Theo Wanne GAIA pass around

[Spooner]

Hello Everyone,

There's been a lot of talk about the newest tenor piece from Theo, the GAIA--but not too many opinions from people who have actually played one. So, in an effort to give people a chance to try it out for themselves, we thought we'd organize a pass around.

The rules will be similar to our previous pass arounds on SOTW:

1) Once the mouthpiece is recieved, please PM me to let me know who has it and where it is, and I will message you back letting you know who the next peron in line is, and their contact info.

2) You may keep the mouthpiece for up to 5 days.

3) After five days you commit to shipping the mouthpiece on to the next person on the list, using the provided packaging.

4) Add your thoughts to a GAIA review thread: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=116773

The GAIA will be a size 7* tip opening (.105").


If you are interested, please PM me with your information:

SOTW USER NAME
ACTUAL NAME
ADDRESS
EMAIL ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER


PLEASE NOTE!! since I'm now coordinating a number of separate pass arounds, please specify which mouthpiece you are wanting to try out in your PM to me-----------thanks!

[bongop57]

Put me first on the list!
Grumps.

Hey Grumps, I'm just joking with you, hope all is well.:)

[Datsaxguy]

Sign me up, I'm really interested in trying this thing.

[Grumps]

Hey Grumps...
There's a shop not too far away that I could go to try them if I wanted.
But thanks for thinking of me anyway.

[Swampcabbage]

Well, there's not a shop near me so sign me up.

[JB4sax]

Me, too!!!

PM sent

[newlifesax]

PM sent. Actually 3!

The last one has ALL of the requested info in it. I got so excited at the possibilities that my fingers begin to improv on the keyboard.

[Martinman]

Any idea how much the package will cost to ship?

[Grumps]

Can't imagine the shipping will amount to much, but the insurance on the other hand...

[alastair]

Hey everyone, I just got my Gaia 7* in the mail today. I must say I am very impressed. I have played on an early Babbitt Link 8 for 30 years to let you know where I am coming from. This piece is everything I have looked for in a piece with just a bit more punch and edge than my Link. Theo's attention to detail is phenomenal! Everything is absolutely perfect and symmetrical. All the machining on the inside is flawless. I tried an Amma 7* before and it was too "baffley" sounding for my taste. I tried a Parvati before this and it was kind of dead and stuffy. This Gaia is anything but dead and stuffy! It's going to take a while to get used to the feel of this piece and I am not quite sure which lig I will use. I have been using a FL for a few years, it seems to be a very resonant, responsive lig. I bought the converter kit so I can use Theo's pressure plates. I'm not sure I can tell any difference so far. We'll see about that.
Does anyone have any opinions or thoughts on Theo's Liberty Ligatures?
Here's a question for you all, on the FL pressure plate only the edges of the pressure plate come in contact with the reed and with Theo's plates, the whole plate touches the reed. Any thoughts or ideas on this issue?
Anyway, I am really anxious to play this on my gig this Saturday as experience has taught me that using it on the job is the final, acid test for any piece of equipment. I will say that in just a few hours of playing the Gaia, I am stoked!

[Tryptykon]

Hey everyone, I just got my Gaia 7* in the mail today. I must say I am very impressed. I have played on an early Babbitt Link 8 for 30 years to let you know where I am coming from. This piece is everything I have looked for in a piece with just a bit more punch and edge than my Link. Theo's attention to detail is phenomenal! Everything is absolutely perfect and symmetrical. All the machining on the inside is flawless. I tried an Amma 7* before and it was too "baffley" sounding for my taste. I tried a Parvati before this and it was kind of dead and stuffy. This Gaia is anything but dead and stuffy! It's going to take a while to get used to the feel of this piece and I am not quite sure which lig I will use.


Alistair - nice preliminary review . :)

Could you possibly identify from Theo's descriptions(quoted below) which
early Babbitt STM you have ?

FROM THEO'S WEBSITE Re: Otto Link History :





TRANSITIONAL EARLY BABBITT "SUPER TONE MASTER" (1974):
These mouthpieces were made, but not finished, in Florida. They were finished at the Elkhart plant in Indiana after the company moved in 1974. They had more material in the baffle and floor than any other Otto Link ever made, creating a unique sound. This is due to less finish work being done to them.

They had smaller bore diameters and were Rhodium (nickel) plated under the gold (like the Florida models). They had a larger font number stamped on the side of the body like the Early Babbitt models. All Florida Otto Links were hand faced, leaving length wise and often slanted lines on the table. These lines were from the sandpaper used to flatten the tables and put the facing on. These transitional mouthpieces were the first to use the new facing machine which sported a grinding wheel. This new facing machine left very distinctive, denim like grinding marks on the table of the mouthpiece.



