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

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT

Search Neffmusic

You are here: Home / Reviews / Mouthpiece Reviews / Alto Mouthpiece Reviews / Drake Vintage Resin Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Comparison

Drake Vintage Resin Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Comparison

July 14, 2010 by Steve 20 Comments

I thought I’d put up a comparison post of the three Drake vintage resin alto saxophone mouthpieces I received today.  I will be doing a separate review for each mouthpiece but I thought that if I played a simple melody on all 3 next to each other you could hear the differences better.  On these clips I’m playing  the first 16 bars of “Stella By Starlight”.  Nothing fancy, just the melody.  Hopefully, you will be able to hear the differences in the tone of each mouthpiece.  Let me know what you think……………………

From Left to Right: NY Jazz, Jazz,Contemporary

Drake Contemporary Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece

https://www.neffmusic.com/images/mp3/Drake%20Comtemporary%20Clip.mp3

Drake Jazz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece

https://www.neffmusic.com/images/mp3/Drake%20Jazz%20Clip.mp3

Drake NY Jazz Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece

https://www.neffmusic.com/images/mp3/Drake%20NY%20Clip.mp3

Which one do you like the best? (Poll Results)

  • NY Jazz Model (57%, 56 Votes)
  • Contemporary Model (19%, 19 Votes)
  • Jazz Model (16%, 16 Votes)
  • They all sound the same to me……….. (8%, 7 Votes)

Total Voters: 98

Filed Under: Alto Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: aaron drake, alto mouthpiece, contemporary, Drake Mouthpieces, NY Jazz, vintage resin

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. AvatarDuncan says

    May 1, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    Hi Steve!
    I currently own a Jody Jazz HR mouthpiece, and a Jody Jazz DV NY mouthpiece, both for alto. I’m heading off to college, so I was thinking of selling both and using part of the money to order a Drake mouthpiece. I’m wondering – in your opinion – which mouthpiece would be ideal for me to order. The problem I have with the DV NY is that it’s almost too free blowing, and I struggle to keep an evenness across the registers. The upper notes tend to get too punchy, while the lower notes are too bright and harsh. I like the HR much better, both in feel (I like a little more mouthpiece in my mouth) and resistance. Altissimo notes are easier to produce as well. The only thing I don’t like as much is the overall tonal quality. It’s not bad, per se, but the DV NY has a smoother, rounder sound, at least in the middle register where the sound is easily produced. Sorry, long question.

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      May 7, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      I think the Drake NY Jazz model is my favorite of all the Drake mouthpieces I have tried. I would strongly suggest trying it first before selling your existing mouthpieces as you don’t want to get rid of them in the hopes of finding a replacement. Find a replacement and then sell them. Good Luck. Let me know how you make out.

      Reply
  2. AvatarErik Cloud says

    September 7, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    I can’t find much about the Drake NY Jazz tip openings on their website. I know you played a 6. Have you tried the 5 & the 7 also? Which tip opening is your favorite?

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      September 7, 2013 at 3:17 pm

      Erik, I just tried the 6. It was a perfect tip opening for me on alto.

      Reply
  3. AvatarBill Scavotto says

    April 26, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    I bought the Jazz but now I wish I bought the NY Jazz.I think it has a richer fuller tone and sound.I hope I can exchange it.I did think the NY required a little more effort to play however

    Reply
  4. AvatarRoberto Iriarte says

    June 30, 2017 at 6:00 pm

    Steve, Thanks for sharing so much knowledge and samples with all of us. I just picked up the Drake Jazz 7 for Alto to add something new to my Meyer 5 and Otto Link HR 6*. The 7 plays very easy for the size; easier than the Link 6*. Your review is spot on. The Drake plays great in all registers and has amazing intonation. I can now think about the music instead of the piece.

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      July 2, 2017 at 9:25 am

      Roberto, That is great to hear. I love it when a player like yourself tries a mouthpiece I have reviewed with good results. Have fun with the new mouthpiece! Steve

      Reply
  5. AvatarJuanvi says

    May 18, 2019 at 2:26 pm

    Hola estoy buscando una Drake NY Jazz alto, sabéis
    de alguien que venda?

    English Translation:

    Hi, I’m looking for a high NY Jazz Drake, you know
    of someone who sells?

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      May 19, 2019 at 11:01 pm

      https://www.drakemouthpieces.com/

      Reply
  6. AvatarDong Dong says

    May 19, 2019 at 8:46 pm

    Hi Steve!
    Do these three mouthpieces have ceramic rings?

    Reply
  7. AvatarJeffrey Newton says

    January 26, 2022 at 7:43 pm

    Steve, do you like the NY Jazz Drake > the Phil Woods Drake? Regardless, how would you compare these two pieces? Thanks….

