Nicolas Trefeil


Becs saxophone - Refacing- Rectification - Refaçage - Mouthpiece service - Vintage saxophones.

 



Johnny Griffin mouthpieces




Johnny Griffin was a great tenor saxophone player with a distinctive sound.

He reworked himself his mouthpieces ( he used is drillig machine to work on the inside of the chamber)


From a refacer point of view, each mouthpiece is literally destroyed ( with convex table, very asymetric facings, destroyed roof, poor finish etc...) but Johnny Griffin played them and he played well.


He used very sof reeds ( Rico 1 1/2 ) and original Link ligature.


Here is below 4 Otto Link mouthpieces he worked and used.



1/ Otto Link Improved Tone Master (1946-1949)




Improved Tone Master (1946-1949)



This is the first mouthpiece used by Johnny Griffin.


Johnny worked on this mouthpiece.


* He opened it to 7*


* He worked on the facing lenght at

   39 mm (!) on the longest side rail.


* He worked on the table until it was

   convex and absolutely destroyed.

   

Tip opening
2,65 mm/ 2,70 mm - 104"/106"



2/ Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida no usa n° 10*



Otto Link Super tone Master Florida no usa n° 10*


Johnny Reworked this mouthpiece.


* He removed all roll over baffle until the roof was destroyed and tooth rest plate visible...


* He reworked the facing at 33 mm lenght (!) and lowered the tip opening from 3,43 mm (10*) to 3,12 mm (9/9*).



Tip Opening
3,12 mm - 129 "



3/ Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida usa  n° 10



Otto Link super Tone Master Florida usa  n°10


Johnny reworked this moutpiece.


* He  Removed all roll over baffle until the roof was as thin as a sheet of cigarett paper (!)


* He Opened the inside chamber with his drilling machine.


* He worked on the table wich is very convex with a facing lenght of 40 mm(!) on the longest side rail.


* He tried to keep the original tip opening.(9*/10)

Tip Opening
3,14 mm / 3,30 mm - 124 "/ 130 "



4/ Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida usa n° 10*



Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida usa n° 10*


Johnny also worked on this mouthpiece


* He worked on the table ( which is now

  convex) and facing with a facing lenght of 38

  mm (!) on the longest side rail.


* He removed the roll over baffle


* He tried to keep the original tip opening. (10/10*)

Tip opening
3,35 / 3,41 mm - 132" / 134 "