absolutely wonderful! We’ve been through several of the well know brands and also some of the boutique mouthpiece makers and we were always lacking something. The Laksmi does everything we want and it can take all the air you can blow and it doesn’t diminish in response. Another very cool thing is that if it get stolen or damaged, you can get another one that is reliably the same! Try that with custom made mouthpieces! Thank you, Theo!” – Mark and Jessica Music

“I really love your new Lakshmi tenor mouthpiece! It plays super-even throughout the range of the horn. It has the perfect resistance, ease of execution and tone that I have been looking for! Thank You!!” – Frank Southecorvo

“I LOVE my Theo Wanne Narayan Tenor saxophone with the Theo Wanne Gold Gaia 4 #7 and the Theo Wanne Gold Lakshmi #7! The story leading up to this review… I had originally purchased the Narayan tenor simply because it is blue, and I am the saxophonist of the Denver Broncos where blue is a team color. I trusted the brand’s reputation and figured the risk was low enough. I was very impressed with how powerful and agile the Narayan played with my Dave Guardala Studio mouthpiece with a lowered baffle. Now having firsthand experience with the quality of a Theo Wanne product, I quickly purchased the Gaia 4, Lakshmi, and the Ambika 3. I was blown away by the Gaia 4 and Lakshmi mouthpieces coupled with the Narayan. To my surprise, I don’t plan to play my Guardala anymore or my other tenor sax. Both the Gaia and the Lakshmi are the most impressive sounding mouthpieces that I have ever played. I use the Gaia with the Broncos where my role is to solo (with mic) over the full brass band, drums, keytar, drumkit, and guitar playing instrumental versions of modern hits. I also use the Gaia with my 9-piece cover band (HomeSlice) where I also require that power with a modern sound that lends itself to funk and rock. I use the Lakshmi if I’m needing a little more of a pure tone. The Lakshmi is still incredibly powerful and full in sound, but it just offers a slightly cleaner tone. Both are impressive from low Bb all the way up into altissimo. I never intended to keep TWO of the Theo Wanne mouthpieces, but they are both far superior to anything that I have ever played. I feel like I’m driving a Lamborghini when I play this full Theo Wanne setup. I highly recommend the sax and mouthpieces. I thought I was already playing on “the best”, but now I believe that Theo Wanne is truly the best.” – Johnny Five (Denver Broncos, HomeSlice)

“I bought a 7* Lakshmi metal tenor mouthpiece a couple of months ago. It is definately the most even playing mouthpiece (low Bb – altissimo D) that I’ve ever played. The tone is gorgeous and it is easy to play! This is a jazz piece through and through. The tone is slightly spread but it still has enough of the fundamental to sound round. It is not the loudest mouthpiece but does project well. I’ve never had a hard time making my melody sing over the band. I look forward to the alto and bari versions!” – Frank Southecorvo

“Like most Sax players I have owned a number of mouthpieces. Now at last my many years of searching for the ‘right one’ would seem to be over. The Theo Wanne Tenor Saxophone Lakshmi 7* gold mouthpiece has exceeded my expectations. Most importantly it is the easiest piece I have ever played, with breath control being so efficient in gaining any level of projection I require. It always surprises me with the complexity of sounds I can produce from deep mellow to rounded high pitch. I am excited to pick up my Sax to practice, as I know I will continue to discover and experience something new in my soundscape everyday. Congratulations Theo Wanne – a winner!” – David Hawkins

“From the first time I played my new Lakshmi mouthpiece the tone was amazing, and it’s been a part of my tenor ever since! I love the smooth easy playing feel.. For me, it’s the perfect mouthpiece!” – Mark Steele

“I just want to say that I have the metal Lakshmi on my old tenor sax (Conn 1934) and with the select jazz reeds the sound is perfect, and as you said in some interview, the spirituality comes easier. Yes¡¡¡¡¡ it`s just amazing, super, I feel in Buddha’s heaven (I practice Buddhism)!!!  The mouthpiece I bought from SZ music Shop Sofia, in Mexico City. Again thanks to you and your team.” – Much love, Remi

WHAT'S INCLUDED

DETAILS

• Case: Beautiful Leatherette Case! 
• Serial Number: Includes serial number showing care given to your mouthpiece.
• Material: Reticulated 24K Gold plating or Premium vintage style Hard Rubber
• Ligature: The metal LAKSHMI includes our integrated two-point contact 24K Gold Plated Liberty Ligature and Alive Gold pressure plate. The Hard Rubber LAKSHMI includes the Enlightened Ligature
• Cap: Patented Reed Replacer Cap. The most secure cap in the world.
• Bite Pad: User Replaceable Bite Pads allow you to peel and stick on new bite pads.