EARLY BABBITT "SUPER TONE MASTER" (1975 to 1979):
These mouthpieces were the first produces at the Babbitt factory after Otto Link's move to Elkhart, Indiana. They tended to have very good projection, and were quite bright due to a high step-baffle. The window was narrower at the tip, adding a bit more focused sound than the earlier Florida models. They had a larger font number stamped on the side of the body, had a larger bore diameter, and were silver plated under the gold. The metal soprano pieces moved permanently to a very small chamber, providing a brighter sound. They were faced with the new grinding wheel, leaving very distinctive denim like patterns on the table of the mouthpiece.

[alastair]

Here is the reply from Theo when I had it refaced and had the bite plate changed.
"I believe it was an early Babbitt piece, if I remember correctly, some of the best players but not necessarily the most valuable. I would say it is worth around $300. I am glad you liked the work.

All my best, Theo"

Based on the info on his site, I would say it is one from '75 to '79. I bought it in '79.

[Tryptykon]

Here is the reply from Theo when I had it refaced and had the bite plate changed.
"I believe it was an early Babbitt piece, if I remember correctly, some of the best players but not necessarily the most valuable. I would say it is worth around $300. I am glad you liked the work.

All my best, Theo"

Based on the info on his site, I would say it is one from '75 to '79. I bought it in '79.

Thanks for the clarification . :)

[josephmd]

I really like the Liberty ligature that came with my Ambika with the silver pressure plate. Read Theo's thoughts about why he designed the pressure plate to fit uniformly on the reed. It is responsive and very easy to use. If you experiment with different ligatures I would be interested in your thoughts and experience.

[alastair]

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you all know I went to rehearsal tonight and I am still very happy with the Gaia 7*. I think that it does respond with less effort than my Link. The tone just seems a bit more refined and clean. The sound does indeed have more punch and more edge than my Link. Intonation seems a bit more locked in and accurate. When I really lean on this piece, it really does bark! The altissimo, wow, much less effort! The notes up there really pop out with minimal effort. I have yet to play a gig with it, but a full on rehearsal is pretty close. I am really impressed with everything about this piece, so far. For me it's well worth the money and I am a full time musician, not a doctor or lawyer.



Read Theo's thoughts about why he designed the pressure plate to fit uniformly on the reed.

josephmd, where can I find this?

[Tryptykon]

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you all know I went to rehearsal tonight and I am still very happy with the Gaia 7*. I think that it does respond with less effort than my Link. The tone just seems a bit more refined and clean. The sound does indeed have more punch and more edge than my Link. Intonation seems a bit more locked in and accurate. When I really lean on this piece, it really does bark! The altissimo, wow, much less effort! The notes up there really pop out with minimal effort. I have yet to play a gig with it, but a full on rehearsal is pretty close. I am really impressed with everything about this piece, so far. For me it's well worth the money and I am a full time musician, not a doctor or lawyer.



How do the interior of both mpcs. compare, from a visual standpoint -
you know, just a casual look ?

The GAIA definitely has the larger chamber than your EB Link, right ?

How do the baffle shapes compare ?


I'm guessing, among other factors the added punch of the GAIA is due
to the large chamber, but I'd like to hear more .

What kind(s) of music are you performing ?

[josephmd]

Somewhere on his website. To paraphrase, he does not favor a pressure plate that concentrates the forces on the reed and crushes the fibers. It makes sense not to dent the reed.

[NickBGood]

PM sent. Looking forward to trying the GAIA!

-NickBGood

[Spooner]

Update!

Due to the large number of folks wanting to try out the Gaia, we've decided to introduce a second Gaia into the pass around to cut everybody's wait time in half.

That being said, everybody stay tuned and I'll be in touch with you as the Gaia makes it's way to you.

[pneumasax]

Update!

Due to the large number of folks wanting to try out the Gaia, we've decided to introduce a second Gaia into the pass around to cut everybody's wait time in half.

That being said, everybody stay tuned and I'll be in touch with you as the Gaia makes it's way to you.

Hi Spooner,

Did you get my PM?

Pneumasax

[pneumasax]

Where are we with this? Haven't heard anything in awhile. :?:?

[Spooner]

Here's the Gaia review thread:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=116773

The pass around has been moving along fairly well. There are currently two pieces in circulation with about 13 people on each list.

One thing that I'd like to remind folks is that good communication helps move things along better--if you are participating in the pass around it helps keep me on my toes if you email or PM me upon receipt of the piece and when you ship it out (tracking numbers are also great if possible).