Jody Jazz ESP for Tenor

[GAS_Wyo]

The Jody Jazz ESP has been around longer than the DV and DV NY, so I would imagine there are a lot of opinions about this piece. Is anyone using it as their main mouthpiece?

I looked through the other threads and saw some opinions, but not many called the ESP 'their favorite mouthpiece' in the thread Al Stevens started.

I received mine from 'richard' (SOTW member) and have played it about 2
hours over the past week. I'll have to say this is my fourth Jody Jazz piece and I am very impressed with the facing curve, consistent rail height, lay and table on all 4 pieces. I have the Classic for Bari, and the Classic, the HR* and the ESP for tenor. They respond with some of my "iffy" reeds very well. I've tried ZZ's, RSJ's, Rico Royals (vintage) and Hemke's. Favorite reed with it is a toss up between the RSJ's and the Hemke's...darker (harder) reeds for me. The ESP has a flexible tone and I like it better with the spoiler in.

What has been your experience with this piece for Tenor?

[Honeyboy]

I have a 7*. It is not my main piece. I prefer my Link 7* NY with a wax baffle and my Berg 130/2 probably because I am used to them. I like the tone better with the spoiler as well- it is more powerful and to my ears, sounds fuller and thicker. W/O the baffle it is not very powerful- less than an off the shelf Link-probably due to the large drop off in the baffle/chamber area. It seems I have to change my embouchure and oral cavity to get it to sound as full as I would like especially on the higher left hand palm notes. I need to use it alot more to get used to it. It is extremely free-blowing and I think I am used to ones with a little more resistance. I have used RJS 2H,3S and 3M reeds and think maybe there is another reed out there I might like better. I would prefer it to be just a bit wider in my mouth- it seems like a narrower mouthpiece than the Link. It reminds me of my narrower 70's 115/0 Berg. I think if it was the first mouthpiece I ever played I would have adjusted to it and used it all the time. Construction is beautiful. The gold plating on my spoiler flaked off after the second week of ownership. It is, otherwise, a total quality product with very nice side and tip rails and chamber. Every once in awhile I will get it out and play it for a few days. I seem to get more used to it each time.

[gary]

I played ESP's on both alto and tenor for a little over a year, maybe a little longer, can't remember. I thought they were great mpcs. Very easy to play, nice response, full sound. Unlike Honeyboy, I didn't like them as much with the spoiler as without.

The reason I finally move on was because I couldn't get the volume out of them that I needed. I could get them to carry more (not the same thing as "louder") if I used the spoiler, but I also got a corresponding brighter sound which I didn't want.

It didn't bother me at the time, but now that I am playing them, I prefer mpcs which are a little larger than the slimmer profiles of the ESP's. If you don't need the extra juice, these are still excellent mpcs.

[saxmanglen]

Greg,

I've had a similar experience as Gary with the ESP. I used it for probably most of the last 2 years. It just seems to get overblown when trying to push it. I have the 0.120 (#9 model now) and it still seemed to top out with 3.5 reeds. I do love the sound I get when recording with it.

In the last few months I've been playing a Jody Jazz HR* 9* model and am liking it much better. It can take all the air I can supply and doesn't seem to top out like there's a governor or something on it like the ESP. I'm using Java 3.5's on the HR*.

Glen


PS The ESP is still my number two piece on tenor.

Here's My Funny Valentine (http://saxmanglen.sslpowered.com/saxmanglen.com/songs/Tenor/VALENTINE%2012-27-07.mp3)on the ESP and a version of The Way You Look Tonight (http://saxmanglen.sslpowered.com/saxmanglen.com/songs/Tenor/THE%20WAY%20YOU%20LOOK%20TONIGHT%201-09-2008.mp3) on the HR*

And for a real player playing an ESP get Gary's file from him. LOL

[gary]

Greg - if you PM me your email, I'll send you a sample of me playing on an tenor ESP. There are a few intonation problems but otherwise you should get an idea of at least how one guy sounds on one.

[Honeyboy]

Well, due to this thread I took out my ESP a few hours ago. I tried an Eddie Daniels ligature with some RJS 3S's and found out it responded much better than with the dark Rovner lig that came with it. It seemed to have more power and better response in the upper stack. I also found it required less changes on my part- just a bit of throat opening and it really started sounding good. I'll have to play with this one some more, but it looks like it may have more of a future in my playing. I'm allowed to change my mind, aren't I?:)

[gary]

PS The ESP is still my number two piece on tenor. Here'sMy Funny Valentine (http://saxmanglen.sslpowered.com/saxmanglen.com/songs/Tenor/VALENTINE%2012-27-07.mp3)on the ESP and a version of The Way You Look Tonight (http://saxmanglen.sslpowered.com/saxmanglen.com/songs/Tenor/THE%20WAY%20YOU%20LOOK%20TONIGHT%201-09-2008.mp3) on the HR*

And for a real player playing an ESP get Gary's file from him. LOL

Thanks for the compliment, Glen, but it gives me the opportunity to remind once again, that I'm just an intermediate player...with over 40 years experience in music - that's why I know some stuff - but as a conductor/composer/arranger. ;)

Glen - can you PM me your email address? Thanks.

