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Otto Link STM 10*

It looks like my acoustic setup is finally complete.
The sound (pun intended) difference between my old Amati Classic Super (290/2 facing, stainless steel) mouthpiece and newly acquired Otto Link Super Tone Master (10* facing, gold-plated bell metal) is impossible not to notice.
It was clear enough even when I test-drove 8* about a month ago (I tried to be as objective as I could, so at the store I picked an instrument closest to mine - YTS62, and a Vandoren Traditional #3 reed), the sound was wider and fuller; that mellow fuzzy hiss I used to work so hard to produce, would come out effortlessly. Needless to say, that 10* does everything even better (I had no idea they make those, I thought 9* was the top number available), and the combination of 10* and #3 Vandoren ZZ (JaZZ) reed completely elimintated those nasty squeaks in upper register, which would pop-up once in a while, if I wasn't careful enough.
Merry Christmas to me.
That trip to the W 48 St. Sam Ash Manhattan Music Store was very educational in another sence, too: I tried, finally, the horn, I read so much about: Selmer Reference 54 Tenor (brushed finish).
As beautiful (with the exception of somewhat unpleasant green tint of the finish - I would prefer a warmer yellow hue), as it is well-crafted and good-sounding, Ref 54 is one fine instrument. Well, it should be, considering it's hefty price tag - nearly $2,000 over my Yamaha Z82. The difference between the two, however, is not all that dramatic, at least, in my honest oppinion. I found the Frenchman a little lighter, and the mechanics a bit more convenient for my fingers; tone-wise, it sounded slightly different, a tad darker, I thought, but, once again: the difference was not even near the level, where one could say "wow, this is so much better, where is the nearest pound shop, for this is where my current piece of S-shaped scrap metal is going", no. It was just slightly different, that's all.
Although I really liked it, I am, however, convinced, that by just switching the brand of reeds, one could achieve more profound change in sound, not to mention replacing the mouthpiece :)

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