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Has anyone tried the Otto Link Vintage series hard rubber mouthpeces? I`ve beeu using a Dukoff M7 metal for 27 years. Now that I`m an old f**t (73) there are the physical changes. I no longer have to battle loud drummers,B3 Organs,and playing in big bands,etc.
I am playing in smaller rooms for 50 or less people. I use a Roland B330 amp (30lbs,and stereo), and MP3`s. Mainly playing standards and 50`s,60`s pop.I also double on Clarinet and Flute.I`m looking for a hard rubber mouthpiece that will give me a darker,breathlier(spelling?) tone,with a little edge.Any suggestions much appreciated.
Thanks
Chuck
Chuck
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Hi Chuck. I'm much more a trumpet/flugelhorn player but I double on soprano sax and flutes for audience shock value. I have a Mark VI tenor and use a VanDoren metal tenor mouthpiece with that. I've played rubber and metal Otto Link 6 and 6* on the tenor and found surprisingly little difference in metal versus rubber. When you say you want a little 'edge', I think that means metal, but 'darker' means rubber. But again, a player can get a mellow & dark or bright & edgy sound out of either material. Breathier means larger aperture with perhaps a harder reed, going for a Coleman Hawkins sound? I'm ten years younger than you, but I understand about supplying all that air. Interestingly, I find the metal mouthpieces easier to blow, and therefore requiring slightly less air support. That could just be me, though.
FYI, in the woodwinds, I primarily play a Yamaha soprano with a Yanagisawa 5 metal mouthpiece.
Best of luck!
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Thank you for your input Matt.I`ve gotten a lot of informantion on the fourms over the years.I also double Clarinet,Flute,and soprano on gigs.You might be interested since you play soprano too. I play a Rudy Weidof (not sure about spelling)Busher striaght soprano that was made in either the late 20`s or early 30`s. It`s heavy horn brass with I believe a chrome finish.I bought out of an estate in 67,and had it repaded once in all these years. Anyway thank you,and I enjoy your music and fourm posts. Keeo Swingin` Chuck 
Chuck
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Chuck, check your PM inbox.
--Mac
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Oh my, those old Buescher saxes sound so nice! But they really are like herding cats: impossible to play without lipping every other note. My friend from whom I got the Selmer tenor also played a 1920-vintage Conn soprano, same thing. Heavy, very hefty. Glorious sound but too much fighting to play in tune. My hat's off to you if you can handle those.
Here's one you'll enjoy. I just did a sideman recording gig arranging horn tracks for a singer-songwriter. I wrote a unison line for flugelhorn and soprano sax, and nailed it pitch-wise - two of the more difficult instruments to play in tune (but my two favorites).
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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replied to your PM hope you recieved it.
Chuck
Chuck
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Matt!
Aggreed on intonation,but once you really put in the time to practice and learn the nuances of the instrument it becomes eaiser. When I was with the Miller band Lenny Hambro the lead alto player,and band manger played an old Martin and sounded great. That gig kept me busy,I was playing Bari,Alto,Clar,Bs. Clar,and Flute.The old Miller medleys "Something Old,Something New,etc. would keep me hopping.I`ll let you guess what the most requested song was.Did a couple of tours with Les Elgart,lead Alto,and the ride Tenor chair.Very unique sound and style;last of the Big Bands with a reconizable style.
Take care,and stay warm.
Chuck
Chuck
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Oh goodness, you are a serious musician. That's a very nice credential!
Chuck, here's a short story you might enjoy. As you know, I am a flugelhorn player. I picked up flute in college when the other music majors needed a piece played and no one played flute. Thirty years later, I was regularly the guest artist in an area college jazz ensemble, on lead trumpet. One summer, the director called up and asked if I would play again, but there was a catch: he needed me on tenor sax. I told him I never played sax. He said "no problem, I'll give you one over the summer".
So I learned the school's beat-up Bundy, worked my way up to an Otto Link 6, and played lead tenor that fall. I then bought the soprano about 12 years ago, and I use it when my trumpet chops get tired. Along the way, I picked up a Yamaha WX5, and on one show I played the lead trumpet book, the flute book, and the acoustic bass book using the Yamaha!
In case you ever ran into some of the tenor players I worked with, Andy Haig (who had the Mark VI I now have) and Leo Russo were the best. I was also the trumpet player for Nick Brignola, Grammy-winning bari player and Woody Herman alum - a real burner.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I have an old 1925 silver plate King Alto that has intonation issues, but the voice of an angel. My old early serial number Mark VI also had challenging intonation issues. Mark VII sounded worse, but played in tune. H.Couf was reasonable, and the Grassi better. My new MacSax classic has the best intonation of any sax I've owned (but I haven't owned that many). I suppose the manufacturing techniques of saxes in regards to intonation have improved over the years. The only Link hard rubber mouthpiece I've ever played is a 6 and it gives me a Getz-like tone. But I don't use it because I play a lot of rock and blues (jazz doesn't put enough food on the table). I use a Link metal (tone master 8 with NY chamber) to get a darker Texas Tenor sound. In general, the bigger the tip opening and chamber, the darker it will sound, and the softer reed you will need. The problem with mouthpieces is that you can't easily try them out before buying one. Woodwind & Brasswind used to let you do so years ago (before being purchased by Guitar Center) but you had to pay a sterilization charge if you returned it. I don't know if they still do that or not. You can find a lot about mouthpieces by going to the Sax On The Web forum http://forum.saxontheweb.net/forum.php but be aware, mouthpieces are almost a fetish item (or worse a religious cult item) among some sax players so expect a very lively discussion if you ask there. If you think PC vs. Mac discussions are lively, you ain't read nothin' yet  Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
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And amazingly no matter what horn he played, even the Grafton, his tone still sounded like Bird.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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I've known a scant few other sax players who could pick up and play just about any horn, any mouthpiece, and get the true Tempered Scale out of the things, and every one of them also had their own tone or sound as well.
Used to enjoy playing with Ned Gould up in Pittsburgh in the early 80's when we both were a lot younger, Ned had this old C Melody sax that he used like a Soprano. Silver plated horn, nobody else could play it with good intonation. But Ned could. Ned could make Grover Washington Jr. tunes of the era sound wonderful, on that tiny little C Melody sax from another era.
Ned ended up playing in Harry Connick's bigband. Unique player, unique sound. Never afraid to experiment. Sense of humor, IMO one of the most important aspects of our craft, never take yourself too seriously, but be dead serious about the music. I hope I didn't damage him too badly with my Rhodes playing, heh. Ned, Me, and a guy we named, "Joe Blow" on Bass, backing up The Marcels doowop singers, playin' weddings, jammin' at the drop of a hat...
Lost contact with young Mr. Gould and next thing I know I see him on TV with Harry Connick Jr. Go Ned!
--Mac
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It's always fun to see an old friend in an unsuspected place.
I'll second the 'Go Ned'.
I recently saw a girl I went to school with (French Horn player back then) was singing backups with Bob Seger.
So I Googled her, and found out a lot of cool things have happened to her since our high school days.
She attended my grandmothers funeral a few years back (maybe 3 years or so).
I had no idea of the circle she was currently working in or I'd have asked more questions!
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
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Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
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Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
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These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
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