Has anyone compared these two tenor mouthpieces?: Phil-Tone The Intrepid vs Drake Reso tenor. I'm looking for a new mouthpiece and considering one of these. What is your experience on these? How do they compare in tone, responsiveness, versatility, loudness, edge and darkness of sound?
Phil-Tone The Intrepid vs Drake Reso tenor
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This thread should be useful: https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?335881-Aaron-Drake-Reso-vs-Phil-Tone-intrepid
Edit: Posted too quickly - I was thinking of a different thread I saw recently comparing the Retro-Revival Reso copy with the Intrepid....the one I posted above doesn't have much in the way of comparison of the pieces
Edit: Posted too quickly - I was thinking of a different thread I saw recently comparing the Retro-Revival Reso copy with the Intrepid....the one I posted above doesn't have much in the way of comparison of the pieces
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I've seen a lot of Drake's Reso pieces. They have a bore diameter that is too large for most any saxophone neck cork, a terribly convex table, and a facing length that belongs on a medium to small chamber mouthpiece. The pieces I have seen are not hand finished in any way though such is stamped on the mouthpiece. Then they are made from a "junky" material that makes me ponder whether they are simply injection molded mouthpieces--I can't prove this part. All in all, I'm terribly disappointed in Drake's Reso pieces.
Phil's pieces all have a traditional bore dimension, a flat table, and an appropriate facing length.
You make the call on the rest.
All that being said the two models of Drakes that I've tried play better than most other stuff I've played.
Keilwerth saxes (S/A/T), Selmer clarinets (S/B), Altus Azumi flute
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That's a shame. I only have (and have only played) one of Aaron Drake's pieces. It's a New Era soprano piece and it's outstanding. The table is flat, the bore is a standard size, the hand finishing is impeccable, and, most importantly, it plays really well.
Are the Reso pieces sold at a lower price point or something?
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I don't know. I was initially shocked when I came across the first of the Reso pieces. But I have made mistakes, so I just chalked it up to such. Then another . . . and finally two recent pieces from a customer that both needed full refacings. They played quite terribly prior to the refacing. But after the refacing, the pieces played really nice according to the customer and IMO. A hard rubber version of Drake's Reso piece with the corrections I noted would be a killer mouthpiece.
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Why limit yourself to just those two?
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What would you add to the comparison?
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I have a number of Drake pieces including a reso and NY Jazz for Tenor and a Rollover Baritone, and they are all excellent.
The facings measure very evenly and the tables are all very flat.
I’m surprised to hear that wasn’t the case for others.
The facings measure very evenly and the tables are all very flat.
I’m surprised to hear that wasn’t the case for others.
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The intrepid is probably a little brighter with upper partials but It can be ordered with less baffle. Also I am in Europe. If it plays a little brighter mail it back and I will adjust to your liking. The Intrepid is a hard rubber piece. And I , of course, offer trials.
Free adjustments are only on pieces bought direct.
Free adjustments are only on pieces bought direct.
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Neffmusic has a lot of reviews of both maker. I haven't specifically looked for the Drake reso on the site. I doubt the critic here of the Drake. It seems pretty obvious to me that Drake is a quality manufacture. The OP should have some idea of what he/she is looking for. The pieces seem like two totally different sound concepts. I like the idea of buying used pieces. Then you don't get stung by the depreciation on a piece you don't know if you will even like.
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Thanks for clarifying your comment. Yes, both Drake and Phil-Tone have several models. The OP apparently does have an idea of specific interest and has narrowed the choice to two mouthpieces that are similar in intent. They are unique in the world of mouthpieces in that very few claim to have any relationship to the Otto Link Resotone.
Also unique is the fact that both Drake and Phil-Tone have a trial/return policy. And Phil will make adjustments to the piece if you buy it from him. How old school is that?
OP - I have not played the Drake Reso, but I have played the Phil-Tone Intrepid since they came out. I talked with Phil about the horn I was playing (actually he already knew, and confirmed it), and the sound that I wanted. Phil made just what the doctor ordered, and I have since sold most of the mouthpieces in the ol' mouthpiece drawer - including my Lambersons. The only mouthpiece that I have purchased was another Intrepid for my other Borgani.
P.S. Regarding the comments shared by Ben Allen. I have also known him for a long time, and am among the many that respect his word and his work.
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Same here. I've owned a lot of Drake pieces and still do. They have all been excellent. I never played the Drake Reso though.
I get a lot of pieces for refacing including (very) expensive mouthpieces from reputable boutique makers but i never got a customer sending me a Drake on my work bench.
I have owned several PhilTone pieces in the past, including the Intrepid but they were not for me (except for the Mosaic which I love). There was nothing wrong with them in particular, they just did not suit me in general. (This is not a critic of Phil's work, i love his Mosaic and I still play a nice Runyon alto piece he refaced for me many years ago).
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I recently sent a Drake Reso for a reface, but just for some experimentation. The piece played very nice, just a bit harder to blow which i would say comes from the kind of piece it is(big chamber with 7* tip opening). I really liked how i sounded on it. So as i wait for the refaced one to be back i bought another one here in the forum. Plays very nice too, and i am doing long tones and cheking different reeds. Takes tons of air.
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I guess I should further clarify: I don't doubt that that the member experienced a bad piece. I just haven't seen evidence that it is a systemic problem. The evidence seems to be to the contrary. However another very talented maker AM made pieces with the bore too large for years before he corrected that. So I guess its possible. I think that really hurt AM sales but I think he is a very talented machinist.
Thanks guys, for your insights and an interesting discussion. I guess I need to do a tour to the two saxophone shops here in the Netherlands to try. Both pieces are not available in one shop. Comparing side by side is therefor unfortunately not possible.
The shops are two hours driving apart. So I hope the best piece will be in the second shop on the tour..
The shops are two hours driving apart. So I hope the best piece will be in the second shop on the tour..
"Phil's pieces all have a traditional bore dimension, a flat table, and an appropriate facing length."
Phil's pieces are also beautifully finished , and play tested before dispatch -Great Mouthpieces ......I love my Intrepid!
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I think you'll find that Drake pieces are too.
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