Doc Tenney Links from saxquest

[bennettcarl]

Sorry if this has been asked before. I recently saw the Doc Tenney modified Links on the saxquest site, and I was wondering if anyone has tried them. Thanks for your time.

[rollen]

Ben,

In the SOTW archive (which you can get to from the main page)
Under Mouthpices a thread titled "New HR Link vs. Old HR Link " has some discussion on them.

[retread]

Got one. It's great. Rich, dark sound, easy player.

[JamesL]

I wonder how much the HR ones are? Sax Quests' web site says Doc hand selects the metal (non-NY) STMs at Babbit then touches up and play test - $300.00!

[bennettcarl]

The price seemed a little steep to me as well, considering you can get a new Link for around $114.00. I find it hard to believe that what he does to it adds that much value.

[JS]

I have one of Doc's HR Links (I bought it through Sax Quest) - IMHO, it's MORE than worth the $225 I paid for it. Honestly, I was shocked when I played it - very warm, dark mpc - the intonation was dead on too! It might seem like a lot of bread for a "new" Link, but you know what, it was worth it to me. Doc really knows what he's doing - this mpc solved all of my "GAS"...

[Bob M]

I have one of Doc's Custom Select Links as well and concur with JS's comments. It is a terrific piece!

IMHO Doc is a master at getting the most out of a mouthpiece in a manner that is consistant with the intent of its original design. In otherwords, he does not try to turn a Link into a Berg, a Meyer or a Guardala, but rather to get the most out of it as a Link. Don't get me wrong, many of the custom Links out there are fine mouthpieces, but not truly Links anymore. I've never played a vintage STM, but I am hard pressed to believe that it plays any better than my Tenney Custom Select (never mind twice as well!).

Bennettcarl - regarding your comments on price, don't forget that the Tenney Link comes with a Selmer 404 lig and cap, which retail for $40-$45.00, rather than the standard Link lig and cap and Doc has inspected and revised the peice so that it has a flat table, balanced rails, tip and baffle and that the dimensions are "on spec".

[retread]

Here's why I paid a healthy premium for a Tenney Link:
1. Links have a reputation for inconsistency.
2. I have a drawer full of mouthpieces that are nice, but not exceptional. Each of them was reasonably priced, some of them bargains. But I'm not using them.
3. Doc has a reputation for excellent work.
4. Although I paid maybe three times the price I would have paid for a standard factory Link, I now have a mouthpiece I love. It sounds good, it plays exquisitely, and I use it.

The way I look at it, all my past mouthpiece bargains have cost me a hell of a lot of wasted money.

[MojoBari]

That a good way to look at it. Would you rather have 3 that you do not use or one that you do use?

[ZenBen]

Sorry to bring up an old thread. I've been trying to find a piece that is dark, but still projects for a long time now. These blueprinted hr links sound pretty interesting. I have a few questions if any of you have answers. Do you guys who liked them when you posted still like them, or has the newness worn off? How would you compare them to a slant sig? Is what you are paying for worth it - or should i just keep going to my local store and try out a bunch until i find one that plays?

[retread]

Still love mine, although I sometimes use a Hite 128 when I want a more focused sound. Haven't played a slant sig. The Tenney HR Link is well worth the price. It plays!

[JS]

Well, to answer you question, yes it was worth it to me. I just wrote a pretty lengthy response, but then I was disconnected (figures, right!). Doc's HR Link from SaxQuest solved all of my problems. Since I purchased it, I have had the chance to play it in a wide variety of situations - duos (with bass, drums or piano), in jazz clubs, pits, big bands, and when I'm teaching - it was great in every setting!
There really wasn't a feeling of "newness" for me when I tried out the mpc - I was VERY patient with it during the 5 day trial period. I recorded myself on it every day, and I kept comparing it to my Lamberson J7 (I always sounded dark on the Lamberson, but until I played Doc's Link, I never realized just how bright the J7 could be!) I had a lot of sessions that week, so I just played the mpc every chance that I could, without telling anyone that I was playing something "different". When a pianist that I've been playing with for a LONG time (since undergrad and we even went through grad school together!) heard me play it, he said "That's the warmest I've ever heard you play! - What have you been doing?!" - then I told him about Doc's Link - he said "Buy it!" :lol:
After years of searching for a dark (but not "dead" or "stuffy") yet resonant, projecting mpc, I finally found what works best for me - Doc's "modern" HR Link with a stock Selmer lig and Superial Classique #4 reeds - my Francois Louis ligs, and othr mouthieces are on the shelf, and not in my case (vintage Soloist, Lamberson J7, Vibrator Sound Wave, and custom HR Berg)! :D

