Otto Link Super Tone Master Metal Alto Sax mouthpiece

[yoquierochalupa]

I recently bought a metal otto link mouthpiece for my JK EX-90, black laqerd saxophone. Was this a good decision. Another question i have is what does facing size mean?

Thanks,
yoquierochalupa

[colibri]

The alto Links aren't too popular. The Keilwerth is a pretty dark horn, especially with black lacquer. The Link itself has a large chamber and low baffle. This overall set up will be very dark. I hope that's the sound you like. You can brighten up the sound if you know how to concentrate your air into the saxophone.

[52nd Street]

Hi guys,

I'm a little late in responding to these messages so no one will probably read them.

Yoquierochalupa, your are playing the exact setup i'm using. Black laquerd Keilwerth EX90 en Link Super Tone Master (7*)

My experience is that this is a lousy combination. No projection whatsoever and a completely lifeless sound.

I'm currently using a metal Guy Hawkins (nr 6) on my EX90 and that sounds a lot better. Still, the horn could probably sound even better than it does right now. The Hawkins is a little bright and lightweight in sound.

[cmelodysax]

Same problem with Keilwerth tenors, the metal Link that came with my Toneking Exclusiv didn't produce any memorable sounds at all, but a metal 0 Berg or Lawton really woke the horn up !

Definately needs a 'projecting' mpc to bring out the best, same as the older 'dark' Martins & Bueschers.

Regards, Alan.

[Ritchie]

Try a brighter reed, e.g. Rico select Jazz filed, Vandoren V16 or Alexander Superial or a synthetic in combination with the Link (try a size softer), learn how to focus your airstream and avoid fabric ligs like the Rovner to brighten up the sound. Nothing wrong with Links on JK :)

[52nd Street]

At the moment i tend to agree with Alan, but i'm intrested in the 'focusing' of the airstream. Could you please explain in some more detail, Ritchie?

By the way Ritchie, I assume you are playing a link on a JK and you do get excellent results?

I've already tried de rjs and v16's not much difference as far as I could tell. I'll try one of those syntethics somewhere in the near future.

Thanks for your input so far guys.

[Ritchie]

52nd Street, right guess, I'm playing a metal Link on my JK tenor. I switched to the Link after using a Dukoff D screamer for a while but was not satisfied with its sound anymore. The Dukoff D chamber is a loud and bright mouthpiece, but it lacks some complexity and interesting timbres in the sound which are easy to get with the Link. In a direct comparison the Dukoff is brighter than the Link of course, due to its high baffle and smaller chamber.

About focusing the air stream, long tone practice and overtone matching exercises help a lot. Also explore the possibilities you have when you arch your tongue up a bit, like when saying "e", this will produce a faster airstream, and a faster airstream results in a brighter sound. This is actually the principle by which a higher baffle brightens the sound (narrower gap -> faster airstream -> brighter sound). And try to play with a loose embouchure. If your embouchure is to tight the reed cannot vibrate as good as with a looser embouchure. Less lip over the bottom teeth also helps. Say "V" and try to keep your lips like this when you play.

If you are looking for a very bright and loud sound to compete unamplified with electric guitars, a smaller chamber and a higher baffle make things easier, but a Link is capable of much more than "no projection and completely lifeless".

[Subtone Sam]

metal goldplated lawtons work great on JKs.

[colibri]

a Link is capable of much more than "no projection and completely lifeless".

I'm sure they'll work on tenor, but this is not the case with alto. I had a mint Florida 8* with a nice roller over baffle and good facing that sounds like blowing a pop bottle. I ended up selling it. The poor guy who bought it must have cursed at me for a while.

One of the prominent alto players in Canada who is a Yamaha clinician plays on a metal Link, and personally there's nothing that I don't like about his playing except for his sound.

[Carl H.]

Hey, don't sell the STM link short on alto. I play a 10 on a couf and absolutely love the sound. It is a nice full bodied sound which can be as bright as I need it to be.
The original poster never mentioned the facing he had ordered. I had a very nice 7* which did not play at all on the couf, it was stuffy and lacking in color - a bad choice for this sax. But moving to the bigger facing was an amazing revelation. It was a perfect match to what I was looking for- fullbodied with flexibility. It is a STM Florida 10 with the stock lig and it is the only mouthpice I have used on alto in the last 2 years.

Before you dismiss the links try a "good" big one, you might be suprised.

[Morry]

I have a STM that I liked on my Yamaha tenor, but hate it on my JK. The big, round chamber just doesn't provide any focus, IMO. However, other players may find that this combo works for them.

[colibri]

Hey, don't sell the STM link short on alto...Before you dismiss the links try a "good" big one, you might be suprised.

Yes perhaps I should. Come to think of it, the only metal Link that I tried on alto was my Florida 8*. On the other hand, quality control ain't the same since Babbitt took over...

I'll be damned if a current Link plays better.

[Russ]

Hi guys,

Yoquierochalupa, your are playing the exact setup i'm using. Black laquerd Keilwerth EX90 en Link Super Tone Master (7*)

My experience is that this is a lousy combination. No projection whatsoever and a completely lifeless sound.


I too have this setup, however, I use a BG Revelation instead of the stock ligature and the difference is incredible. The sound has opened up and is nice and bright when needed.

The stock ligature left the sound extremely stuffy and almost muffled.

[52nd Street]

BG Revelation? Sounds interesting, Russ. I've always felt the stock lig. to be a bit flimsy.

The 'stuffy & muffled' part sounds very familiair