[Ken]

I don't know much about these mouthpieces but am posting for a friend who is looking for a Brilhart 4 tenor piece. I looked at Theo Wanne's page https://theowanne.com/knowledge/mouthpiece-museum/brilhart-mouthpieces/ and was wondering what the Carlsbad era ones sell for. I'm guessing about $100 based on a quick search here. I see one on ebay listed at $175. Is there a most desirable era? It looks like Zoot Sims and Gene Ammons played on this model.

 

[Sigmund451]

I believe zoot played the hard rubber version which is very different from the plastic version played by Ammons. FWIW I make a version out of much better resin than the old ones that run the risk of cracking since the originals are sixty plus year old plastic. Also sizes are kind of random on Brilharts. Its hard to know without measuring what you are actually getting. Tonalins sell for more butnare extremely prone to shank cracks and splits. The Hard rubber version sells for 3 or 4 bills and sounds very different than the straight sidewall resin pieces. Not that one is better than the other, just completely different pieces.

 

[Ken]

Thanks Phil.

 

[Aquarian]

I can't speak for vintage Brilharts or for tenor, but I own an alto Philtone Orion and it's so good it put every other mouthpiece in the drawer. It plays amazingly well and has a great tone, the more I work with it the less I like my other mouthpieces.

 

[JohnInDenver]

I'm sort of fixated on Ebolins on tenor, and I can say they really are all over the board. Generally, people agree that the older examples with serial numbers are better, but there's no guarantee. I've got examples with serial numbers that suck, and examples without serial numbers that play great. I have a Carlsbad example and it plays pretty dark, but I certainly wouldn't conclude that all Carlsbad's play dark. I saw someone make the claim that the higher-numbered serial numbered ones (later) play brighter, but I don't know if I believe that either. Folks also claim that the examples marked with asterisk after the number (like 4*) have the shorter facing curve. I'm no mouthpiece expert, but somehow I imagine that's the Brilhart formula that works: smaller tip opening and shorter facing curve. (Phil am I mistaken?) As far as value or appropriate pricing, I've seen some Ebolins (not Hard Rubber) priced way beyond what makes sense to me. Maybe count on buying a couple and hoping to get lucky? Or buy from a knowledgeable source and pay a little premium? Or maybe plan on having one of them worked on to get what you are after?

 

[Jerry K.]

I have an Ebolin I would consider selling at a fair price. Condition is very good, no cracks or chips anywhere. Aside from normal scratches and scuffs, only obvious wear is a couple spots on the bite plate. With a protector on it’s not really noticeable. Not looking for top retail, just not interested in giving it away. Input from everyone is welcome.

 

[Jerry K.]

More pics.

 

[Jerry K.]

Serial number is 128518, small font and No ligature line. I believe this is a Carlsbad piece. Size is 4 and I believe it’s original and unmolested. I got this piece as well as a Personaline 4 and Link piece with a Martin Comm III I owned. They all appear original and I had the Link refaced by PhilTone while The business was still in Oregon.