[Honeyboy]

Last night I brought the ESP to my gig. We played mostly older Rock, Blues and some Jazzier stuff ( the singer's original stuff). There were two electric guitars,drums, bass and me. Since I had to compete with all the Electrics, they had me turned up pretty loud in the mix (my wife said I was way too loud !). The Jody Jazz ESP cut through really well and seemed to be very modern sounding, ie., a more high partials feel, kind of like a Guardala. Compared to the Berg 130/2, the Berg had a slightly fuller, more traditional R&B tone.They both sounded loud and projected equally as well. I ended up using the Berg more because I wanted that more complex tone. My wife was unable to hear the difference (maybe beacause she was covering her ears). As far as playability, the ESP was easy to play and would be great for someone who prefers the Guardala King sort of tone. I may try it again tomorrow in church or at least do a sound check with it.:)

[Chilly Zee]

I have a 7* that I liked very much . . . . until my friend turned me on to a PMS handmade Guardala Crescent. But the ESP is a great mpc. And I have a JJ HR* that just might be the only alto mpc I'll ever need 8-) .

Charlie

[Honeyboy]

I did my soundcheck and although it sounded good, I still ended up using my Berg 130. It had a smoother sound than the Jody Jazz. The ESP did have a stronger core sound but as of now, it isn't my main piece.

[Martin Williams]

I've been using an ESP 110X recently quite a bit, and I keep finding it to be a great piece. Its got great projection, and a nice full sound with and without the spoiler. Rock, jazz gigs, jump blues, swing stuff, I love it!

Its a bit more than I need for some gigs, so then I move down to my Morgan Excalibur, a 9EL. Mostly big band stuff, some light combo work.

Both are stellar pieces! I get compliments with both on my sound, and they really fill the room when I play.

[Al Stevens]

I have much more experience now with the ESP.

I have three working tenors. The ESP 7* seems happiest on the Mark VI with the baffle removed. It will do most anything. If I want a little more edge, I put the baffle in.

With the ESP on the Barone tenor, everything is way too bright, baffle in or out. Kind of a buzzy sound.

On the Ref 54 with a Barone neck, the ESP fails me sometimes in the upper register. Just won't speak E3 and F3. It's worse with the Ref neck.

[Honeyboy]

I have much more experience now with the ESP.

I have three working tenors. The ESP 7* seems happiest on the Mark VI with the baffle removed. It will do most anything. If I want a little more edge, I put the baffle in.

With the ESP on the Barone tenor, everything is way too bright, baffle in or out. Kind of a buzzy sound.

On the Ref 54 with a Barone neck, the ESP fails me sometimes in the upper register. Just won't speak E3 and F3. It's worse with the Ref neck.

I've never played mine on my Mark VI. I'll have to give it a try.

[raiderjazz]

I just got my ESP yesterday thanks to Johsaxe (great guy). Its exactly what i was looking for. I think my GAS problem is over. Well almost, still want a DV NY :D. It reminds me a lot of the STM i replaced it with except with more edge, projection, and altissimo just pops out. Actually, without the spoiler, its like my link. The spoiler gives it that extra bit of awesomeness. Low register needs some work, but nothing long tones cant take care of. This is definitely going to be my main piece.

[Morry]

I like the ESP very much on alto, but it didn't give me the same vibe on tenor. The alto piece has just the resistance I like, and doesn't get to bright, even with the spoiler in. The tenor model was too edgy for me, even without the spoiler. I was hoping the tenor piece would be more like the alto.

[patchmo]

I was using an ESP, but once Jody came out with the DV, I upgraded to a DV 10* for my Saxgourmet 6 Tenor with Christof Heftrig lig & have been lovin' it.:)

[saxyvic]

My JJ ESP 7* is my main pice on tenor (mark 6) , most without spoiler ; gives me plenty of volume and a complex sound ; works best with fibracell medium hard reeds : a dry , centered and smokey sound which I love ...

[Honeyboy]

Since my last offering, I have tried it on my Mark VI and I think it really shines on that horn. It helps bring out all the good qualities on a fairly dark horn. I was pleasantly surprised how well the two matched. A very Coltranish vibe.

[kavala]

I used the ESP for a while and was really impressed with it (without the
spoiler). This is a very good mpc for a small jazz combo situation.
A couple of times I miced it up and I couldn't believe the fat sound
coming out of the speakers.

I then got a JJ DV NY which for me is the better mpc.
It is wider for one thing was was closer to the Link I had
previously played for years, so was more comfortable.

When the occassion calls for it, you can get a lot more sting
out of the DV NY than you can with the ESP, and yet it still
has that nice fat sound.

If you looking just for volume then you may need to consider
another piece, maybe even a JJ DV. If you are after a nice sound,
then the ESP and the DV NY are great. (IMO)

[andrewbowie]

I completely agree with Kavala: the DVNY does similar things to the ESP, but offers more possibilities and a bit more power. For power with a good, if less pretty tone, get a DV.