JodyJazz ESP-X Tenor Gold

[Jody Espina]

The Brand New JodyJazz ESP-X Tenor Gold is here!
It comes in .100, .110 and .120 tip openings.

The ESP-X is the brightest mpc that I have. It is still not as bright as some of the very high baffle mouthpieces, but I believe it has plenty of brightness and the fullness and ease of playing that everyone loves about the ESP.

Andy Snitzer, ( currently w/ Paul Simon, formerly w/ The Rolling Stones) just got a hold of my new ESP-X for tenor. Andy really liked the way the ESP Tenor piece played but he felt he needed just a little more edge for the type of playing he does. Andy flipped out, when he played the ESP-X, so much so that he became an endorser.

Here's what he had to say in his endorsement letter:

"For my entire career, I've been searching for a mouthpiece design that
combines modern approach to sound/brightness with excellent control and playability.
I never found what I was looking for, until now. The JodyJazz ESP-X, which
I'm using on Tenor, goes to tape so much easier than my V16 and is even more
playable. More and more, as I become used to the ESP-X, it also delivers the
character and individuality that I know as my sound."
Andy Snitzer

Here's what Laura Dreyer had to say:
"The new ESP-X is the mouthpiece I have been searching for. It is bright, focused, and powerful without sacrificing warmth. Your mouthpieces rock -- thanks Jody!"
Laura Dreyer - Formerly w/ Diva* - Hear her 2003 release "Mysterious Encounter".

Thanks to all at SOTW for your continued support.
Jody Espina

[gary]

Hey Jody - I thought that was what the spoiler was to accomplish with the ESP. What gives?

[Nefertiti]

Hi Jody,
So how is this piece made brighter. I have the ESP .120 and think it's great. is it just that the spoiler is designed differently or ir the whol piece designed differently?

[Jody Espina]

This mouthpiece came about when my friend Joe Mennonna, who is a great player, asked me to make him the brightest mouthpiece that I could out of the ESP. I told him that we'd give it a try and see what we came up with. He flipped and several guys that tried his mpc also flipped and ordered one on the spot. Joe was gracious enough to let me take his mouthpiece back to the factory when we made this run of ESP-X's so I would have his as the model to go by.

There is only one difference from the ESP and that is that the X has a higher baffle with a sharper break. If you feel with your thumb you can really feel it. The chamber is still the huge chamber and the same thin rails.

The spoiler is for making the mpc brighter and louder Gary, but that wasn't bright enough for some players.

I hate when manufacturers keep coming out with new stuff so that you think you need to go out and buy something new.

The only reason that I'm coming out with this is that it seems to make a lot of players very happy.

[gary]

Thanks for the quick response, Jody.

What would be the possibility of posting a play comparison on your web site?

(And by that I mean the same person playing the same horn with somewhat the same music.)

[Jody Espina]

I may need some help figuring out how to put things in the right format. Andy Snitzer was here this week picking out an Alto ESP and we made a little duet video with my digital camera. It's burning, but I have to get it down from from 8.7 megs. I intend to get some samples up there when I get around to it. One thing that I hate about mp3's is that they come out of little computer speakers often, and you lose so much fidelity.

[MB-913]

Jody,

Have you ever consider to make a silver type tenor mouthpiece? If yes, I suggest this:

1) It's more width than your ESP (To be honest, it's too narrow for many players, especially the Metal Link user)

2) Not a bright MPC, sounds like a good vintage Florida Link.

[super20dan]

jody-please consider making an esp x model for alto!.there are thouse of us that play r&b and rock that need the brightest possible sound . i have not bought a jody jazz yet because they dont meet my requirements for power and edge. there is a market for this type of mpc. the alto is even more popular in todays contemporary music than the tenor.please make us a mpc!

[Jody Espina]

Two great suggestions, thanks gentlemen.
MB-913 - For special orders I do make the ESP's in Silver, however I use Rhodium which I like better than Silver. It gives a better more lustrous finish than silver and it sounds great. I have several customers out there with ESP- RH's. One of these days I will offer them as standard, but I have to go little by little in expanding my product line. As far as the other suggestion about a wider mpc and more Link like - you read my mind. Down the road sometime I intend to do just that.

super20Dan- Alto ESP-X, also a good suggestion and one that intend to follow through with.

Here's my time line
September, the ESP Soprano prototype is finished and it's killing. I'm making the first run the first week of September.
That same week we'll start working on the ESP Bari prototypes.

Next, some months down the road start work on an ESP-X for alto.

Currently I'm also experimenting with a C melody mouthpiece and I'm looking for a couple of people to test it for me. Preferably in the tri-state area around New York.

Then down the road a ways I will be developing something like MB-913 talks about and also working with Hard Rubber.

[goodsax]

Jody,

Please keep me posted on your C-melody mpc progress, either here or via my email address provided below. I'm on your email list, but the address may have changed. There's a C-melody forum separate from SOTW where quite a few participants would be very interested in this development. Are you working on a hard rubber or metal C-mel model?

Thanks,
Rob

[MB-913]

JODY

Can youy give me a roughly idea:

1) How much of a Custom Silver ESP compare with a regular ESP? 10% or 20% more expensive? I got to save my $ from now on.

2) How long does it take to make a Silver plated ESP ?

[Nefertiti]

Jody,
Couldn't you make a spoiler with a baffle profile that would give the same results as the ESP-X. It seems like you could make a baffle that was higher and would come up higher toward the tip of the piece. It would be a nice touch to the ESP to be able to turn it into an X model on call. Maybe I'm living in a dream world.

[super20dan]

well looks like me and all the other sanborn clones will have to wait . oh well i still have my runyon xl and dukoffs and lakeys to use in the meantime

[gary]

Tell you what. I don't know the practicality of nefertiti's suggestion but I think it's a capital idea. Being the proud owner of both tenor and alto ESP's, an extra feature like that would be welcome, as well as a relief on a somewhat depleted pocket book.

[Jody Espina]

Nefertiti and Gary, That's a good idea. I'm not sure if it will work but it's definitely worth looking into.

[connman]

Will this ESP-X provide the volume on a level with Dukoffs and Smoothbores?

[Jody Espina]

I think so. I'll test it this week while I'm at the Runyon factory. I think that fullness of sound, meaning overall spectrum, has a lot to do with overall volume or projection.

[tomsch]

Jody - Do you have pics of the chamber design?

[JL]

Jody, another question:

You say it's brighter than the ESP, but does it also have more volume? When I tried the ESP awhile back, the only issue I had with it was not quite enough volume for the R&B band I play in. But I haven't forgotten the great sound and playing ease, so if the "X" is a bit louder it could be just the thing.

How did your test at the Runyon factory go? For me, a Jaguar with spoiler is plenty loud enough (with a good sound as well), but I want at least one more mpc that I really like. Thanks much.

[tomsch]

Is anyone playing on the ESP-X yet? I too had a standard ESP for a short time but sold it due to the lack of edge and power. It was a very nice playing mpc so the addition of "X-ness" may be a good solution.

[Morry]

It would be a nice touch to the ESP to be able to turn it into an X model on call. Maybe I'm living in a dream world.

But then you couldn't sell two different models. :-)