• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MEMBER’S AREA
    • JOIN
    • FAQ
    • MEMBER LOGIN
    • Member Monthly Lessons
    • Member VIP Area
    • Member-Practicing with Neff
    • Member-Brecker Alternate Fingering Lessons
    • Member-Killin’ Altissimo Lick Lessons
    • Member-Monster Lick of the Day
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT
  • SUPPORT
You are here: Home / Reviews / Mouthpiece Reviews / Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews / Tenor Low Baffle Reviews / Florida Link Refaced by Erik Greiffenhagen

Florida Link Refaced by Erik Greiffenhagen

February 6, 2010 by Steve 25 Comments

Here is an incredible Florida Link  saxophone mouthpiece that was refaced by Erik Greiffenhagen from a 6 to a 7* (.105).  I bought this mouthpiece from Les Arbuckle about 6 weeks ago and have been playing it ever since.  Les came on SOTW (Sax on the Web) and said he had a link for sale that was one of the best he had ever played.  Now I hear that quite often from people selling mouthpieces but I had never heard that from Les before so it caught my attention.  I knew he had been around probably hundreds of links and if he thought this one was great then it must be.

The first thing that struck me about this tenor mouthpiece is that it has a huge fat low end.  I’m talking lush here.  Every time I play the piece I go to that low end and want to play a nice lush tenor saxophone ballad.  The tone throughout the range of the saxophone is even and round sounding.  It’s actually a bit darker than what I sound like on almost every clip on this site but I’m really digging that out of this mouthpiece.  The last thing that strikes me about it is the playablity of it.  I know that sounds like a vague concept but certain mouthpieces connect to a player in a way that really allows them to express themselves more than on other pieces.  Even though I’ve only played this  mouthpiece for a short time I’ve already had some moments with it where I was playing things that I wouldn’t normally play.  It’s as if the mouthpiece is a fine tool that is letting me play better than other pieces I have played.  I’ve had a few of these pieces throughout the years that I’ve really connected with (most I still have sitting on my shelf)  Anyways, I want to thank Les again for selling me a great mouthpiece.  Let me know what you think……..seriously.   I listened to the clip a number of times and part of me thinks it might be too dark for my tastes but I’m curious what you all think.  Now I have to take it into battle against my other reigning florida link! Here’s a link to contact Erik.   Steve

https://www.neffmusic.com/images/mp3/EricGFloridaLink.mp3

Filed Under: Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Erik Greiffenhagen, florida link, Les Arbuckle, otto link, saxophone mouthpiece, tenor

Steve

About Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Avatarswansong says

    February 8, 2010 at 5:54 pm

    wow, sounds lovely. a velvety smooth tone with enough punctuation and fast response to not sound muddy. I have a couple pieces with erik right now, looking forward to playing them soon!

    Reply
  2. Avatarmike says

    February 9, 2010 at 12:59 am

    My good lord….I’ve listened to just about every recording of you playing pieces on this site and the closest to what i wanted was the Theo wanne no usa.
    i have to tell you…THIS is the ONE.

    i could only say it was “close” or “almost there” but this is it….

    Reply
  3. Avatarmike says

    February 10, 2010 at 8:21 pm

    hey steve, I’ve always wondered, who are/is your big tenor influence(s)?

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      February 10, 2010 at 8:39 pm

      All my influences through high school and college were alto players. Charlie Parker, Art Pepper, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderly, all I played was alto. Then my 3rd year of college I went to a party and someone played Michael Brecker. I was amazed. I then proceeded to go out and buy every album I could find with Brecker on it and started saving for a tenor. A older student in my college was selling a Couf tenor so I begged my parents to get it. Pleaded…………they did. Transferred to Berklee and played alto for 2 more years. I started to get calls for gigs but 75% of them were for tenor. Before I knew it I was playing tenor 100% of the time. I haven’t got a call for an alto gig in 20 years now. All tenor. Since that time I have listened to everybody. My favorites are Hank Mobley and Gene Ammons. The modern guys I like the best are Rick Margitza and Rich Perry. Although, I listen to everybody i can. I have a new guy every month I’m getting into. I think because I got so into Brecker when I was younger I have that huge influence but now it is being balance with the Mobley and Ammons sound that I love.

