[Hassles]

Has anyone played any combination of a Drake "Stubbie" / Phil-Tone "Mosiac" / Sakshama "Shorty" ? If so I would appreciate your comments and opinions "especially" those by anyone who has also played the original Dukoffs.

regards

 

[Tryptykon]

I own a Drake Stubbie 8, but haven't compared it to an original or any of the clone/"inspired-by" pieces .

Bought it used and it plays well and sounds great to me, but some claim these play best in a smaller tip .

Can't comment on that as I'm usually able to deal with a variety of tip sizes, so it's not really an issue
for me -- I just adjust the reed strength [and brand] to get what I need on a given 'piece .

 

[Budget Explosion]

Great Question. I've been thinking that I'd never seen this comparison here. Personally, I've only tried the Mosiac during a pass-around (6 years ago, I think.) The Mosiac had a thick, complex sound but I couldn't get the volume I needed. I love Sakshama's pieces generally, though I haven't played a Shorty. Never tried a Drake.

I hope someone pops up that has tried all three.

 

[buddy lee]

I've owned a Mosaic and a Shorty before, both in .105 tip opening. I ended up selling/trading both eventually. They were nice enough pieces, but I couldn't get the volume I needed out of either. I don't know if I'd compare the two, as I don't remember the Mosaic sounding much different from how I felt playing a Link.

I can't speak of the Drake or a real Dukoff piece as I've not played either.

 

[KeithL]

I know what you mean buddy. I have a Mosaic and I like the way it sounds but I can't get the volume out of it that I get from my JJ DV Chi. I really plays a lot like a Link for me as well which is fine because that's the sort of vein it was designed in but I really need a bit more power for the type of playing I'm doing these days. I haven't played one but I wouldn't surprise me if the Drake blows a bit louder and brighter. It seems to me that his pieces generally have just a bit more baffle or slightly smaller chambers than the pieces they're supposedly modeled after.

 

[mascio]

I own all three, and an original Dukoff. They are all really nice pieces, but really completely different . The Sakshama Shorty is closest to my Dukoff. The Mosaic is very nice and has a very unique vibe. The Drake Stubby (metal) is more modern, more aggressive sounding, and doesn't have much in common with the others. But it is a great player for what it does. It doesn't have much of a vintage vibe.

The Sakshama, Mosaic, or Dukoff could easily be my main piece. The Drake has a completely different vibe that doesn't suit me, but I give it very high marks for playability/response.

No mouthpiece in my drawer has kept me off my Otto Link STM NY 10 for more than a few months.

 

[mrpeebee]

No mouthpiece in my drawer has kept me off my Otto Link STM NY 10 for more than a few months.

The same here (except replace STM NY 10 by Florida no USA 10*).

I own a first model Mosaic 9 (special facing, they normally only came in 7*) and it's a nice piece for sure, but for me it lacks some colour and especially power compared to a good (vintage) Link. Haven't played a Shorty or Stubbie (yet!).

I once made a (wild!) compare clip with five mouthpieces, including my Mosaic 9:

And here is a single mouthpiece recording on it playing a soft ballad (no effects added to the recording):

 

[Tryptykon]

I own all three, and an original Dukoff. They are all really nice pieces, but really completely different . The Sakshama Shorty is closest to my Dukoff. The Mosaic is very nice and has a very unique vibe. The Drake Stubby (metal) is more modern, more aggressive sounding, and doesn't have much in common with the others. But it is a great player for what it does. It doesn't have much of a vintage vibe.

The Sakshama, Mosaic, or Dukoff could easily be my main piece. The Drake has a completely different vibe that doesn't suit me, but I give it very high marks for playability/response.

What size is your Drake, and when was it made ?

 

[mascio]

It is a 7*. I don't know for sure when it was made. My Mosaic is also a 7* and so is my Sakshama Stubby. My original Dukoff is a 5.

I don't concern my self with tip openings. I manage the resistance factor with reed strength, and just play. I have Otto Links from a 3 to 10* .

 

[whaler]

I have an original short shank Dukoff which are great but smaller tips play the best. A .105 is probably too open to really get what you want out of the design. 4* or 5* you get the edge so I would think the Drake .105 would have to be a completely different design to be bright.
I’ve recently bought two Drakes, a NY Jazz 7 and an Eddie Daniels 6*, both “vintage resin”. I’m not interested in the Mosaic. It looks like other mouthpieces I haven’t had much luck with.
Drake makes great designs but maybe too many choices. I don’t think they’re really Link copies but they both play really well.