[ZenBen]

Thanks for the answers, guys. This is starting to sound like the one. JS, my search kind of resembles yours, so i'm quite optimistic about these hr tenney links. I've tried Morgan M, Morgan L, vintage Soloist, vintage Berg, RPC... None of these are dark enough, though they are all nice pieces. Now to come up with the cash.

[yana_reed]

I got a HR Link from Saxquest this week. It is a very good mouthpiece, perfect intonation. But i have a problem with the high notes, they don´t play. I use RJS 3S, unfiled reeds and a selmer ligature. Perhaps these reeds are too soft or i just have to practice with this mouthpiece. With a hard rubber Berg 110/2 SMS and the same reeds the high notes were no problem, but the sound and the intonation in the normal range with the new Link is much better. Can anybody help me with this problem? Should i use harder reeds and another ligature ? Thanks!!!

[Paul S]

i have not tried a Tenney HR link, but do have an Early Babbit HR Link that Theo Wanne refaced (didn't change anything, just perfected). I've played a lot of pieces :oops: - but when the chips are down and i have a important gig or session, i reach for this every time - comfortable, easy to play, projects well, fat, rich sound. I was playing it last night with a FL lig and had to ask myself - "what the hell is wrong with you? this piece is awesome - why keep trying others?" Curiosity i guess ;)

ZenBen - I'm a bit concerned that you might not get what you want from the Tenney Link if you're expecting it to be darker than a Morgan L. Only a HR Vibrator Soundwave (10 tip or so) has ever played darker than a Morgan L for me. My HR link is a tad brighter, but more importantly has that special resonance to it that enable it to project well. I went through a stage where all i could think of was darker, darker, darker.... until i recorded myself and realised i sounded a bit muffled. WHat I now realise is that its the full, fat sound that I want, with shades from dark to bright depending how I approach the piece.

yana_reed...a suggestion - the link feels like it has a longer facing than a SMS Berg to me. It is possible that you aren't taking in enough mouthpiece - this is key to getting the best out of the upper register of a HR link IMHO. (all registers actually). Maybe give that a try.....and also roll your lip a bit to let more of the reed vibrate - i have to do this to go above F3 on my link. good luck

[yana_reed]

Thanks Paul S!!
What tip opening is your hard rubber Link and what reeds do you use ?

[Paul S]

the orginal tip was a 7, think its about a 7* now (.105) - pretty closed compared to most others i use, but the low baffle makes it feel a bit more open.

reeds.....this piece will play anything. i curretnly use Vandoren zz 3's, but also like RJS 3M filed

best of luck - let me know if u succedd with taking in more mouthpiece. If not, I'd talk to saxquest about sending that piece back to Doc for him to look at. Maybe have another player check it out if you're unsure if its the piece or you.

good luck 8)

[Paul S]

oh yes...those reeds and ligature should be absolutely fine for altissimo - the Doc link is a 7 right?

Which notes are you struggling with? if this is reall altissimo, u may just need to do your overtones exercises and get used to the piece. If you're struggling with D3, E3, F3 - then try a little more piece - if this doesn't work and you're strong on these with the berg, I'd send the piece back.

How long have u been playing, if you don't mind me asking?

[BobD]

yana_reed,

I recently got a Bob Ackerman .102 metal Link copy. I was plating a stock Link .105 before that. I had the same problem with the high notes. They choked off rather easily. I went to a harder reed and that helped some. Then I tried taking in more mouthpiece and relaxing my jaw and it cleared it right up. I think this Ackerman piece and probably your Tenney have longer lays than the current production Links. I still have a HR 7* current production Link and it plays the high end differently. I need to firm up the emboucher to get up there with the HR Link. On the other hand, the low end on the Ackerman piece is pretty effortless. Which is another reason why I think the lay is longer. I have a feeling you just need to get used to it.

