The Uptowns are listed in order of brightness, from brightest to darkest.
The change in tone is mainly in the mid and upper registers -- the lowest
register will be very full on all the Uptowns.
Uptown™ Live
The
Uptown Live is the result of many many hours of research and collaboration,
and combines the quickness of a Guardala or Dukoff with the fat sound
and great midrange of a Link. This is Nick Franciosa's
main mouthpiece currently.
Available tip openings (in inches):
MP3 sound sample (Uptown Live .112, Nick Franciosa) : Streaming | Download
Uptown Live price: $250.
Uptown™ Slant
Inspired
by the great Florida Link Slant Sig mouthpieces from the '60's, and
players like Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane. This mouthpiece has a
moderate straight baffle behind the tip rail, followed by a rollover,
into a concave "channel" baffle, which gives it that dark
core sound -- that much sought after "Link" quality. The Uptown
Slant projects well due to the medium-large chamber and gets
that "fat" sound from the curved sidewalls. Articulation is
very precise due to the clearly defined tip rail, and a certain amount
of blowing resistance is designed in to give it the right feel. Originally
this model was known as the standard Uptown.
Available tip openings (in inches):
MP3 sound sample (Uptown .110) : Streaming | Download
Uptown Slant price $250.
Uptown™ NF
The
Uptown NF was designed in collaboration with Nick Franciosa,
who worked with Dave Guardala as a horn tester, and had much experience
with trying many of Dave's best pieces. This piece is based on Nick's
killer metal Link, designed to have the sonority and quickness of the
best metal Links but to have great projection and response with less
effort. It has a rollover baffle that starts immediately at the tip
and extends about 3/8 of an inch into a trough-shaped baffle, which
adds complex harmonics. The sidewalls are scooped out leading into a
very large chamber, which gives it the characteristic Link sound. The
rails are thin and precisely shaped to give an even response over the
full range of the horn.
Available tip openings (in inches):
MP3 sound sample (Uptown NF .112) : Streaming | Download
Uptown NF price: $250.
Uptown™ Dark
Inspired by the great Otto Link hard rubber Slant Sig mouthpieces from the '60's, and players like Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane. This mouthpiece has a moderate rollover, into a concave "channel" baffle, which gives it that dark core sound -- that much sought after "Link" quality. The Uptown Dark has a slightly spread sound due to the scooped side walls, but still has plenty of projection, focus, and response. Articulation is very precise due to the clearly defined tip rail, and a certain amount of blowing resistance is designed in with the slightly wider rails, to give it the right feel. Recommended tip openings are .090 to .106 for the most typical "Link" sound and response, but I can make it in any desired opening.
Available tip openings (in inches):
MP3 sound sample (Uptown Dark .100) : Streaming | Download
Uptown Dark price: $250.
Uptown™ Xtra Dark
The new Uptown Xtra Dark is the darkest sounding Saxscape mouthpiece available. A deep rich sound that's great for introspective searching performance. This model is currently being played by Jimmy Greene and Benny Golson.
Available tip openings (in inches):
MP3 sound samples of the Uptown Xtra Dark:
Ken Barry playing 104 tip opening : Streaming
| Download
Jimmy Greene playing 120 tip opening: Streaming
| Download
Uptown Xtra Dark price: $250.