Review Les Becs d'Autan Florida Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

There are saxophone mouthpieces that are iconic: the Otto Link Double Ring or Florida for the tenor saxophone, for example. The special reputation of these mouthpieces is based on the fact that that the most famous jazz musicians played them and created a sound that still shapes perception today.

But the quality scattering of Otto Link products has always been noticeable. The great soloists often had their Otto Link mouthpieces revised: the so-called refacing is not an invention of our time!

Several manufactures produce replicas of these mouthpieces: Sakshama, Phil Tone, Gottsu, Ted Klum, Theo Wanne, Guardala... The question of how close the modern variants reach the historical ones is the subject of countless discussions, which are often heated and passionate. However, this ist actually irrelevant: because there are many variants of the the original Otto Link mouthpieces, which have different properties and therefore do not sound the same. Of importance here is only: if the respective mouthpiece is playable, this replica works and its sound corresponds to the ideas.

The small French company Les Becs d'Autan, founded by Philippe Momal, has been producing the Les Becs d'Autan Florida model since 2024. The production is based on both, state-of-the-art CNC technology and traditional manual work. Each mouthpiece is optimized by hand and undergoes meticulous quality control. It is possible to include personal preferences in the proaction of the mouthpiece when ordering a Florida, in consultation with Philippe. In any case, what stands out is the high quality of the design: the entire body, its finish, chamber, rollover baffle, side walls, tip and side rails of the mouthpiece are manufactured with extreme precision. When you hold the Florida in your hand, you can recognize the care and attention to detail that define the production process of this mouthpiece.

For comparison, the Super D FL of the American manufacture Retro Revival and the Double Ring of the Japanese company Gottsu are available, the latter in the two model variance Gottsu Double Ring and Master 2022.

The Les Becs d'Autan Florida is much closer to the two models of the Japanese manufctor: the French version, like Gottsu Double ring and Master 2022, has a larger chamber than the Retro Revival Super D FL. As with the Gottsu models, the sidewalls of the Les Becs d'Autun are noticeably hollowed out, deeper than those of the Super D FL from the USA. The Retro Revival Florida is equipped with a longer and slightly flatter rollover baffle than the corresponding Japanese and French product variants. Gottsu an Les Becs d'Autun use a shorter rollover baffle and a baffle, which descends deeper and steeper into a large, rounded chamber: Gottsu and Les Becs d'Autun sound darker and warmer than the Retro Revival, which also has a slightly more nasal component in the sound spectrum due to this concept.

The blowing resistance is at a similar low level for all mouthpieces mentioned here. Gottsu Double Ring and Master 2022 are equipped with a slightly higher resistance, but also sound the most colorful and rich.

While the rollover baffle of the Gottsu Master 2022 flows softly into the curved baffle, that of Les Becs d'Autun is more clearly offset from the course of the baffle: Steve Neffe correctly suspects in his review of the Les Becs d'Autun that this Florida replica of Philippe refers to the later so called "NO USA Florida Models" by Otto Link. Anyway: the Les Becs d'Autun is an outstanding mouthpiece! This Florida model articulates extremely fast and accurately. It has an extreme dynamic range. The mouthpiece allows a very precise control of the intonation and tuning in all registers. The response is pleasant, very light and fast over the entire range of the instrument. The mouthpiece can be blown exceptionally smoothly. Its sound is complex: slightly brighter than the sound produced with the Gottsu Double Ring or Master 2022. However, as with the Gottsu models, the same robust, dark and deep core of the sound ist perceived.

The mouthpiece is extremely reed-friendly: wood, synthetic, hard or soft reeds, no matter what cut, this Florida model from France interacts with all reeds optimally if they are of good quality.

The sound is complex: a dark, clearly defined full core, all kinds of overtones around it. The mouthpiece sound extremely round, fat, warm an colorful, but with a wonderful shine that surrounds the tone spectrum and develops an extraordinary presence. A very rich tone!

In short: this Florida from the production of Les Becs d'Autun is an excellent, successful mouthpiece! It is undoubtedly one of the best mouthpieces, which are in the tradition of the classic Otto Link Florida mouthpieces of the sixties. Philippe Momal has designed a great tenor saxophone mouthpiece and produces it at the highest technical level.

Link: Les Becs d'Autan

Review Les Becs d'Autan Florida Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

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