[retread]

Doc's Links are outstanding mouthpieces. I have one for tenor and one for soprano. But keep your eyes open for a Tenney Steve Broadus. I've never played a mouthpiece quite like it. They're dark but lively, if that makes sense. A sound not quite like anything else, and an almost automatic subtone. Many thanks to Les Arbuckle for turning me on to the Broadus. It appears Les has quite a jones for these pieces, and I can understand why.

[connman]

If you want dark, get a Link Reso-Chamber. Theo has one for only $450.

[yana_reed]

Thanks everybody for your help !!!
I practiced now for several hours and get more and more used to this piece. I can play now my first high notes (i talk about the notes over F#3).
But i have still my problems with G#3, A3 and Bb3. But i think the only way to solve thes problems is practicing.
In the normal range i love this piece because of his sound and perfect intonation.

[yana_reed]

Thanks again Paul S !!
I had to took much more mouthpiece than with any other before, but now the high notes come easy. The more i play the Link, the more i love it.

[Paul S]

yana_reed - you're most welcome - glad it helped! :D

G3 and above do take work - overtone exercises a la Rascher Top Tones is a good way to get better at this.

The HR links do take quite a flexible bottom lip to get the most out of the low and high register IMO (guess this is due to the longer lay?) - the trick is to find the sweet spot that lets you adjust instantly with minimal effort and movement.

best regards
Paul

[MB-913]

I saw some players in this forum who are using regular STM Metal Link, HR Link, new Tenney 7* Select Metal Link, Tenney HR Link or Bob Ackerman metal Link copy. Some of them player has a similar problem - Difficult to get the high notes/Altissimo notes.

I consider all are large baffle, big chamber mouthpiece, they all sound dark. Honestly, if less experience and skill may have problem to play high note especially who are using Hemke such dark sound reed. One solution is to use harder reed but that will requires a lot of air as well. Another solution is to use bright sound reed like Java, SJ or Superial.

I never try these MP, and I would like to know how's the sound combining these MP with bright reed? Will it totally change the natural sound? I appreciate if anybody who can share their experience

[MitchP]

High notes and altissimo is mainly a function of the player not the piece. I find my HR Link extremely easy to play altissimo on.
Check out Liebmans's book "Developing a Personal Saxophone Sound", a must for getting it together.

[retread]

MB113, I use Rico Select Jazz and a Francois Louis lig with my Tenney HR Link. I believe both the reed and the lig are considered to be on the brighter side, but the sound is still dark. I think the mouthpiece has much more influence on the sound than the reed does. Having said that, this particular combination suits me very well for both sound and feel.

[ws]

Got my Doc Tenney Select metal Link today. Have to say i'm happy with it so far. I'm able to get a fairly dark tone yet it still projects well. Also, I'm able to get more colors in my tone (if that makes any sense). I'm using Java #3 reeds. I've tried many different mouthpieces over the years but I seem to always come back to playing a Link. And the Doc Tenney Link seems to have that certain quality I'm looking for.

[Agent27]

I got mine on Thursday. This piece rocks. At first I was unsure. It didn't sound all that great. But after adjusting to it and trying some regular Superials (instead of DC's) and taking more mouthpiece it really started to get a nice sound. I swear I sound exactly like Joshua Redman on this piece.

[chrisr]

Do the HR Links come with a cap and ligature like the metal ones do? If so, is it a Selmer lig?

Thanks!

[retread]

Mine didn't.

[Balladeer]

My Tenney HR Link for soprano did not come with cap/lig either.

[tophatsax]

retread,

I just bought one of Les Arbuckles Broadus pieces and love it. I'm curious what ligature you use on yours. The only one I have that fits is a 20 year old Rovner 2R. Do you know what ligs and sizes I should be checking out?

Thanks

tophatsax

[Paul S]

Hi all

my 2 cents..... i just got a Tenney HR Link 7 for soprano.

So far, I'm impressed, amazing response (so good it showed up latent flaws in my attack) and intonation. Much brighter than i expected - brighter than the std yani HR 5 that came with the horn or a bari HR 70.

The quality of workmanship is most evident when doing overtone exercises - just pop out like never before.

All round a very good piece