[jthole]

On my Martin Committee III tenor, I currently play an Otto Link Tone Edge 7 mouthpiece. It's about 15 year old, so current production (no vintage design).
The good thing is that the intonation is flawless on my Martin, in all registers (and virtually no trouble notes).
The not so good things are that the tone is too dark and hollow, especially in the high register (bad, since I currently play lead tenor in two bands), and that the altissimo register is very resistant (not such a concern).

What I am looking for is a brighter mouthpiece, but not too bright, which works as well intonation-wise on my Martin tenor as my current Tone Edge. My price ceiling is €250, preferably less.
I also have a preference for hard rubber, but I won't rule out other materials.

Mouthpieces that I already tried (owned myself, or on loan):

• Otto Link Tone Edge "New Vintage" 7 - works great on my other tenor, tone wise what I am looking for, but intonation wise not so good (too small chamber for me and my Martin?)
• Selmer Jazz (don't know the tip opening anymore) - didn't do much for me, not the sound I was looking for
• Wolfe Tayne metal with added baffle - surprisingly good intonation, much too bright, impossible to play altissimo
• Yanagisawa HR #5 - a bit boring, less even than my Tone Edge
• Rico Graftonite A7 - good intonation but thin sound, taking away the Martin character, no fun to play

Mouthpieces I certainly want to try are the ESM Jazz and the Vandoren V16 HR with the "L" chamber. But I am open to any other suggestions.

Thanks for your inputs!

 

[minicooper]

Have you tried adding a little bit of removable material to your current piece? Maybe adding a little epoxy behind the baffle of your current piece may help.

 

[RomBl]

"The Martin - Intonation - not too dark sound" are the 3 things that must stick together - like my experience with my Martin.
Quite good results I had with a

Rafael Navarro Maestro (my best fitting HR-MPC),
CR Otto Link Tone Edge Kay Siebold (OL with baffle) and a
SYOS Custom MPC.

You can try to install a baffle in your OL TE e.g. with FIMO (modelling mass) or a chewing gum - than you have the Kay Siebold-Effect .

 

[jthole]

Have you tried adding a little bit of removable material to your current piece? Maybe adding a little epoxy behind the baffle of your current piece may help.

Not yet actually. But certainly worth a try.

(But shouldn't I ideally compensate then in the mouthpiece throat for the lost volume, to avoid throwing the scale off?)

 

[smash]

Have you experimented with different reeds? You may like the medium chamber Morgan mouthpieces.

 

[jthole]

Have you experimented with different reeds?

I have indeed. They make a difference of course. I am actually waiting for one of the shops here to get the Legere American Cut reeds in the strength that I like, so that I can test those as well.

 

[MojoBari]

Not yet actually. But certainly worth a try.

(But shouldn't I ideally compensate then in the mouthpiece throat for the lost volume, to avoid throwing the scale off?)

The change will be minor. You pull out the mouthpiece a little to compensate. The intonation could even be better for you. Try adding a temporary baffle. You can always take it out.

 

[Saxydude]

Phil-Tone's "Sapphire" is great and could be right up your alley, tone-wise.

 

[jthole]

Phil-Tone's "Sapphire" is great and could be right up your alley, tone-wise.

Below €250? I doubt that (especially with customs fees).

The change will be minor. You pull out the mouthpiece a little to compensate. The intonation could even be better for you. Try adding a temporary baffle. You can always take it out.

Definitely going to try that indeed!

 

[Sigmund451]

No customs fees from Phil-Tone...I ship from France.

The Eclipse is also awesome on a Martin. It was designed on one. Ive a couple of other options where I can cut you a break...shoot me an email

 

[jthole]

No customs fees from Phil-Tone...I ship from France.

Thanks, I didn't realise that!

The Eclipse is also awesome on a Martin. It was designed on one. Ive a couple of other options where I can cut you a break...shoot me an email

I'll do some research on the Phil-Tone mouthpieces, and will email you ... thank you in advance!

 

[whaler]

Have you tried adding a little bit of removable material to your current piece? Maybe adding a little epoxy behind the baffle of your current piece may help.

Instead of that idea, which never really seems to work, look at some of the Drake models.
I have an Early Babbitt Link that's plenty bright but you might not find one in your price range.
I bought a Drake Eddie Daniel model 6* that plays really well. It's in the idea of an EB with the smaller chamber.

 

[jthole]

Have you tried adding a little bit of removable material to your current piece? Maybe adding a little epoxy behind the baffle of your current piece may help.

Instead of that idea, which never really seems to work, look at some of the Drake models.
I have an Early Babbitt Link that's plenty bright but you might not find one in your price range.
I bought a Drake Eddie Daniel model 6* that plays really well. It's in the idea of an EB with the smaller chamber.

Thanks all for the suggestions!

 

[BobD]

I don't think you will like the Vandoren HR V16. If you thought the Yani HR was boring you'll probably feel the same about the Vando.

I think spending a little more and going for a Phil-Tone might be the way to go.

 

[jthole]

I think spending a little more and going for a Phil-Tone might be the way to go.

I described to Phil what I was looking for, and the mailman just delivered a mouthpiece on my doorstep

(ultimately spending a bit more once, is better than having to buy twice! )

 

[turf3]

Well, the immediate go-to for a Martin would be a Brilhart Ebolin or Tonalin (acoustically identical).

I'd also try a Meyer (slightly smaller chamber than a Link so a little brighter sound).

I have trouble believing that the regular Link and the "New Vintage" Link are different enough to really affect intonation. I suspect you just need to put in some more familiarization with it on the Martin.

 

[jthole]

I have trouble believing that the regular Link and the "New Vintage" Link are different enough to really affect intonation. I suspect you just need to put in some more familiarization with it on the Martin.

That might be the case (I have used the "New Vintage" on another tenor for quite some time though, and it is really different from my copy of the regular Tone Edge), but my first impression of Phil's mouthpiece is very positive. I'll give it a bit more time before a real judgement of course (unfortunately all rehearsals are cancelled here because of the recent COVID restrictions).

 

[mrpeebee]

Well, the immediate go-to for a Martin would be a Brilhart Ebolin or Tonalin (acoustically identical).

I'd also try a Meyer (slightly smaller chamber than a Link so a little brighter sound).

I have trouble believing that the regular Link and the "New Vintage" Link are different enough to really affect intonation. I suspect you just need to put in some more familiarization with it on the Martin.

The chamber of a New Vintage is considerably smaller compared to a classic Tone Edge and the baffle is much higher. But like you I also think that the chamber of the NV is not that small, so it should work with a Martin too (after some getting used too).

 

[turf3]

OK, I have one of each but not in the same place, so I can't do a direct visual comparison.

Like I said, I'd consider the Brilhart Ebolin too for a Martin.

However, OP appears to have bought a high quality boutique piece, which will probably work very well.

 

[jthole]

Summary: I emailed Phil Engleman what I was looking for, and he sent me a mouthpiece to try. Unfortunately COVID halted most things, but I hope to test it at a bigband rehearsal later this week.

So far I used it at home, and it looks to be exactly what I was looking for. Very consistent between the registers, intonation very similar to my Tone Edge, and warm with a bit of an edge. Nothing of the tubby Tone Edge sound. I have tried it with several reeds; so far I settled for LaVoz (Medium).