You might want to call Ken. I bought the Uptown Live and used it in a gig last night. It was a hair more open than I am used to so I used a size 3 Alexander reed and it played very well. Fat lower end, and pretty easy altisimo and in tune up and down. It has more power than my JJ ESP and a bit easier to blow and a tad warmer. I bought one of his new slim line models and I like it since I can use the same ligature as I use on other metal pieces.