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      January 27, 2022 at 9:43 am

      Jeff, I love both of those pieces! I’ve owned two Drake NY Jazz pieces and they are one of my favorite alto mouthpieces I have played. The Drake Phil Woods I also loved just as much. The difference to me is that the NY is not as bright as the Phil Woods model and in my opinion has a fatter sound. That is what I loved most about it, that fatness to the tone. Reminds me of that Cannonball Adderley fat round tone. The Phil Woods I found brighter, more focused and more powerful and aggressive in my opinion. Both great mouthpieces in my opinion. Hope this helps! Steve

      Reply
      • AvatarJeff Newton says

        January 27, 2022 at 10:19 am

        Thanks, Steve! That was exactly the type of information that I was looking for! Perhaps the “fatness” of the NY Jazz versus the Phil Woods is due to a slight enlargement of the chamber size (although both are “medium”)?

        Apparently both Cannonball and Phil used NY Meyer #5s…

        My alto is a 5 digit Mark VI, so it has a darker sound than the later ones do. The Phil might be the better choice to brighten it up a bit.

        Reply
      • AvatarJeff Newton says

        January 29, 2022 at 5:47 am

        Steve –

        I have a Vandoren V16 7M mpc, as well as a stock Meyer mpc that’s about 10 years old, also a 7. My horn is an early 5 digit Mark VI with a short bow – it’s a darkish horn (darker than the 130,162 that I used to own).

        On this sax, the Meyer sounds darker than the Vandoren, takes less air, and is less flexible. It appears that the tip opening is smaller, but I’ve not measured it.

        Comparing the Drake Phil Woods and the Drake NJ Jazz, it sort of sounds like a Phil Meyer versus a Cannonball Meyer – a difficult choice indeed!

        Would you say the Phil takes less air than the NY Jazz? That the tip openings run equal between the two? Thanks…

        Reply
        • SteveSteve says

          January 31, 2022 at 9:48 am

          I didn’t notice an air difference but I played these two mouthpieces like 5 years apart from one another so it’s not like I played them side by side.

          Reply
          • AvatarJeff Newton says

            January 31, 2022 at 10:01 am

            Hi Steve –

            Aaron Drake just replied: “the NY Jazz is a bit more free blowing than the Phil Woods. They are comparable in terms of brightness.”

            Aaron also stated that the facing curve of the Phil Woods is a “42” …
            which, at 1/2 mm per number, equals a 21 mm curve (per Aaron’s explanation).

            He can make a longer facing curve if the customer so desires.

            Reply
            • SteveSteve says

              January 31, 2022 at 10:18 am

              Interesting. He knows best! I seem to remember the Drake NY Jazz as having a longer facing curve and that’s what I loved so much about it. Longer facing curves can really fatten up the sound in my opinion. It also tends to make it a little more free blowing for harder reeds than a shorter curve.

              Reply
          • AvatarJeff Newton says

            January 31, 2022 at 10:07 am

            Hi Steve –

            I now see that Meyer also currently offers a “Connoisseur” model of the NY reboot … a Cannonball replica, replete with the gold band around the end of the shank. Cannon’s was because his had a crack there, but you have to hand it to Meyer for authenticity here! Maybe this one’s even fatter sounding?

            Reply
            • SteveSteve says

              January 31, 2022 at 10:20 am

              No idea. I have reached out to JJ Babbitt a few times on their website but they have never responded to me unfortunately. With the amount of sax players that come to my site every month to read the reviews you would think they would want to get their mouthpieces reviewed here…….

              Reply
              • AvatarJeff Newton says

                January 31, 2022 at 4:17 pm

                Hi Steve –

                Yes, one would think. I only discovered the Cannonball “connoisseur” model whilst shopping online stores for NY Meyer reboots, and came across it (it’s more expensive than the “regular” NY Meyer roboot, too). My guess is that it’s roughly equal to the Drake NY Jazz in terms of “Cannonballish”
                big, fat, round components, and not as assertive, focused and bright as the Drake Phil Woods. Hopefully J.J. Babbitt sends you one!

                Reply

Leave a Reply to Jeff Newton Cancel reply

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

Primary Sidebar

Steve Neff

Cart


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

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
I’ve been having ‘ online’  lessons with Steve for a few months now. Being a teacher myself I had had some reservations with the idea at first and the practicalities of it .  Let me just say that my playing has taken a huge leaps forward while studying with Steve and continues to do so.Steve studied with some renowned player/teachers such as Bergonzi and Garzone– this in itself is invaluable but Steve teaches from his own books, which cover a a vast amount of  jazz language. Steve h… Read more
David
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’m an experienced player in the pop/soul/funk areas of music and, previously, classical.  Over the decades I’ve been playing, I’ve always felt that I could do what I needed in those styles of music.  However, recently I began to feel limited by my use of the same old licks. When I discovered Steve Neff’s website, and heard the audio examples based on the exercises in his books, I realized they were what I needed.  I purchased all of them and have been working on them since.  It’s very hard work… Read more
Paul

