large chamber HR tenor piece

[kauhape]

Hi,

I know that there has been quite a lot discussions around these pieces lately..however, I would like to get some more information.

My horn is Ref 54. My main tenor piece is Morgan 7M which is nice, very responsive, and sound is OK, too. However, I would like to experiment with slightly darker pieces. I want a piece for mainstream jazz and Trane, Dex and Ammons are my idols. I think that I am seeking sound somehow between Dex and Ammons.

Now, my question: my best candidates for a new piece are: Morgan L, Lamberson L, Lamberson J, Doc Tenney HR Link and Jody Jazz ESP (metal piece, I know!). Is there anyone in this forum who have tried all or most of above mentioned pieces. How do they compare to each other and Morgan M?

Thank you

pete

[JS]

While I haven't played the Morgans or the ESP, I have played on both the Lamberson J and the Doc Tenney HR Links. The Lamberson J7 was my main mpc for quite awhile, but then I've been checking out this Doc Tenney Link for the past 5 months or so. Doc's Link is smoother, a tad warmer, and a bit clearer. The Lamberson, though has a vibe like no other. It seems to project more, it's pretty dark (for me, anyway), but it has this presence that's hard to describe. I've used both mouthpieces on gigs lately, and the Lamberson just has this presence that I can't get out of any other mouthpiece. The other thing to keep in mind is that the Lamberson's run almost a full tip opening larger than other mouthpieces - both the Lamberson and the Doc Link are "7's", but the Lamberson is actually .110 - more like a Link 8.

[kauhape]

Thank you for your reply. One more thing. I have found my Morgan M to be a very easy playing piece from bottom to altissimo (after daily overtone exercises, of course). I have learned that ESP is also very easy to control, how about Lambersons? Are they freeblowing? Is it difficult to get low or altissimo notes?

Thanks,

pete

[Roger Aldridge]

Another possibility is to try a Morgan EL (Excalibur large chamber). For me, it combines the best features of the Morgan M and L pieces. That is, it has the darker big sound of a large chamber and the easy blowing and good response of a medium chamber. I've become a big EL fan! A Morgan L (large chamber) will probably have a somewhat darker sound. But, it sounds like having an easy blowing mouthpiece is important to you.

[singlereed]

I use a copy of a 1950's Link by Anton Weinberg (www.dawkes.co.uk) that has a lovely warm, rich sound that might be what you are after. It works well on my Mark VI and was also fine on a Ref 54 when I used to have one of those. For a totally handmade piece, it is good value at about £150 (UK pounds, incl tax, so probably less if you are abroad) and is very reminiscent of the quality of a Freddie Gregory NY Meyer-alike I have for alto, and that is a real 'premium' handmade job. I bought my Weinberg Link from the shop in person, Anton gave me loads of pieces to try including his, which was the one I kept coming back to. He's a very unassuming chap who was able to give me very good advice and help in choosing.

[CodyW]

I play on a morgan 7L for this kind of jazz, and its great. It works really well on my reference 54. It will be nice and dark, and full with a little bit of edge.

[mark_m]

Who is a good supplier for Morgan pieces?

[Roger Aldridge]

Mark,

Dave Hoskins at www.junkdude.com is a good Morgan supplier.

[kauhape]

How about Freddie Gregory? Has someone tried his hard rubber pieces?
I am also interested in his Mark II pieces. How do they compare to lambersons and Morgans?

pete

[evidence]

I've played Morgan 8L, Lamberson 6J, and aTenney 7 Link. All of these have a tip opening of, more or less, .100 (I wish everyone would use the same scheme to identify tip openings!).

The Morgan, which I used first and played for aout 6 months, plays very well, but I found that 1) the sound seems funny to me (hard to explain this, but there's something funny about the sound) and 2) the mthpc occasionally 'chokes' when I really push it.

The Tenney played very nicely. Even through the range. An open, dark, almost soft sound. For me there wasn't enough cut to the sound; not brightness, but more like a projection quality.

The Lamberson is what I'm playing now. It plays extremely well and evenly throughout the range. The sound is very robust and flexible. Dark, but I can 'push' edge out of it as needed. I really like this piece and recommend it.