 

[John Kotches]

I’ve played on a Mosaic for 3+ years now. I haven’t played on a Salabay’s shorty, the Drake stubbie or the original Dukoff.

I have no troubles getting sufficient volume in just about any context. The only time I haven’t is without a mic in a big band setting trying to solo over brass backgrounds.

I’d love to try Sakshama’s shorty as that’s at an affordable price.

Great piece and the only reason Is change is to move to a slightly smaller tip opening.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[sax.hobby]

Somewhat related, has anyone tried both Mosaic and Sakshama Z (which is based on Zimberoff/1949 Dukoff BD Hollywood) and can give their take on the differences?

 

[Sigmund451]

The z is brighter and has more buzz. Less husky

 

[sax.hobby]

The z is brighter and has more buzz. Less husky

Thanks for the reply, Phil. I'll email you for a trial.

 

[Hassles]

The same here (except replace STM NY 10 by Florida no USA 10*).

I own a first model Mosaic 9 (special facing, they normally only came in 7*) and it's a nice piece for sure, but for me it lacks some colour and especially power compared to a good (vintage) Link. Haven't played a Shorty or Stubbie (yet!).

I once made a (wild!) compare clip with five mouthpieces, including my Mosaic 9:

And here is a single mouthpiece recording on it playing a soft ballad (no effects added to the recording):

Mr PeeBee - thanks for the links. That first video was very interesting

 

[Hassles]

I own all three, and an original Dukoff. They are all really nice pieces, but really completely different . The Sakshama Shorty is closest to my Dukoff. The Mosaic is very nice and has a very unique vibe. The Drake Stubby (metal) is more modern, more aggressive sounding, and doesn't have much in common with the others. But it is a great player for what it does. It doesn't have much of a vintage vibe.

The Sakshama, Mosaic, or Dukoff could easily be my main piece. The Drake has a completely different vibe that doesn't suit me, but I give it very high marks for playability/response.

No mouthpiece in my drawer has kept me off my Otto Link STM NY 10 for more than a few months.

please allow me to express my gratitude for your contributions - greatly appreciated.

 

[Hassles]

Somewhat related, has anyone tried both Mosaic and Sakshama Z (which is based on Zimberoff/1949 Dukoff BD Hollywood) and can give their take on the differences?

yeah - that's another great question

 

[Hassles]

I've heard / read that many Dukoff pieces play better with smaller tip openings. Can anybody elaborate upon this? I know, for example, Matt Marantz considers the Double Rings to play their best at not above .110" so do Dukoffs similarly have a sweet spot as far as tip openings are concerned?

 

[mrpeebee]

I've heard / read that many Dukoff pieces play better with smaller tip openings. Can anybody elaborate upon this? I know, for example, Matt Marantz considers the Double Rings to play their best at not above .110" so do Dukoffs similarly have a sweet spot as far as tip openings are concerned?

I think that's all up to personal taste (I own and played pieces from tip 4 to 12* and prefer the bigger ones by far).

Normally smaller tip pieces are brighter and can have more texture in the sound compared to bigger tips. In the time those models came on the market real big tips where not made or only as an exception. I've seen some big tip Double Rings offered (in 9* and 10), but they didn't measure as big as current tip openings with that number (often not bigger than 0.115", which is a current Link 8*).

Bigger tips have there own thing going on, sounding often a bit darker,/hollower louder and more flexible, but still with good projection and sound qualities in the hands of a good player. Check out Sonny Rollins on his big tip Link in the 50's, or Boots Randolph on his 0.120 Dukoff (or many other great big tip Link players like Arnett Cobb [10], Billy Mitchell [10], Lockjaw Davis [10*], James Moody [10*], Frank Foster [10*], Bennie Wallace [10*], Scott Hamilton [>10*], Johnny Griffin [12], Ernie Watts [12] and Willis Jackson [12]).

 

[Hassles]

thanks mrpeebee - Iz' just ponderin' a Drake or Sakshama piece at .115" and wanna' know if the larger tips represent a compromise on tonal / playability characteristics. I zapped a memo to Sakshama and will be keen to see what he has to say.

I believe King Curtis played a .120" - I note some makers offer .135"