Trying an old piece once and a while

Sure, going back to an old girlfriend has it's moments. But, then, suddenly, you realize why she's your ex.

The main difference between those pieces is the tip opening. There's a good chance your embouchre has gotten stronger, allowing you to get a better sound on the larger tip opening than you were getting before. Maybe playing the Jody Jazz for a while helped your chops.

Or maybe there's a fundamental difference in the baffle and chamber that leads you to prefer the Otto Link. Maybe you only switched to the Jody Jazz because it sounded new and different and, therefore, interesting. Could be the same reason you are liking the Otto Link.

I think this is why people say to never sell a piece that you really like, even if you aren't using it. Hold onto it because later you may want to go back to it and the passion will be rekindled.

Some would say ex-girlfriends should be handled the same way.

After many unfortunate 'give-aways', I now realize that you NEVER get rid of a mouthpiece you once played for any length of time over a few weeks. It's great to 'go back' and find beauty where you once saw none. This happens because you change. Your mental image of what sounds good changes along with your physical attributes. Of course, there are those mouthpieces that you grow away from to the point of actually not being able to play on it anymore (in a gig or recording sense), but even those should be kept for personal historic reasons.

martysax said:

Sure, going back to an old girlfriend has it's moments. But, then, suddenly, you realize why she's your ex.

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After a number of years, my son moved in with his high school girlfriend and it seems to be developing into a longterm thing....don't discount that the Link may be 'the one' and you were fortunate enough to not burn the bridge. I have an STM that Theo fixed up years ago that I am now once again playing...just dug it out 3-4 months ago. As can be seen from my purchasing history (I've probably bought a mouthpiece from just about everybody, and sold them back to others) and the fact that I've been mostly playing a Florida for the last year or so...sigh...

I think it depends on what the circumstances are. I bought a link STM 8* as my first piece for Tenor ever. It was recommended to me by the person selling it to me. I bought a Link TE 7 after because I felt the 8* was too big for me. I never got good tone out of the tone edge. Then when I finally started actually pumping air into the STM I finally reached a tone which wasn't so bad. I don't mind my tone at the moment but last night I went back to my TE and it was very different to play - now that I put support into my playing. I guess i haven't found a piece better than the STM that is made in a factory. I might have to try getting this one refaced or something.

sorry about the multiple posts things went crazy on my computer

shmuelyosef said:

After a number of years, my son moved in with his high school girlfriend and it seems to be developing into a longterm thing....

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So, is he still with her?:?

I'm dying here.

stu the sax player said:

Early today when I was practicing( super 20 with jody jazz HR* 7) I decided to give my metal Otto Link 8* another chance( keep in mind I always liked my tone tone on the otto link) and it played better then ever before and took my Jody Jazz to school. Is it just coincidence or is my embouchure possible changing without me noticing.

Should I play my otto link more often or stick with my Jody Jazz?

Has this happened to anyone else?

stefane

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A similar thing happens to me with my MBII and RPC115B, my own thoughts on why are equate similarly to this.....
If you regularly lift 150lbs,
Each time you return to 100lbs its much easier!

I used to play the MBII laser cut exclusively and built up the chops for it. When I'm in that zone and switch to the RPC its incredible.
The result is that I now use the RPC and every now and then go back to the MBII to keep my chops fit. If I just use the RPC I lose some ability to exploit it.
But then again, I suppose if you can play everyday on the one piece, this may become a non existant issue?

Well, I know when I've gone back to trying out more closed tipped pieces after sentencing them to the drawer, it usually turned out to be the last time I did so before selling them...

I didn't even remember this thread and just so everyone knows. Both the pieces previously described were traded to junkdude for my Morgan alto piece asnd I currently have a JJ DV NY and a Francois Louis SP chamber as my main piece

martysax said:

Sure, going back to an old girlfriend has it's moments. But, then, suddenly, you realize why she's your ex.

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But mouthpieces don't get jealous.

themacintrasher said:

But mouthpieces don't get jealous.

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How do you know?