“I purchased a Levantine bass ( made by Jin Bao- a copy of Selmers super action 80 series II bass) from amazon for a song. It was their last bass sax in stick and I think they wanted rid of it. I came via UPS undamaged and with the keys corked . I play tested it with the Selmer s90 210 mouthpiece I use Selmer super action 80 series I baritone. Bass sax pads popped and it was a actually set up nice. While the bass sang in upper register the low notes were hard to voice. I’m friends with JodyJazz Endorser Tim Price. He encouraged me to try JodyJazz. I’m glad I tried the JodyJazz DV Bass 6 mouthpiece . Low notes were easier to voice. Intimation was great. It played slightly flat on the selmer S90 mouthpiece. Beautiful sound with plenty of rich overtones. Very responsive mouthpiece. I have another baritone a low Bb Rampone and Cazzani R1 jazz. Big bore and long neck. The Rampone plays best on large chamber mouthpieces . I tried the JodyJazz DV Bass 6 on it. It’s the best the baritone has ever sounded. Playing Gerry mulligan music with the Rampone baritone and the DV Bass 6 was incredible . Very full beautiful sound. So I got my money’s worth and then some. I can use the mouthpiece on 2 instruments, 3 if I use it on the Selmer baritone. And yes, I agree with Jody harder reeds can be used. I used a Rico royal 3 1/2 and the mouthpiece responded effortlessly. Thanks for a great product Jody!”
Tag Archives: Testimonials
“All I can say is the HR* 7m I recently purchased is the best playing mouthpiece I own. I have several very good mouthpieces and they all play reasonably well, but nothing I have ever played blows as easy with as gorgeous a tone as my new HR*. I also bought the power ring ligature. It is a fantastic combination. Frankly, I would love to have a DV, but I am retired and I watch my budget. I also have every intention of buying an HR* 5* for my tenor along with the power ring ligature.
I had written that I have a lung condition (COPD) and the way this mouthpiece blows I don’t feel any restriction in my lungs. I had been playing on an Otto Link super Tone Master 5, a Vandoren AL4 Optimum, and a Meyer medium chamber with a Rovner ligature. After about 30 minutes I had to stop playing as I would run out of air and become dizzy. I have yet to have to stop with my HR*. I just keep playing and playing.
All I have to say is a big thank you for coming up with such a fantastic mouthpiece.”
Stuart Carlin – Douglasville, Ga.
“I’ve been playing my new DV Bass 7 on bari sax for about 2 weeks now and just wanted you to know that I love it!! I have been very fond of the DV NY Baritone 7, but you are absolutely right! The bass mpc is really big on the bottom (my favorite range on bari), but it’s also crystal clear and warm on top and altissimo is fantastic! Thank you for steering me in the right direction on this DV Bass mouthpiece!! Harlan”
“After playing the custom dark for I while I have to say that it’s the best mouthpiece I’ve ever played. What a pity that I didn’t get it 25 years earlier. 😉 You have done a great job!”
HR* CUSTOM DARK Alto 6, HR* CUSTOM DARK Baritone 6, HR* CUSTOM DARK Soprano, HR* CUSTOM DARK Tenor 6*, POWER RING Ring Ligature
Chuck Currie
May
“Jody Espina has knocked it out of the park again with the new HR* CUSTOM DARK Tenor mouthpiece. After establishing a stellar classical saxophone mouthpiece division using his proprietary CHR Chedeville rubber, he has now used the rubber for a jazz tenor saxophone mouthpiece for the first time. When played softly, it reminds me strongly of the sound of Stan Getz. John Coltrane said “Let’s face it–we’d all sound like that if we could,” and who are we to argue with Trane? When you go for it in a big band or commercial setting, it will stand up to the brass and amplified instruments as well as any mouthpiece out there. I don’t know of any other mouthpiece that can inhabit both those worlds so well. The Chedeville classical mouthpieces Jody designed have made a clean sweep on my Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone, and I told him the HR* CUSTOM DARKS will do the same for my jazz setups. Bravo, Jody, and keep ’em coming!”
“The JodyJazz HR* Soprano 5* mouthpiece allows for the rich warm tonal center that pleases me on all single reed mouthpieces, and just adds that slight edge that allows us to cut through the brass when playing with large ensembles. In my opinion the Soprano should never be strident and should have a contained ringing tone (like ALL musical instruments, including the human voice.) The JodyJazz HR* allows for that with great intonation, and can also provide incredible projection. The key to projection is tone, and it is also the key to “in-tone-ation!” All of Jody’s mouthpieces provide a great big tone, and the HR* line can also provide gentleness and beauty.”
“The JodyJazz POWER RING is a work of genius. The heavy mass of the ligature lends incredibly rich resonance to the tone, while the limited contact points allow for great life in the sound and terrific ease of articulation. I own over a hundred excellent ligatures, and the POWER RING blows them all away. These are not just for jazz… they are also beautiful classical ligatures with the most resonant core sound you’ve ever heard for soloists, large ensemble, and chamber players.”
“I got a chance to play the new Dark piece… smokin’!
I loved the focus, warmth and evenness throughout the range of the horn.”
“I tried the Jody Jazz HR Custom Dark 8* tenor piece that Arnie Krakowsky got from you and I thought it was great!
I loved the dark sound and how free blowing it was, I also dug the POWER RING ligature that was with it!
It reminded me of an old Link that I bought 60 years ago. I was a teenager, and an older cat that I respected,
said to me, “we don’t play a mouthpiece that is so open in the sax section”. (I don’t remember the facing but it was a very free- blowing piece!)
I was young, so I returned the piece and have regretted it ever since!
When I played your piece that memory came back to me.”
“I got my Custom Dark HR* in an 8 just yesterday and can’t put my tenor sax down. This is, without doubt, the best mouthpiece you have come out with to date – certainly as far as my preferred tone is concerned.”
“This HR* CUSTOM DARK is knocking me out….!!!!! Love it. Lew Del Gatto fell in love with it also. This model will be a huge success for you.”
Oct
“For years I was looking for a mouthpiece that would help me to get closer to the sound of two of my favorite players of all times, Dexter Gordon and Johnny Griffin. My JodyJazz DV Chicago 8* not only does that but also allows me to use the full depth of my tone whether it’s a jazz ballad or an up-tempo tune.”
“I’ve been using exclusively hard rubber mouthpieces on alto for years till I tried the JodyJazz DV Alto 7. I was really impressed as it has got all the qualities I’m looking on a mouthpiece. It combines great projection as well as the right warmth that I want my tone to have when I play jazz and on top of that just the right amount of resistance that helps with jazz phrasing.”