Could be a bad reed? I play on vandoren javas all the time and they play loud at the top...but I do have a brancher because it seems to work well with my brancher mouthpieces, they're pretty good. my friends use Rico Royal jazz selects..

Alexander Superials 3.5 or Vandoren ZZ's 3.5 also try a rovner ligature

Maggie do you know a store that will let you pick your reeds? If you can pick them, you have a better chance getting some good ones. Try a Vandoren traditional 2 1/2 and a La Voz medium. Ligatures are not a big deal; Your Otto Link ligature is fine. If your reed is too stiff for you, you will lose the vibrance and flexibility of your tone. If it is not stiff enough, it will close up under extreme pressure. Good luck with that :) Terry

you may try a V16 reed, they work well for me. also you may want to try an oleg lig. they work well up top. i dont know how they will fit the link with ridge on the top, i have never put one on a link. though i do see professionals using the stock lig most of the time on the links and can thrugh the altissimo rnage easily, so that may not be the problem

Well I should be able to help. I played a Conn 6M for 8 years with a Jumbo Java and Java Reeds. I really don't like metal moutpieces, just a preference. I allway used 2.5 reeds, I personally hate 3's in Jazz. I have yet to play a horn I sound good on in Jazz with that size reed. I play 3's on Legit, but only if I am playing first part. Play 2.5 on second part. I just don't get that fat sound out of 3's. I spend all my time fighting the reed. In College/High School players get too caught up on thick reeds. I tend to play on a jazz reed for about 3 months(probaby too long, but I hate working on reeds), Vanoren case kept when I am not playing it. I don't play gigs(not by choice) so just practice and a few performances and jam sessions. So my suggestion is try 2.5 reeds, maybe not right out of the box but go through all the steps you would to get a reed ready like water cup, sealing the back and end, and checking the face for uneven with sandpaper. After that compare thouse reeds to 3s. I think you will like 2.5 better, ya they won't alast as long but you will have more enjoyment blowing on them, just be aware that they will sound thiner on the top end. I mentally focus the pitch down in the upper range, knowing it will go sharp. Just remember, just because the notes are high, they should still have a exact pitch focus. Don't loose track of the tone.