[HonkBopSax]

While I'm no gas/gear head, I happened upon an old short shank Dukoff a bit ago and sent it to Brian to work his magic. Though she is currently being overnighted back to me, check out the pictures on my blog. His work is stunning. I'll report more tomorrow when I get the piece. I've played pieces that he has refaced before and all were exceptional, but take a look at how clean this work is. This thing was a WRECK when I sent it!

 

[eddierich]

Agreed. I sent Brian a jacked up long shank Soloist a while back and it came back a totally different piece, both in appearance and in playing. He does great work.

 

[ZenBen]

It'll play better than it looks...

 

[brianpowell]

THANKS GUYS!!!
Ben- is that little Aimee? What a beautiful picture, you've got her started early!
How is the move to Vegas treating you, Eddie?
I'll be looking forward to a full report, Eric. Nice blog, man, I'll have to check it out some more.

 

[10mfan]

Brian and Erik of www.mouthpieceguys.com

are the BEST!

I have had 100+ mouthpieces refaced by these guys, and they are the best out there in my opinion...very fast turn over time, impecable work, very reasonably priced, and 2 true gentlemen.

I get in loads of mouthpieces, and when they dont play right--- I spend the money and have them made as perfect as they can play by these guys.

I couldnt speak any higher about both these artisans....they are just fantastic.

Many of you have got mouthpieces from me that they worked on, so maybe you can add to this posting and share your experiences of their work with others here who want to know who they can trust their refacing work to.

Mark
10mfan

 

[Nefertiti]

Eric,
You crack me up! Your so excited your posting about it before you even got it back. That's anticipation!
As far as Brian Powell, I sent him 3 pieces and he did such a great job on them I just sent him 4 more. The 4 pieces I sent him are all refaced pieces by famous people but I want brian to work on them. He did a Meyer G for me that is outstanding. He also did a great job on a NY link that I had. I can't wait to get these 4 back from him.

 

[HonkBopSax]

I just got it in the mail, and am heading home in a few to play it. I don't have more than 1 piece at a time and don't mess around with mouthpieces anymore, so my excitement is a little more than normal. But it looks incredible. I can't wait to try it. This piece was a wreck when I got it - and it looks like it was stored in a time capsule now. I'll report back in a few hours!

Eric,
You crack me up! Your so excited your posting about it before you even got it back. That's anticipation!
As far as Brian Powell, I sent him 3 pieces and he did such a great job on them I just sent him 4 more. The 4 pieces I sent him are all refaced pieces by famous people but I want brian to work on them. He did a Meyer G for me that is outstanding. He also did a great job on a NY link that I had. I can't wait to get these 4 back from him.

 

[Nefertiti]

If we never hear back from you we'll know it was too good and you just died and went to heaven.

 

[Nefertiti]

do you have any before pics?

 

[HonkBopSax]

That's not a far off possibility. It looks amazing. I'm heading home now to play a bit. If I'm not back by 1, somebody call the paramedics.

 

[brasscane]

Brian Powell

I sent Brian Powell some Zagar Vintage Bell Bronze pieces that played very nicely but lacked power and some edge. I had been unsure of what to do with them as they in spite of the noted shortcomings had qualities that made them worth keeping and apparently poor resale value compared to the $350 they cost me a piece in the first place. So off to Brian they went after we had discussed the them over the phone. Brian didn't make any lofty promises until he looked at the pieces. When he did, he said that they weren't bad to begin with but he did think he could make them better to accomodate my requests (opening to add a tad of baffle among other adjustments he devised). He did exactly that, I mean 100%, in a timely manner. On top of that he is a most courteous and friendly guy and does not charge until the work is being done. Finally, his prices are more than reasonable. Brian turned some so, so playing pieces into great ones for a fraction of the initial cost. Some of the best money I have spent on saxophone gear, which (unfortunatly) says a lot.

 

[Bob M]

If I'm not back by 1, somebody call the paramedics.

I have 1:15 Eastern Daylight Time....someone call the fire department!!!!

 

[HonkBopSax]

I just accidentally took a 2 hour lunch courtesy of my Powell-ized Dukoff. So the setup is a Couf Superba 1 and Alexander DC3.5 reeds. I started 5 new reeds and soaked my 5 current reeds. I started with my old reeds since they were already broken in. The mouthpiece blew effortlessly and with a huge, huge, HUGE sound. A little bright, but I attributed that to the reeds being a month+ old at this point. At that point, it was responding exactly as I'd hoped, blew more effortlessly than my Link, and with a bigger sound.

THEN I started in on the new reeds. Holy s**t. An even bigger sound, from low Bb up to 3xD. The sound is my own, but the tone is just huge and lush but with a bit more edge if I really pushed it. I put the Link back on and it made me realize that I know have two insanely good mouthpieces, but that, at least for the first two hours, the Dukoff has clearly bumped my Link to a backup position.

Brian did EXACTLY as I hoped. I had said that I wanted the core sound to remain the same, just wanted a wider tip opening. He didn't try to turn it into what his concept of a Link or Dukoff should be - he just turned this thing into a monster piece. The work is pristine, it is exactly as I'd hoped, and I've never been happier.

I've got a gig tonight and tomorrow, and am doing horn parts for 2 discs this weekend at a studio in town, and am excited to have the Dukoff to do so.

Two hours flew by and before I knew it, it was 1:45. Unfortunately now, I'm back at work, listening to Dexter play 'Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry'.

THANK YOU BRIAN!

 

[Dr G]

Glad to hear you get a decent break, Eric. Very cool.

I'm curious, what size was it and what is it now?

Oh yeah, let me know first when you get tired of it.

 

[HonkBopSax]

Dr. G,

it was marked a 4*, but measured a 5*. Brian opened it up to a VERY comfortable .106. The work he did is stunning - nice clean table, wide open chamber and low baffle. It is incredibly easy to play, and even at soft volumes has a very focused and strong sound.

I highly doubt I'll be selling this one. In fact, I'm sending my Link off to Brian next week to have him take a look at it.

 

[Dr G]

That sounds like a sweet setup. I think you're going to learn to enjoy playing on a smaller tip opening.

Not selling? Does that mean you're going to give it to me? Schweeeeet! I'll pretend it's a birthday surprise.

 

[jacobeid]

I've never played any of Brians pieces, but my friend plays a tone edge that Erik worked up for him and it's great! I've played a few other pieces Erik has worked on and they're fantastic.

Great prices too.