Your material is great! I got your New Altissimo Lesson 6 months ago and I have learned more from that than in all my 44 years of playing! I appreciate your down to earth teaching method and I really appreciate the heart that you teach with. I have been a subscriber to your lessons for the past 6 months and I have learned a great deal. Over that period of time I have had some questions and you have never failed to respond. Thanks! I have already recommended your lessons to a number of players in… Read more

Michael Byington
Steve’s monthly lessons are entirely valuable. Without brow beating, he tells you all the stuff you deep down know you really should be working on, instead of just relying on the same old patterns. In spite of the fact that you’re taking a video lesson, Steve’s presentation is comfortable and “real”. In a little more than a year, he’s developed a library of lessons that seem to offer any player a lifetime’s worth of practice material. I’m just glad I stumbled upon it.… Read more
Grant
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella
I am a music book junkie and I have to say that your books are the most clear, user friendly, and helpful books I own.  They are my absolute favorites and I only wish I had them years ago.  I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience I had in acquiring my degree at Berklee, but my playing has perhaps grown more in the time I’ve spent buried in your books and lessons.  Keep up the great work!!! Thanks, John
John
I bought Steve’s dominant bebop book and took a couple of online lesson from him. I really appreciated Steve’s careful listening of what I wanted to get done in a lesson and his clear, concise ideas on next steps to improve my playing and musical interpretation.  His mastering  the Dominant Bebop Scale has lots of exercises to use a scale that addresses the largest percentage of chords I come across in pop/blues music. The dominant V7.  Needless say it has improved my playing.  I teach and a… Read more
Keith
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
It is so refreshing to have a great player, who can provide lessons and examples in a manner which is understandable to most any enthusiastic saxophonist who is ready to improve. not just the, do this, do that, memorize this, memorize that… while all that is absolutely necessary, you go on to give reasons and examples to explain and validate why you have to do all of these things, the benefits, if you will… that is the key for me, you tell, explain, demonstrate, explain some more, you give perso… Read more
Cedric
Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for being you, your playing, your website and your desire to help others. I’m a professional musician in the US Army and I’ve visited your website almost every day since discovering it a couple of months ago. Your lessons are profound and easy to use. I’ve purchased most of your PDF books and now am starting to delve more into the video and audio lessons.  Thank you for being a great resource!
James
For anyone living in remote areas away from live jazz sax teachers, Neff is the way to go. In fact this is a great resource for anyone seriously interested in mastering the sax. I’ve never been disappointed in a lesson.
Oliver
I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome.  I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you!  I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano.  I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times.  I think I’ll be sticking with tenor.  I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs.  I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (… Read more
Wil

I must say again how much I appreciate all your material. Including the video tutorials. It help keep me focused and knowing what to aim for. And your laid back teaching style appeals to me too. 

Thanks

P

P
I would like to say that in the last year my sax playing has progressed loads from your lessons. I have had a sax for about 20 years and dabbled with lessons from a few teachers and have learnt very little from them. As you have said in your lessons many teachers tell you to use the blues scale and leave it there, not even showing you the resolution points!!. I am now believing I can in time become a good improviser.
Thanks again,
Shane
Shane

Steve, just a note to say thanks.

I’ve been playing a long time, but your material, laid out in such a thoughtful way, helps me to understand concepts in a new and deeper way.

You are a true gift to the jazz community.

60 lessons and going strong,

Kevin Ledbetter

Kevin Ledbetter
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Paul
I just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!
Karin
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
Just to say thanks for your advice and lessons.  I’ve just read your amazing story.  I really appreciate what you do in regards to teaching.  I have bought a couple of your lessons and frankly they’re undersold.   I’ve learned much more with these two lessons than with 2 years of sax teachers.   Thanks so much………..
Mike
I want to say something about Steve Neff’s series of lessons, Beginner Jazz Improvisation. For a couple of years I tried many beginner lessons and my problem was that there was a gap between lessons that were fairly simple and ones that I was not quite ready for and my progress stalled out. That problem was solved with the series Beginner Jazz Improvisation. He guides you step by step along the way and builds a foundation for learning jazz and blues. He leaves no question about what to practice … Read more
Pete
I have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
Thank you for the wealth of helpful lessons you’ve provided over the years.  I truly feel as though it has improved my playing more than the 4 years I spent at Berklee… and that’s not a slight on the school as I loved my experience there.
John
John

Featured Video Lessons

  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $19.99 Original price was: $19.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99.
  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson 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 The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.91 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson 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!

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

  • Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson by Noah
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) by Andy
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Russ
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Timothy
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Ray Holland

Footer

Recent Comments

  • James Ramsey on Joe Allard Overtone Exercise for Saxophone
  • Craig on Lamberson F Major Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece
  • Leo on Phil-Tone Tenor Mouthpiece
  • Randy Cosby on GetASax GS Supersonic 50s Dukoff 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Brian at GetASax on GetASax GS Supersonic 50s Dukoff 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Top rated products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Invitation Tune of the Week-Invitation
    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 © 2005–2025