      Reply
  4. AvatarMario says

    February 16, 2010 at 8:39 am

    Wow Steve,man that Florida Link sounds fantastic to my ears man!I like that dark side of it.
    I have also a EB STM Florida Link that is much brighter then the one you are demonstrating!
    It was also refaced by Erik Greff.to a 100.
    I am about to trade cause mind is just not enough dark for me,and will go back on HR probably!
    Man they are two different world from the one you have in sound! Thanks for sharing again!
    Best regards
    Mario from Canada

    Reply
  5. AvatarDan says

    February 16, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    I’m partial to the really dark ones and that one sounds amazing!! If only any of these pieces could give me your sound…

    Reply
  6. Avatarjoey says

    March 6, 2010 at 10:01 am

    Wow! You sound amazing on this piece. Of course, you sound great on all your mouthpieces. But this stands out to my ears, it’s such a full bodied tenor sound. It’s dark, but not overly so, and it has that rare balance of crispness that allows it to shine through. Are you using an SBA on this clip? Whatever it is, it’s a perfect match. But yes, sounds fantastic.

    Reply
  7. Avatardeolsaxman says

    March 11, 2010 at 4:27 am

    I just got finished listening to the Jody clips, so finally I was able to hear a difference.
    This one has NO edge, just beautiful tenor. I definitely wouldn’t take it to a fusion gig or for “Honky Tonk”, but maybe after I work on your lessons, I would steal it from you for my jazz debut.
    Hold on to this one so you can sell it to me when I get better.

    Reply
  8. AvatarEric says

    March 12, 2010 at 12:49 am

    What a great sounding piece. Thanks for sharing it. The first thing that came to mind was, “man, I’d love to hear Steve play Lush Life on this piece”. The low end reminds me of Johnny Hartman’s rich voice.

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      March 13, 2010 at 10:51 am

      Your right, I think that would be a great tune to play on this mouthpiece………Thanks for the compliments.

      Reply
  9. AvatarNeil Wright says

    April 26, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    Gorgeous sound! Did you notice a slight dead spot in the tone around high A and Bb? How is altissimo on this piece? I have never had good luck with Links and altissimo notes, although I admittedly haven’t tried very many with my Mark VI…

    Again, thank you so much for taking the time to do this. You play great, and that really allows us to hear what the mouthpiece can do, as opposed the the recordings I frequently hear on forums with players who have no air control looking for a setup that will make up for it. You give a great deal to all of us by sharing your time and talent. Thanks!

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      April 27, 2010 at 8:44 am

      No, no dead spot at all. This piece just sings up there. I used to have problems with altissimo on links when I was younger and just switched from alto. After I worked on it a bit it was no problem though. Thanks for the compliments. I’m glad you like the site. Steve

      Reply
  10. AvatarDoug Lange says

    February 23, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    Steve,
    Do you still use this piece regularly? I have the same mouthpiece that I had opened up to .105, too. Opening up these mouthpieces raises the rollover baffle slightly which gives it an edge when you push it. Living in Alaska with huge variance in humidity, I’m constantly looking for a good reed. I’ve tried all the various Vandoran’s as well as Rico Jazz Selects. I keep going back to Java’s though. Maybe I should just move to Hawaii;-)
    I’ve enjoyed watching you develop your site over the past couple of years! Thanks,
    Doug

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      February 24, 2011 at 10:07 am

      Thanks Doug. No I sold this one. I actually miss this piece. It was darker than I usually play and I have another link that I played more so I sold it. I miss having it though when I feel like playing darker………Oh well. Erik does great work! It might be my imagination but I bought a Rico reed case with that humidity pouch in it and I swear my reeds seem more consistent after sitting in that case.

      Reply
  11. Avataromar says

    April 17, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    definately darkest ive heard …. i like the way you open up on other clips…but this one keeps the same character throughout the example….you don’t feel that limits your expressiveness somehow??..it doesnt sound very loud either….

    i’m making these comments,as you have commented on for example the ambika that you didnt think it would work with a heavy band….

    is this working for you in all settings???

