Drake "Double Ring Production" - .075 tip review

[NissanVintageSax]

This is a preliminary review of one of Drakes fine "production" pieces.

I just received a Drake Double Ring soprano (.055) and Alto (.075) piece today. They certainly are every bit as good as their Custom counterpart!

Here's the story behind these (I concentrate more on the Alto piece, and start a new thread about the Soprano piece):

I recently called up Aaron Drake, asking him about some intonation issues I was having on my 1970s scroll shank Selmer C* Soloist-style piece. Lately the tip has been feeling far too closed (my metal piece is a Runyon Smoothbore .078 tip, which I have a feeling is closer to .080), and I just couldn't find a reed that would play the I wanted it too (I settled on a BARI Hard, though that still isn't quite hard enough). I use a Ripamonti slide-on lig on the Selmer piece.

Long story short, I ended up ordering an Alto Double Ring in .075 and a Soprano Double Ring in .055 to try out.

The intent here, was to not replaace my Jazz piece, but to in fact, replace or perhaps supplement, my Selmer "Classical" piece. Well, it'll be replacing it, and will soon be selling my Selmer transitional scroll shank! It's a great piece, just way too closed my tastes now.

Response: Crisp, clear, concise. No other way to put it!

Tone: Not too dark, not too bright, but slightly darker than my Selmer piece (which is what I wanted).

Playability: Free blowing, and in tune. .075 feels smaller than it really is. If I were buying as a lead Jazz piece, and not as a pit band/classical piece, I would get it in a .082 or larger!

Altissimo: This is where these pieces shine (oh and the low end comes out easy too ). Anyway, my "wall" has forever been altissimo D (D above the palm). With this piece, I was able to easily hit altissimo F (the F above the palm F!). IF I ever replace my current jazz piece, I will order the Custom in a Medium chamber, with a slight baffle, and a .082 tip. I believe that combination would solve the ONLY "negative" "problems" with this piece. Those are in quotes, because the aren't really problems, if what you want is a versatile piece, with little to no edge, but will play Classical and Pit Band reportoire with ease (which, like I said, is what I ordered it for ).

When Drake says he'll make a mouthpiece to do one thing, it'll do that, and everything else! Will it play superbright? No, and I believe all pieces will lean to the darker side. This, in my book, is a good thing. I don't hot a volume wall on my Custom Tenor piece, but I ordered that for Jazz/Rock, and just happened to play Classical just as well. A welcome side affect .

I do hit a volume "wall" with the .075 Alto piece, but it's an "issue" I'm not concerned about, as it will work great in small acoustic venues, pit bands, orchestra, and most anything else. What it won't work for, my Runyon still covers (Funk, Electric, Rock, loud Big Band lead). Like said earlier, should ever want to knock down that "wall", I'll replace my Runyon w/a Drake of a different design .

And, keep in mind, this was just from an hour playing on it! It will only get better as I get used to it!

Soprano Review:
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthr...15#post1321215

Tenor Custom review:
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=126988

[NissanVintageSax]

Update: traded the .075 for an .080, just before the NAMM show. I had a little baffle put in as well (eg "Contemporary-esque"). Will review after it gets here (NAMM has caused delay, which I was well aware of).