Hello!
I've been debating whether to ask some questions I have. If some of these things have already been answered in other threads I want to apologize in advance, and if you could direct me there I would greatly appreciate it. I'm mostly just looking for advice. A lot of you have answered many of my questions and I'm most likely disregarding your answers. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. But I think I'm pretty sure that I'm close to knowing what I want.
Now, as you'll read from the title I am in search of the best possible mouthpiece for me. I've narrowed my choices down to the Otto Link mouthpiece family (what a surprise right?). As of now the most comfortable mouthpiece I have owned is a stock Link "New vintage" slant HR 7* on my Selmer Mark VI. As good as this piece is I feel as though there is something missing... I've been able to play some vintage links, both HR and metal and they just have this whole different vibe to them in my opinion. I'm most interested in the vintage Double Ring, and the vintage Slant HR mouthpieces.
I recently came across what seemed to me to be a very good example of a double ring worth buying on ebay. It was an original 5* owned by saxophonist Skip Gailes. I chatted quite a bit with him and said I would buy it later this week, but I was too late and somebody got it before me (should I try to hunt them down and buy it back Lol?). I got a hold of Skip and he let me know that he had one other mouthpiece as good as his double ring, a HR Florida Slant link original 5*. He kindly told me today that he's sending it to me in the mail tomorrow to try and that I can return it to him if I don't like it!!! And I have this feeling that I will completely love this HR Link. But I'm still quite interested in a really good Double Ring.
I guess my questions are: How much is too much? Should try to get an original facing or one that had been refaced? Should I get a small tip like a 5* or look for an original 7? If I get a 5* should I get it refaced to a larger tip?
I've also considered having Sakshama make me a custom Sterling Silver double ring, but I don't know if I should get a real one or his. I have experience with his pieces, but not sure how they compare to the real deal. Sakshama gets back from vacation in April, so I could get his Double Ring or in the mean time search for a real one.
Playing this Slant from Skip and a really great Double Ring I think would really answer some of my greatest questions about mouthpieces. But I just don't know where to start on a double ring... they are all priced so differently and every single one is the holy grail, ya know? I'm pretty sad I missed Skip's Ring because I just knew it was a good piece... he played it for 20 years 6 days a week. Talk about good mojo.
Here are a couple examples of pieces I've considered, what are your opinions?
-http://hornedtoadmusic.com/otto-link-fl-double-ring-original-7-tenor-mint-treasure/#.WKLKRW8rKpo Assuming this will be expensive, but is it all it's cracked up to be?
-http://www.saxalley.com/otto-link-vintage-florida-metal-tenor-mouthpiece-2663.html An example of a refaced ring
-http://www.ebay.com/itm/122330234948?ul_noapp=true This was Skip's mouthpiece... I'm so sorry I missed it
Thanks! This is quite the puzzle I know... but maybe you guys can assist me in solving it.
-John Swendseid
I've been debating whether to ask some questions I have. If some of these things have already been answered in other threads I want to apologize in advance, and if you could direct me there I would greatly appreciate it. I'm mostly just looking for advice. A lot of you have answered many of my questions and I'm most likely disregarding your answers. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. But I think I'm pretty sure that I'm close to knowing what I want.
Now, as you'll read from the title I am in search of the best possible mouthpiece for me. I've narrowed my choices down to the Otto Link mouthpiece family (what a surprise right?). As of now the most comfortable mouthpiece I have owned is a stock Link "New vintage" slant HR 7* on my Selmer Mark VI. As good as this piece is I feel as though there is something missing... I've been able to play some vintage links, both HR and metal and they just have this whole different vibe to them in my opinion. I'm most interested in the vintage Double Ring, and the vintage Slant HR mouthpieces.
I recently came across what seemed to me to be a very good example of a double ring worth buying on ebay. It was an original 5* owned by saxophonist Skip Gailes. I chatted quite a bit with him and said I would buy it later this week, but I was too late and somebody got it before me (should I try to hunt them down and buy it back Lol?). I got a hold of Skip and he let me know that he had one other mouthpiece as good as his double ring, a HR Florida Slant link original 5*. He kindly told me today that he's sending it to me in the mail tomorrow to try and that I can return it to him if I don't like it!!! And I have this feeling that I will completely love this HR Link. But I'm still quite interested in a really good Double Ring.
I guess my questions are: How much is too much? Should try to get an original facing or one that had been refaced? Should I get a small tip like a 5* or look for an original 7? If I get a 5* should I get it refaced to a larger tip?
I've also considered having Sakshama make me a custom Sterling Silver double ring, but I don't know if I should get a real one or his. I have experience with his pieces, but not sure how they compare to the real deal. Sakshama gets back from vacation in April, so I could get his Double Ring or in the mean time search for a real one.
Playing this Slant from Skip and a really great Double Ring I think would really answer some of my greatest questions about mouthpieces. But I just don't know where to start on a double ring... they are all priced so differently and every single one is the holy grail, ya know? I'm pretty sad I missed Skip's Ring because I just knew it was a good piece... he played it for 20 years 6 days a week. Talk about good mojo.
Here are a couple examples of pieces I've considered, what are your opinions?
-http://hornedtoadmusic.com/otto-link-fl-double-ring-original-7-tenor-mint-treasure/#.WKLKRW8rKpo Assuming this will be expensive, but is it all it's cracked up to be?
-http://www.saxalley.com/otto-link-vintage-florida-metal-tenor-mouthpiece-2663.html An example of a refaced ring
-http://www.ebay.com/itm/122330234948?ul_noapp=true This was Skip's mouthpiece... I'm so sorry I missed it
Thanks! This is quite the puzzle I know... but maybe you guys can assist me in solving it.
-John Swendseid