[Mikael]

I played always on my tenor sax with a selmer ebonite F mouthpiece and now i have just bought a Otto Link STM 6*. I have great difficulties to play. The tune ist bad and the tones don't come as i want. The whole sounds like my sax is out of order, but if i chance back to my old selmer mouthpiece everything goes regular. What do i wrong???

 

[Jonathan C.]

It just takes some time to get used to the piece.
I have a STM 7, and am having the same trouble.

 

[Isle of Jazz]

You've got to try some different reed/mpc combinations and stick with it for a while: assuming the mouthpiece is not faulty, you probably need to make some subtle changes in embouchure and "muscle in" to the new Link.

 

[Dave Dolson]

Mikael: I don't know your skill level, but regardless, just because you bought a mouthpiece with a good reputation doesn't mean YOU can (or should) play it. I wouldn't waste more time with it . . . I'd find something else. There is no one-size-fits-all in mouthpieces. DAVE

 

[whaler]

You might want to try other stuff, but when you finally learn how to play it, you probably made the best choice. The MarkVI, Otto Link combination is hard to beat, but with other horns you might not be as happy with the Link.

 

[RootyTootoot]

Give it some time - say a couple of weeks. You say you "just" bought it. The tip openings are comparable so on the face of it it's hard to see why you should notice a huge difference. You don't say how experienced you are. If you haven't been playing that long and haven't played many different m/ps, just the different feel of the STM in your mouth might be throwing you off, IMHO.

 

[Canadiain]

Do you have a compatable reed on it? If you cant get a tone with just the mouthpiece alone, then I'd guess you need to experiment with reeds.

A reed that works well on your Selmer "F" might not work well on the STM 6*, although the tip size is not drastically different. Are the rails and tip on the new link in good condition? is the table flat? Current Otto Links have a reputation (deserved or not) for having variable quality control issues.

But as Dave said above, one size does not fit all, so dont waste a lot of time adapting to it if you dont like the results.

 

[Luke Michelson]

I have an Otto Links STM 8* (and if anyone wants it for a decent price pm me).

It took a while to get the feel for it. It responds very well down low and is extremely "breathy." Up top, it takes a lot of lip muscle to keep her in tune... too much so for me. I'm no pro, I play every night, a casual public peformance here. It's not worth it to me.

I loved my Runyon Quantum 7 (though I would pesonally go with a larger facing) and today, UPS brought me my Jody Jazz DV. It is so awesome... Upper register, lower, altissimo, growling flutter tongue... it is the bomb.

 

[Enviroguy]

It takes a while to get your Link chops. Try working on the notes that you can make sound good now. And then work your way through the scale mastering one note at a time. Soon, it will all click for you. It's well worth the effort.

 

[Sigmund451]

It could be the mouthpiece, it could be you. If your used to the Selmer the Link is going to be a BIG change. Different in every way. This includes embrouchure issues. Skill level makes a difference but so does experience changing back and forth from very different pieces. Off the shelf Links can be horrible or decent. Ive played a number and have found that they all (yes, I said all) can be improved by custom work. It should, however, play acceptably unless you got a real dog. Try a reed with a softer tip reed...or just a softer reed in general. Links...even when proper require significant air support.