Why is Otto Link harder to use

[jkconzone]

Have had a Kessler Custom Tenor for a month or so. Came with the standard mouthpiece that he sells it with. Have that team with a JAVA 2 1/2 reed and have no problems. Have a Meyer 6 for tenor also, and have no problems. Kessler mouth piece I would say sounds medium bright, the Meyer less color to the sound, more subdued.

I wanted to try one of those metal pro mouthpieces so I got an Otto Link 5 and am using a 3 JAVA. Much harder to blow, lots ot squeaks. Softer reed only worse.

I see the Otto is much narrower. Why is this mouthpiece harder to use? I do LOVE the sound though, when I get it going. Nice and bright! Yeah, thats what I'm looking for in a sound, but just is a lot of work to get there. Relative newcomer back at it for a few months now but practice 2 hours a day.

Thanks

[cleger]

Could be that there are problems with the facing?

I also have heard many people say that using a Link requires some adjustment. I personally just went to an HR Link and it was incredibly stuffy at first but now is very free blowing with a nice sound after a few weeks of adjustment. The problems you describe though aren't so much in terms of stuffiness (I don't think so anyway) but squeaks etc., so maybe there is something else at play?

[gary]

jkc - you might want to read this thread: http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=34102

It was a recent discussion about the Link sound I think you will find helpful.

[jkconzone]

Thanks, guys!