I ordered this mouthpiece from Thomann with high expectations, and I must say – I am more than pleasantly surprised. Jody Espina truly deserves credit – when he says he’s a perfectionist, you can feel it in every single aspect of his products. The Custom Dark 4 is masterfully designed and refined down to the finest detail.
The tone is warm, beautiful, and incredibly musical. Sound production is effortless and natural, whether you’re playing softly or powerfully. The mouthpiece responds evenly across all registers – low and high – with no squeaks or inconsistencies. Every reed I tried plays with a solid, well-balanced sound.
I use Vandoren Java Green 1.5 and 2, as well as Vandoren ZZ, and they all match this mouthpiece perfectly. One of the most impressive aspects is the material – hard rubber made under the Chedeville license. It’s important to note that Jody Espina himself purchased the Chedeville brand and now owns the license, which allows him full control over the quality and sound concept – something that truly sets this mouthpiece apart.
On clarinet, I play a Jody Jazz HR 6*, and when I placed the Custom Dark 4 on my alto saxophone, I got that same professional feeling and inspiration. On both instruments, the experience is rich, expressive, and consistent.
I highly recommend this mouthpiece to any fellow saxophonist looking for a professional, elegant, and trustworthy piece, built by a true craftsman with an obsession for detail. The Custom Dark 4 isn’t just great sounding – it’s genuinely inspiring
