JodyJazz Hand Hammered 8* Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Watch the full video review below!

This is my review of the JodyJazz Hand Hammered 8*, a metal saxophone mouthpiece from JodyJazz. Full disclosure, this mouthpiece was sent to me for free by JodyJazz, but that does not change my opinions about the mouthpiece. I am always honest and truthful in my reviews of saxophone mouthpieces and professional playing equipment.

That said, I am actually not a big fan of gear reviews in general. The reason is that I have been playing my setup, with a JodyJazz DV 8* for over a decade, and I am not looking to switch mouthpieces. I know this mouthpiece extremely well, inside and out. Because of that, anything I compare to it will automatically start with a disadvantage, simply because of how familiar I am with the DV.

Now, that being said, let us dive into this saxophone mouthpiece review of the JodyJazz Hand Hammered 8* metal saxophone mouthpiece.

Design

Before getting into how the Hand Hammered actually plays, I want to get out of the way just how beautiful this metal saxophone mouthpiece is. Immediately when I unpacked it, and even before that from the pictures I had seen, it was clear that this is a really gorgeous looking mouthpiece.

They sent me the gold version of the Hand Hammered. There is also a rose gold version limited to 300 pieces, a real collector’s item. The gold version itself looks beautiful, and the hand hammered power ring gives the mouthpiece a very distinctive visual character. Before playing it, I was curious whether the hand hammering would actually affect the sound as they claim.

The weight is immediately noticeable. It is a large, heavy mouthpiece, so you should be careful when putting it on your saxophone neck.

Looking inside, the mouthpiece has a flat, slightly rolled-over baffle. The internal design immediately reminded me of some of my Otto Link Super Tone Master mouthpieces.

A Modern Super Tone Master?

From the very first notes, the Hand Hammered immediately reminded me of my Otto Link mouthpieces. I own three Links from different periods, and the Hand Hammered shares some of those classic characteristics, but it feels more free-blowing. It is easier to play, more vibrant, and gives me more directions to take the sound. The overall character is that rich, warm, spread sound that many players look for in a Link-style setup, but here it comes in a modern mouthpiece.

While this is not the type of mouthpiece I normally go for, since I prefer the more focused core I get from the high baffle on my DV, I still found it extremely fun and inviting to play. It almost felt like putting on a mask and being a different saxophonist for a moment, and it genuinely made me want to keep playing it.

Why This Will Not Be My Main Mouthpiece

As I mentioned earlier, my main sound concept is built around a brighter, more projecting sound with a focused core, the type of sound associated with players like Michael Brecker, Bob Berg, Jan Garbarek, and Bendik Hofseth. That is the sound I hear and aim for, and my DV 8* makes that easier to achieve partly because of its high baffle.

The Hand Hammered comes with a different sound ideal. I still sound like myself on it, and I even brought it to a jazz gig just for fun, but it naturally pulls me toward a different sound ideal. At times it reminded me more of players like Chris Potter or even John Coltrane. It is incredibly fun and inviting to play.

It will not become my main mouthpiece going forward, but it will absolutely be my second tenor mouthpiece. I will use it regularly in my home studio when recording big band projects where I play multiple saxophone parts. I often switch mouthpieces between first and second tenor, or first and second alto, to avoid overtone collisions and phasing issues, especially in unison passages. Using a different mouthpiece or a different reed setup helps separate the voices more clearly. In those situations, the Hand Hammered will be a perfect tool for me. I will also bring it out at gigs now and then, purely for fun and inspiration.

It is worth mentioning that when Jody sent it to me, he said that the 8* tip opening seemed to be the sweet spot for this model. This is the only tip opening I have played on the Hand Hammered, but it immediately felt comfortable and familiar to me, which makes sense since my DV is also an 8*. I tested it with D’Addario Select Jazz 3H Unfiled reeds, and the setup felt very balanced right away.

I love the mouthpiece and I think it sounds fantastic for this type of sound. It is simply not my primary sound direction, and that is the only reason it will not be my main mouthpiece.

Watch the video below for my full review and play-test of the JodyJazz Hand Hammered 8*.