Anybody know anything about these pieces? Didn't he play an open Link?
This sounds similar to the "lost-wax" castings like the old Norberto blanks or the recent Sakshama replicas. You gotta love the fact they're advertised as "exact replicas", but offered in different tip openings and with "inclusions" (whatever that is, I'm thinking it's a nice word for "imperfection") "contributing to the individuality of each piece".
Huh??? Griffin's Original 6*?????? So the 10* opening of lore is a figment of somebody's imagination?
Johnny Griffin played in his early years (40's and 50's) an Otto Link Tone Master and those didn't come in the bigger tips that became available in the 50's. A 6* tip was already very big for a Tone Master, normal sizes didn't exceed 5*. From the Florida Links onwards you could get up to 10* tips, or bigger via special orders (I own an original Florida USA 11*). Griff probably used a modified Tone Master with a bended or openend tip, just like more 'loud' players did in those old days (like Illinois Jacquet, check this). Around the early 60's he changed to a Florida Link size 10* (he got some of those pieces from Lockjaw), and later to a current STM size 10* (or bigger). Lots of stories can be found on internet, but as we all know it's difficult to prove what is correct and what not. So in that sence it's nice that the 'original' (some of the original, because Griff owned and played several mouthpieces during his long career) are found and can be measured by the specialists.
I think it's not that strange. Most of the old players made that change after bigger tip pieces became available in the 50's. The older Links had longer facings and smaller tips, but when played with a harder reed they can have about the same resistance as the more modern big tip pieces with a softer reed. I've read somewhere that Griff liked to play softer reeds on his big tip Links and it seems logical that he used harder reeds on his old Tone Master (on which he also sounded great and full). I recently compared (here) the sound of some old Links in small tips (4*, 5* and 6) using a hard reed against bigger tip Links (8* and 10*) using a medium reed and didn't found too much differences in sound and resistance.
No, he played on several mpcs during his career. He also worked on his own mpcs, opening them up & opening up the chambers using DIY "Home Depot"-type, Black & Decker power tools.
If you will notice, none of the Drake mouthpiece ads says exactly what type of mouthpiece Johnnie Griffin played on...strange, very strange. But, I bet if I got one of those Drake Mouthpieces, I could play exactly like the Grif. Wrong. What are we a bunch of guitarists?, too lazy to practice? More money than brains? Instead of working on the instrument (studying), we just run out and buy new gear. If that doesn't work, hey, run out and buy the new Dexter Gordon mouthpiece.(there is no Gordon mpc).
Hey, here is an idea. Bird practiced 14 hours a day for years. Try that, and you won't need some copy of somebody's mouthpiece. Find your own voice...your own thing. Study all the masters, but don't copy them. There are plenty of cats in Los Angeles who can rattle off Parker stuff, and they ain't working. Art is not about copying the Mona Lisa.
Hey, here is an idea. Bird practiced 14 hours a day for years. Try that, and you won't need some copy of somebody's mouthpiece. Find your own voice...your own thing. Study all the masters, but don't copy them. There are plenty of cats in Los Angeles who can rattle off Parker stuff, and they ain't working. Art is not about copying the Mona Lisa.
I have never played a Drake mouthpiece but everything I am reading here on SOTW says they are quality products. If a consumer chooses to pay a bit extra for one of these replica pieces that is not such a bad thing that the families of these deceased heroes get to share from the proceeds especially considering the sacrifices made by those close relatives in the past.
I have read A LOT of advertisements about how great a mouthpiece plays. However the hype never lives up. The first 15 hard rubber mouthpieces I bought "ONLINE" ended up in the trash. Honestly. IN THE TRASH. There only a few metal mouthpieces that actually work up and down the horn. The rest you are just throwing your money away. If you think a copy of Grif's mpc. is somehow going to transform your playing...you are dreaming. Once the newness wears off,...i.e. "I just dropped $5 Bills on this this." once that wears off, and reality sets in, you will realize your money could of been spent somewhere else. Want to transform your playing...go buy 2 or 3 Grif CDs, and transcribe some solos.
It is not the LINK on your horn, but rather the LINK between your brain and your fingers. Think about it.
It is not the LINK on your horn, but rather the LINK between your brain and your fingers. Think about it.
Nope, not bended, just looks that way because he chewed through the rubber, so it looks like the bit plate "starts" late, causing it to look like the tip is bent.
It would be nice if they provided pictures of the original mouthpieces they used for their "guide".
If I had the coin I would buy one and the reason I say that is I have the Stan Getz Legend 7* and it is working for me. I love it. I also have several other Drake mouthpieces and they are all excellent. I see no reason why the Griffin Legend mouthpiece wouldn't be a superb mouthpiece like the others Aaron Drake produces....darn it I just can't afford seven bills at this time.
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