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      April 17, 2011 at 8:21 pm

      I ended up selling this one. It was a beautiful sounding mouthpiece. The guy who has it now says if he sells it he’ll let me know so I might get it back. I don’t think it would limit my expressiveness but it wasn’t an all round mouthpiece either. It would be a great straight ahead mouthpiece. I don’t think I would choose it on a funk or rock gig. I need more brightness in the sound for those gigs. Steve

      Reply
  12. AvatarBariandyf says

    April 19, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    Hi
    I’m the guy that Steve refers to in the post above who now owns this mouthpiece.
    I received the mouthpiece this morning, and have to say that I’m knocked out by it. It’s absolutely superb. It’s exactly as Steve describes in his review, in fact although I’d seen this piece for sale and thought it might be good, it was really on the strength of Steve’s review and sound clip that I bought this piece. I recently also bought a Morgan Excalibur large chamber mouthpiece for Tenor that Erik G produced and finished for Morgan Mouthpieces, and it too is fantastic, so seeing that this piece was refaced by Erik, plus this review, I knew I had to be onto a good one.
    Thanks again Steve for this excellent site.
    Andy.

    Reply
  13. AvatarRon Leonard says

    July 24, 2012 at 12:46 am

    Can anyone make some recomendations redarding playable mouthpieces for someone like myself who is an intermediate player ? I’m currently using a selmer S80 . I’m not sure of the tip opening as the markings have worn off. I’m using vandoren java 2.5 reeds ( green box) . I’d like to try a metal mpc but wow – mind boggling with all that’s out there. Many thanks, Ron Leonard

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      July 24, 2012 at 8:12 am

      What’s your price range?

      Reply
  14. AvatarRon Leonard says

    July 24, 2012 at 9:56 am

    Thanks Steve for such a quick response. I’d like to stay under $300 as I’m on a budget. I like a dark classic sound, not bright or edgy . Mainly looking for playability, something user friendly since I have limited experiance. Thankyou for this site ! A valuable service to so many of us out here trying to make sense of it all ! Ron

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      August 3, 2012 at 11:52 am

      My first thought is a Morgan L or Gerber Slant. Both those pieces are nice and dark with a bit of brightness when pushed. They both can play nice and powerful. I prefer the Gerber for a HR piece. If you go through my blog though there are a ton of other options that just aren’t coming to mind right now.

      Reply
  15. AvatarDoug Lange says

    July 24, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    Ron-
    Since you are comfortable with a hard rubber mouthpiece (S80), look into other hard rubber pieces. Metal isn’t necessarily better, it is just different. You will be able to find a good one for under $300, too, because it is more costly to manufacture a metal mouthpiece. Check out some of the hard rubber mouthpiece reviews on this site. (Disclaimer: I have this same refaced Florida Link refaced to .105 that I’ve played since 1978. Every time I try another piece, I go back to this one.)

    Reply
  16. AvatarRon Leonard says

    July 25, 2012 at 2:05 am

    Thanks Doug for the feedback! Sounds like good advise. I actually like the Selmer mpc but enjoy experimenting with different sounds as seems true for most sax players. Nice of you to help out this rookie sax player.

    Reply
  17. AvatarDavid Mendoza says

    September 30, 2017 at 4:42 am

    Hi Steve, great sound. This one looks like a EB. The only difference (externally) between florida usa and the EB is the font size of the number of the tip, this one looks like the big one, like EB. Small fonts suggest Florida usa. EB has more baffle than floridas but maybe erik worked on that area too. You sound amazing on that one!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Attack of the Killer Monster Links on Steroids Part 1 says:
    May 21, 2014 at 10:56 am

    […] Eric Greiffenhagen and is one of the darker Otto Links I have played over the years.  Here is the review I made of it years […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Subscribe to the Neffmusic Newsletter for the latest reviews and best deals delivered straight to your inbox every month. Join now and you will also receive my 40 Ultimate Michael Brecker Licks free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to


Thanks for joining!


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

Hello Steve, I’m getting so much out of your lessons and books, amazing how much one may think one knows, there is always a new frontier or new way to view something you think you had somewhat down. You have taken it all to a new level and am so grateful. Your lessons are so down to earth and understandable and clear!  Thanks so much Steve! Cheers, Eddie

