"The Nearness Of You" compilation played on five vintage Otto Link mouthpieces

This "The Nearness Of You" recording was done done to compare the sound of five different vintage metal Otto Link tenor sax mouthpieces: a Master Link 6, Tone Master 5*, NY Double Ring 4*, Florida no USA 10* and Early Babbitt 8* (produced between 1930 and 1974). All takes are played on a Selmer SBA tenorsax of 1952. The three small tip mouthpieces are played on a La Voz medium hard reed, the two bigger tip mouthpieces on a La Voz medium reed.

Mouthpieces used:
00:12 - Head on ML 6, TM 5*, NY DR 4* and Fl no USA 10*
01:55 - Solo Early Babbitt 8* (1974)
03:40 - Solo Florida no USA 10* (1950-1960)
05:21 - Solo New York Double Ring 4* (~ 1950)
07:03 - Solo Tone Master 5* (1940-1950)
08:46 - Solo Master Link 6 (1930-1935)
10:30 - Closing theme on ML 6, NY DR 4*, Fl no USA 10* and EB 8*

Category:

Music

Tags:

• selmer SBA
• selmer super balanced action
• otto link
• soundclip
• The Nearness Of You
• Florida no USA 10*
• Early Babbitt 8*
• NY Double Ring 4*
• Tone Master 5*
• Master Link 6
• Peter Berndsen
• mouthpiece
• comparison
• tenorsax
• tenor

[mrpeebee1]

@luksaxtenor - Thanks!

[mrpeebee1]

@sugasugaki - Thanks for your comment! I agree about the slurring. One reason is that I'm only an intermediate player that doesn't play a lot. Another reason is that I normally  play a 10* mouthpiece, which is heavy to control. The smaller tip mouthpieces are played with a harder reed than I normally use and I don't play-test a lot before hidding the record button. It would be better to adjust my embrouchure more to the other playing conditions, but I just don't have the time for that.

[sugasugaki]

Love the comparisons. With the natural spread to your sound I like the Early Babbitt the most. The other thing is in the triplet runs I think more articulation (esp an attack on the first of the triplets) would give it more impact--sounds like you're slurring all of them.

[luksaxtenor]

Great stuff!