Mouthpieces New Otto Link 7 (but is it right?)

[alan_]

Hello all,
I am just about to move from Alto to Tenor. I have managed to get my hands on a Yamaha Tenor, which I got at a snip.

The first thing I am doing is throwing away the yamaha mpc that came with it - according to the advice of most people on the web.

In Copenhagen I went into a great music store, the chap recommended a metal Otto Link and produced a number 7. Now on alto I have been playing a Selmer E (with 2.5 vandoren). Is the Tenor OL 7 appropriate for me on the Tenor (say with Vandoren 2.5 tenor reeds).

An tenor Otto Link 7 is 0.1'', according to the site http://www.bobrk.com/saxfaq/2.8.html
that is the equivilent to a tenor Selmer G/H, this seems very wide.

Why not try it, I hear you ask. Well I don't have the sax with me (I am travelling from Laos in Asia), It wouldn't help too much because I have to get used to the tenor anyway, also I have to get this mouthpiece this week in Denmark, because I will have no access to music stores in Laos. And if I get advice to the contrary here, I will have to quickly send it back and ask them to change it before I head back to Laos.

The long and short is - If I have been playing a Selmer E (with 2.5 Vandoren) on Alto, is the Otto Link 7 (with 2.5 Vandoren) a good choice for me.

Any help would be much appreciated guys.

Thanks
Alan

 

[Pete Thomas]

No no no no! Don't throw the yamaha mouthpiece away. Well if you do throw it over here.

Otto Links suit some people but not others, I have never got on with them on tenor (I do sometimes use a very vintage one on baritone and bass).

It's impossible to say whether the Otto is good for you or not.

Re: tip opening, wider tips often work better on tenor than alto, so if you were to get a Link, that is a good opening.

If you just rely on advice rather than trying mouthpieces out you are going to be swampled with opposing opinions.

 

[fecklesseric]

I did this recently (went from alto to tenor). I went from a 6* otto link hard rubber to an otto link metal 7 (the one your shop was offering you). Mine was "thrown in" with the horn so there seemed no need to make a decision especially since the jump in size wasn't as much as for you. Like you, I'm using 2.5 reeds on alto, and assumed that I should continue with that on the tenor.

I found that tenor requires more air than alto, and this, combined with the reed / mpc combination meant that I found the low notes difficult to get out, and I struggled to get a decent tone / note length without gasping for breath.

This is beginning to sort itself out (after 3 months) and now, I like the metal piece. But in retrospect, I should have (a) gone down a reed weight or so, and (b) got a narrower opening mouthpiece. I would have got used to the tenor quicker that way (I think).

So, I'd recommend keeping the mpc taht came with the horn (like Pete says - Yamaha mpcs are good), get some lighter reeds, and see how you feel in 6 months. Take the sax to the shop and try the link metal, and a few others, and see how you get on.

 

[Rogerb]

double post, sorry 🙁

 

[Rogerb]

"swampled".... that's a good word, Pete.... or sounds as if it should be one 🙂

Others seem to agree:
http://www.reference.com/search?db=web&q=swampled

(I can't offer any better advice, Alan, so good luck with the tenor!)

 

[jonf]

I've got a couple of metal Links for my tenor, and I also started out on tenor using a Lawton 7. I'd say the tip opening is about right, but you might want to think about dropping down half a strength, at least at first.

Oh, I've also got a couple of Yamaha mouthpieces, which I've no intention whatsoever of throwing away - they're perfectly good mouthpieces.

 

[alan_]

That's great advice guys, thanks.

OK I promise I won't throw away the Yamaha piece. I am yet to try it, it might sound great!

I think it sounds from you all that the OL 7 is a reasonable choice if I were going to use a metal piece and I will try droping a reed strength to start with. I have bought some 2s, 2.5s, and 3s. So I can play around with the OL and the Yamaha and see which gets me up and running well, and then strat to move toward what creates the best sound for me.

The chap in the shop said that usually a tenor functions well with a larger opening and a softer reed, and an alto a smaller opening and a harder reed. Is this a good rule of thumb and does it match your experiences?

Thanks again, I will keep both the OL7 and the Yam mpcs.

Cheers
Alan

 

[jonf]

Alan wrote:
That's great advice guys, thanks.

OK I promise I won't throw away the Yamaha piece. I am yet to try it, it might sound great!

I think it sounds from you all that the OL 7 is a reasonable choice if I were going to use a metal piece and I will try droping a reed strength to start with. I have bought some 2s, 2.5s, and 3s. So I can play around with the OL and the Yamaha and see which gets me up and running well, and then strat to move toward what creates the best sound for me.

The chap in the shop said that usually a tenor functions well with a larger opening and a softer reed, and an alto a smaller opening and a harder reed. Is this a good rule of thumb and does it match your experiences?

Thanks again, I will keep both the OL7 and the Yam mpcs.

Cheers
Alan

Dunno whether it's a good rule of thumb, but it's what I do. I mostly play a Yanagisawa metal 6 on Alto, Otto 10 on tenor.

 

[alan_]

Oh P.S.

Can anyone suggest a good ligature to use with the Otto Link Metal? Is the one it comes with sufficient or does anyone have some good experiences using a different lig?

Alan

 

[philthd]

on my alto link 8 i use a bg revolution jazz which i think is a good combination

but most people are happy with the standard lig - i just found the big screw a little awkward under my fingers

and im a bg obsessive

 

[Linky Lee]

standard lig is fiddly, yet is fine ( I still use it).
I like and have a rovner too

 

[Bobby G]

I use Rovner ligs on everything, mainly because they are relatively cheap, easy to use and just do the job.

My advice about the Yamaha mpc would be this; they are good pieces, and I'd hang on to it and get more used to playing the tenor before going for a replacement. Having said that, the opening on that Link sounds about right, but again will it suit your intended sound or style? The only way to find out is to try before you buy.

BTW, are you switching to tenor exclusively, or staying with the alto as well?

Cheers, Bob

 

[alan_]

Rovner, yes.
I recently was recommended a Rovner lig by those nice people at saxophones.co.uk, when i bought a new selmer mpc for my alto and I love it. So, yes i think I will get one for my tenor OL mpc.

I have already bought the OL metal 7 mpc, but i think your advice sounds good Bobby G. I will spend a few months getting used to playing Tenor with the Yamaha mpc and then move to the OL when i am comfortable.

In answer to your question Bobby G, no. I love the alto. But for the purpose of our band we are getting a new alto player. I will move to tenor and with our trumpet/trombone player we should have a nice sounding 3 piece horn section. I think I will move to tenor as my main instrument and try and really learn to feel its voice, but certainly keep the alto and play it from time to time. The alto is also a little more convenient for travelling and being able to practice when one is away on trips.

Thanks again folks,
Cheers,
Alan