Eddie Parente
Thank you for all the educational information you provide.  I am a classically trained musician.  Professionally, I am a 4th and 5th grade band teacher.  I have played piano and sax for many years, but now I am starting to gig out more. I have always improvised by ear in the past. I have gotten by with my strong sense of pitch, rhythm and melodic contour. However, I want to go deeper. I want to play with a greater variety of melodic and rhythmic ideas to pull from.  I have studied to gain a … Read more
Ray
Steve really changed my way of practicing: I got a whole lot of new ideas for my playing the tenor.  His lessons are really helpful, give a lot stuff to practice and give clear answers to complicated stuff.  Steve has a lot of humor and I wish I had laughed so much in my former days with the horn.  All topics, from Blues to Approach note are dealt with clearness that wet ones appetite to play and practice that great ideas.
Uwe
Hi Steve, I can’t express just how much I appreciate your teaching. My playing has improved so much over the past year since I have been studying and practicing with your lessons. It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, these lessons are proof! Thanks, Michael Byington
Michael Byington
I have been a member of Neffmusic for more than a year now and have enjoyed every minute of it! I have not only been going thru the Dominant Bebop Scale lessons and book (OUTSTANDING!) but the mouthpiece reviews, solo clips and transcriptions are very interesting. Steve approach to beginning and intermediate improv have given me many new pathways to teach my high school jazz ensemble students. Congratulations Steve, great product!
Craig
I can see from your instructional videos that you are a fantastic teacher – one that can truly relate to all ages – humble yet very positive in approach – never coming across as superior and yet so totally capable of demonstrating the principles and techniques that you seek to impart to the students. I have gained so much confidence in my playing from “pouring over” time and again these invaluable lessons. Invaluable not only in musical content, but also in human interaction content. I am absolu… Read more
Ron
I’ve been downloading your lessons for 4 months now (20 lesson) and I have noticed tremendous growth in my playing thus far! I’m so happy that I stumbled upon your site!
Bob
I have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry

Never really had lessons before just kinda worked things out on my own. Was in a rut but your lessons are really helpful in opening melodic possibilities. Ur an awesome resource to the saxophone community. Thanks for sharing. 

Anthony
Hey Steve, I’m a 22-year-old from Australia. I thought it would be worth saying. You’re an absolute legend. I can’t thank you enough. You have helped me rekindle my love for the saxophone and music as a whole. All the best for the future, your work doesn’t go unnoticed. PS. I am loving your devastating minor lines pdf.
Sapph

Featured Video Lessons

  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.90 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99

Now over 600 video and audio lessons to choose from!
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY AND SAVE BIG ON EACH LESSON!

Best II-V-I Patterns Book
Best II-V-I Patterns

Free Lessons

  • Free Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering Altered Pentatonics
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Blues Scale Volume 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale and Language Book 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Approach Note Velocity Book

Recent reviews

  • Mastering Altered Pentatonics (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Dino Govoni
  • Mastering the Bebop Scale Review-Blues in All Keys Lesson 1
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Steve Nye
  • Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Mark White
  • Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Mark White
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Christopher Lutyk

Jazz Improvisation Books

Mastering Altered Pentatonics
Mastering Altered Pentatonics
Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz & Funk
Devastating Dominant Lines for Jazz & Funk
Mastering the Minor ii-7b5 V7b9 Bebop Scale
Mastering the Minor ii-7b5 V7b9 Bebop Scale
Dominant Bebop Scale Book
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk-Thirty 5 Star Reviews!!!
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
Best II-V-I Patterns Book
Best II-V-I Patterns
Approach Note Velocity Book
Approach Note Velocity
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Major Bebop Scale Book
Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Steve on Hard Rubber Otto Link 7* Tenor Mouthpiece
  • Giuseppe C. on Eye-Opening Boston Sax Shop Heritage Tenor Saxophone Neck Review
  • Ralph Jarmon on Hard Rubber Otto Link 7* Tenor Mouthpiece
  • TK on Phil-Tone Rift Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Giuseppe C. on KPoudavoff Zimberoff Dukoff Hollywood 6* with Dexter Gordon’s Facing Curve Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Top rated products

  • Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • One Bar Blues Licks and the 12 Bar Blues Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Round Midnight Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Sax Intonation Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Beginner Jazz Improvisation Lesson 8B-Tenor Sax
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Product tags

alto sax alto saxophone approach notes audio lesson bebop scale beginner beginner saxophone blues blues licks blues patterns blues scale blues scales diminished scale dominant chords ear training fundamentals II-V-I improvisation jazz improvisation jazz lines jazz patterns jazz sax jazz saxophone jazz standard jazz standards licks Mastering the Blues Scale Michael Brecker modern improv modern improvisation online lesson patterns playing outside practice habits reading music sax basics sax lessons saxophone scales smooth jazz steve neff tenor sax tenor saxophone video lesson video lessons
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • SUPPORT

Neffmusic © 2023