[Drake Mouthpieces]

A fine saxophonist named Keneth Hollman made the 4 hour drive from
Boston to our show room in NJ the other day to try out some mouthpieces.
Ken really liked our new NY Jazz alto model (soon to be on the website) and sent us this nice testimonial

Ken ask us to share it with the forum. Enjoy!

Hi Aaron:


The mouthpiece that made me put my vintage 6M Meyer NY up for sale


I recently purchased one of Aaron Drake's Hybrid Ceramic Vintage Resin alto mouthpieces. The Hybrid has the same tip opening as my 6M and ls very similar to the Meyer on the inside but has more rounded side rails and possibly a slightly larger chamber. The sound is bigger, more resonant along with much more projection than the Meyer and is much easier to play (easier articulationand better intonation) and it is no brighter than a Meyer. The sound of the Drake piece is very much like a Meyer but with the advantages listed above.


All the best,

Kenneth Hollman

 

[J-Moen]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Thats just awesome! I hope Phil checks you out sometime, as it'd be great to see him play one of your pieces!

 

[realljazzguy]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Oh man! To have Phil switch to a Drake mouthpiece would be awesome! I'm not one to fall in love with player's setups, but Phil has always been the "just let me play my damn saxophone" and seems very adamant about keeping the same setup unless he REALLY likes the product. Good luck!

 

[Guest]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Hi Aaron.

So what are the differences between your Drake NY Alto Hybrid and your Jazz Alto Hybrid and when do you anticipate the new piece will be up on your website? Thanks!

 

[gary]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Oh man! To have Phil switch to a Drake mouthpiece would be awesome! I'm not one to fall in love with player's setups, but Phil has always been the "just let me play my damn saxophone" and seems very adamant about keeping the same setup unless he REALLY likes the product. Good luck!

I'm reacting to that a little differently. It would be a cold day in hell before I would send a letter out of the blue to Phil Woods if I didn't know him, recommending that he switch mouthpieces and suggesting that it "will help (him) extend (his) career". I realise that it's well intended but, well - wow. Nevertheless . . . congratulations on making a mpc that has such a strongly positive response from a fine player, and continuing best wishes on your quest to better mouthpieces. ;-).

 

[MyMartinTenor]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Aaron, I still love the Drake double-ring I'm playing on alto, and have found no reason to deviate from it.

But that said .... I'm with Gary on this one.... um .... wow.

 

[J.Max]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

I have to agree with Gary too. That takes a serious brass pair to say something like that to Phil Woods. It's great that you got such a positive response to one of your mouthpieces, and I'm sure it's excellent, but I'm not sure I'd write to Picasso and tell him to change brushes.

 

[jlima]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

It's great that you got such a positive response to one of your mouthpieces, and I'm sure it's excellent, but I'm not sure I'd write to Picasso and tell him to change brushes.

Well said!

 

[Nefertiti]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

It is a nice testimonial but I'm not sure I understand combining a letter to Phil Woods with a testimonial?

 

[Flâneur]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Why is everyone so scared of Phil Woods? I get that he's a brilliant master of the instrument and one of my faves. But an artist of any discipline if they are not moronic and overly full of themselves will/should appreciate the incredible efforts of a master of a discipline that dovetails and supports the work they do. Aaron Drake like his brother Eric are masters of their trade. Offering a mouthpiece to a giant like Phil Woods is a no-brainer. Don't forget, Phil Woods had a reason to change from a MKVI to an 82Z. He my very well be interested in a mpc that helps him overcome the physical challenges of aging/disabilities, etc.

 

[Nefertiti]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Why is everyone so scared of Phil Woods? I get that he's a brilliant master of the instrument and one of my faves. But an artist of any discipline if they are not moronic and overly full of themselves will/should appreciate the incredible efforts of a master of a discipline that dovetails and supports the work they do. Aaron Drake like his brother Eric are masters of their trade. Offering a mouthpiece to a giant like Phil Woods is a no-brainer. Don't forget, Phil Woods had a reason to change from a MKVI to an 82Z. He my very well be interested in a mpc that helps him overcome the physical challenges of aging/disabilities, etc.

I agree, but why not write a testimonial and then a separate email to Phil Woods telling him about it in private. Why send him a letter and then ask it to be posted for everyone in the world to see?

 

[swingout]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

It kinda comes across as a badly conceived publicity stunt. A saxophonist I never heard about sends a letter to Phil Woods asking him to consider this mouthpiece to "extend his career"... Or else Joey and Anthony is gonna' make him a visit with a offer he can't refuse??.
Doesn't make any sense. The only thing it tells the reader is that this Kenneth guy really like the mpc, which is cool I guess.

 

[DanPerezSax]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Lol. Yeah, I wouldnt write that letter. But I get why he did it. Maybe he's on more personal terms with phil woods than it sounds like? Whatever. Aaron's work is fantastic. In case I haven't mentioned it, I've switched to a hybrid resin tenor piece and I'm using his lig with it, too. I owe him a review, so don't ask about it here if you're curious. I'll post something worthwhile in a few days!

 

[realljazzguy]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Ooh now I see what the problem is.

I'm sure Mr. Woods won't be offended. He seems like a more nice and humble player who would look at this with a "Thanks! I want to try this out!" attitude.
I do have to admit that in good intentions, some things were said poorly like extension of career and so on. But I'm sure Mr. Woods will know its all in good taste.
As for making it public on the world's largest saxophone forum....uhh well at least we know Aaron Drake mouthpieces will know what instrument he plays (cough* Rico*cough)

 

[gary]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Why is everyone so scared of Phil Woods?

I'm not. I think it's a matter of how carefully you chose your words and I don't think those were chosen carefully enough.

 

[whaler]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Why would Phil Woods care about some amateur hawking some POS mouthpiece when he could just go buy a new Meyer and sound exactly like himself anyway.
This forum really attracts some odd people.

 

[Rackety Sax]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

It kinda comes across as a badly conceived publicity stunt. A saxophonist I never heard about sends a letter to Phil Woods asking him to consider this mouthpiece to "extend his career"...

+1 - a foolish and outrageous marketing stunt. The worst of it - Phil Woods having his name dragged into association with a product he may never have even heard of and probably never tried, let alone came close to endorsing in any way.

Maybe Drake Mouthpieces should team up with Aizen Saxophones.

And on the merely weird side - what's with some of you above celebrating the notion that Woods might switch to a Drake? In the first place, he's probably been playing the same mouthpiece for 50 years, so why would he switch (and you can quadruple that unlikelihood if someone points out this thread to him - he'll be far more likely to call his lawyer than change mouthpieces). Second, if for some reason he did change, who cares? Third, what, you aren't satisfied with Phil's performance on his current setup?????

 

[saxmanjack]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

The letter is moronic; don't see any value whatsoever in posting it here.

Drake would accomplish much greater promotion of his products here by offering us a healthy discount.

 

[MojoBari]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

Up until now, I had been impressed with Drake's marketing and product offerings. This letter and post is bizarre.

 

[hartt97]

Re: Drake NY Alto testimonial letter to Phil Woods

The letter is moronic;

Agreed. At the very least put this under 'Product Announcements' or whatever that sub-forum is called.

This board is hard enough to wade through.