Otto Link Super Tonemaster Alto 5*

I don?t have a lot of experience I have to say, so please treat this with a pinch of salt. Until recently I was playing a Yamaha 4C. I was always very pleased with the 4C, but I wanted to try out a metal mouthpiece. My first purchase was a second hand Berg Larsen 95. This was too extreme for me, sounded good, but after 32 bars my mouth was dead. Also with the BL playing low notes quietly was impossible (loud easy!), and the high Eb squeaked especially if I didn?t place the reed extremely accurately.

The Otto Link 5* is a completely different kettle of fish. You can play low Bb quietly, hit the high notes without squeaking. I feel happy in a concert orchestra and a big band. It sounds much less "metallic" than the BL, and naturally with the smaller tip opening you can't do all the effects that some people want to do. However, at my current stage that doesn't trouble me. I play it with a Legere Signature 2 1/4.

I would say, treat the ratings and best sellers on this website with care. If I had followed then I would have ordered a 6* or 7*. Far better go to Thomann try out all the different sizes and decide what is right for you at this point in time. Perhaps 7* will be right for me in 5 years time, but it definitely isn't now!

The only down side for me was the ligature. Placing the reed accurately was hard, and the reed sometimes moved. The Rovner 3ML was a great improvement.

To summarise I would say it is an ideal first all round metal mouthpiece for someone who is still on a Yamaha 4C, and wants to try metal, and wants an "easy" metal mouthpiece.