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<\/a><\/p>\nPhil-Tone Sapphire Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n As you can see from the pictures, the Sapphire looks a bit different than a typical hard rubber Otto Link blank.\u00a0 The hard rubber looks good to me and has that authentic “hard rubber” smell.\u00a0 (Those of you that have played many hard rubber mouthpieces know what I am talking about………)\u00a0 The table, rails and tip look great.\u00a0 The baffle slopes down smoothly into a large chamber.\u00a0 The sidewalls are scooped out and the roof of the chamber is nice and thin.<\/p>\n Phil-Tone Sapphire Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n The Sapphire mouthpiece I have received is a 7 tip opening (.100 tip opening)\u00a0 Usually, this feels a bit small for me but this mouthpiece feels and blows more like a 7* for me.\u00a0 The facing length on this mouthpiece is a 48.\u00a0 Most of the mouthpieces I review have around a 50 facing length.\u00a0 If you read my blog article on facing lengths you will see that many times a shorter facing length will give a bit more volume and brightness to the sound. I’m not sure if that is true in every circumstance but this mouthpiece certainly has some nice power and zing to it for a 7 tip opening that is for sure.<\/p>\n The chamber of the mouthpiece looks to be the same size as a typical hard rubber link chamber although Phil tells me it is about 8-10% bigger than an Early Babbitt chamber size.\u00a0 The roof of the chamber under the table is nice and thin also which I have heard can make a mouthpiece more free blowing and easier to get a ton of air through.<\/p>\n Phil-Tone Sapphire Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n A Rigotti Gold 3 Light reed was perfect on it.\u00a0 A 3 medium might be great also but I ran out of those last week.\u00a0 (I have to order some more……)\u00a0 The diameter of the body is similar in size to a typical hard rubber Otto Link.<\/p>\n Phil-Tone Sapphire Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n The Sapphire played great for me.\u00a0 It blew like a great hard rubber link although I will say that I have played very few over the years that had this kind of power in them……….\u00a0 It has a nice resistance to it that I could blow against and use to shape and mold the sound.\u00a0 I could get some nice volume and brightness out of it when I pushed it which you can hear on the recording.\u00a0\u00a0 It is very smooth and even throughout the range of the horn.\u00a0 I love it when a mouthpiece is like that because it really seems to effect my technique and help me to play faster.\u00a0 The mouthpiece sub-toned great and got a nice lush sound on the low notes.\u00a0 When I listen back to the clip below, the tone is rich and thick.\u00a0 It has a nice depth and complexity to it.<\/p>\n Phil says that the Sapphire is a mouthpiece that is inspired by the Early Babbitt Otto Links and I can hear that when I am playing the mouthpiece.\u00a0 The Early Babbitts were known for having more brightness and power than the Slant model Otto Links.\u00a0 As you can hear from this recording, this mouthpiece leans in that direction also.\u00a0 Although it was inspired by the Early Babbitt mouthpieces,\u00a0 the core and mold for it were not cast directly from any vintage link.\u00a0 Phil says he was aiming for a hard rubber mouthpiece that has that late Florida to Early Babbitt type tone and vibe.<\/p>\n Phil-Tone Sapphire Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece<\/strong><\/p>\n The Phil-Tone Sapphire was a complete joy to play. If you like the sound of the clip below and the mouthpiece catches your interest then give it a try. You can contact Phil on his website at www.phil-tone.com<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 Phil has told me that because these mouthpieces are hand finished they can be dialed in to be darker or brighter for each players tastes.\u00a0 Tell him Steve sent you………….Great work Phil!!<\/p>\n Let me know what you think in the comments below. Thanks, Steve<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n