Grat Metal Jazz Mouthpiece the poll.

2933 Views 40 Replies 13 Participants Last post by luispa, Jul 20, 2007

Jonathan C.

Discussion Starter · Jul 19, 2007 (Edited)

I stupidly left out a poll on the last thread, and I seem to get more confused with each post. I know that this is against the rules, and I am sorry but it is courisity. In the last thread that I started about this subject their was a bunch of different responses. I want to listen to my private lesson teacher about the equipment, since that is why I am paying him for his advice. So I have decided not to include the V16 metal or HR, that was mentioned in the other thread.
The bottom line for me is that the mouthpiece I pick will be played for along time. I can't afford to have it modified, becuase of some current events. I would like to keep the postings about these mouthpieces, and not other recomndations. These are the pieces suggested, and the ones I can afford.

Thanks
~Carbs

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wersax

· #2 · Jul 19, 2007 (Edited)

I think this question is too general for specific suggestions from SOTW members, (who don't know you), to be of use, BUT, here's a couple of general tips:
1) You're going to need to try these mouthpiece out before you buy them, because there is a lot of variance from mouthpiece to mouthpiece, (less with the Links, but still an issue);
2) These are three very different mouthpieces! This may make the comparisons difficult.
3) Even if you narrow it down to one of these brands, you've still got to figure the tip opening to use, and with the Bergs the chamber design as well, (although I'd recommend a "2"), and this all requires "auditioning" the pieces to see what's good for you;
4) Be careful with current production Bergs, they are extremely inconsistent, though they can be worth the effort if you find a "player".
Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out!.....daryl

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Canadiain

· #3 · Jul 19, 2007

What, your personal choice is going to come down to a popularity contest now?

Better to play them and decide for yourself I would think, rather than go with what the unwashed masses rate as their preference...you are the one who is going to be stuck with it, only your preference counts.

Dr G

· #4 · Jul 19, 2007

Get the Bari WT II. I've never played one. :twisted: See if everyone else that registers a vote is as honest.

OTOH, have you considered asking your teacher to go to a music store with you to trial mouthpieces?

You say you are going to play whatever piece for a long time. I doubt it. Prove me wrong.

Jonathan C.

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 19, 2007

Dr G said:
Get the Bari WT II. I've never played one. :twisted: See if everyone else that registers a vote is as honest.

OTOH, have you considered asking your teacher to go to a music store with you to trial mouthpieces?

You say you are going to play whatever piece for a long time. I doubt it. Prove me wrong.

Whatever piece I choose I got to play for along time anyway I can't afford not to at this point. Hopefully sometime this next week, we can get together, and I can play a few mouthpieces. I will then pick the one that I like the best and order it. Since the piece I will be playing is probably not up for sale.

I just can't decide between the Link and the Berg. I am sure both are great pieces, but I can only afford one. So I am at a impass, which one to choose?

Dr G

· #6 · Jul 19, 2007

Link.

CountSpatula

· #7 · Jul 19, 2007

Dr G said:
Link.

Canadiain

· #8 · Jul 19, 2007

Carbs said:
Whatever piece I choose I got to play for along time anyway I can't afford not to at this point.

Well, that's not strictly true, there is a lot of selling and trading and swapping goes on here and elsewhere. If you buy used at a good price, you will more than likely be able to sell / trade / swap to your hearts content at minimal cost to yourself.

Its a slippery slope of course, but it sure beats practicing:twisted:

Jonathan C.

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 19, 2007

Sorry Canadiain, I would rather find a nice piece and settle down to pratice. I could easily buy someone else's mouthpiece, and if I don't like it trade it. I just have to wonder why that piece didn't work for them?

Canadiain

· #10 · Jul 19, 2007

Carbs said:
Sorry Canadiain, I would rather find a nice piece and settle down to pratice. I could easily buy someone else's mouthpiece, and if I don't like it trade it. I just have to wonder why that piece didn't work for them?

Thats what we are all looking for, but peoples tastes change over time, or GAS strikes, or the tip is too closed / open for what you are trying to acheive, there are a lot of reasons for good pieces to change hands...players die all the time for starters

Dont worry why it doesnt work for someone else, figure out if it works for you. PLaying first is preferable of course, but that points been done to death, and is the reason I dont get the purpose of this poll.

Im just saying, this doesnt have to be the final piece you ever buy. You are driving us, and probably yourself crazy with the pressure to get it right, and you really dont have to

And yes, its probably a link

(dont forget the lig probably sucks though...Oh no, more choices to have to make!)

RootyTootoot

· #11 · Jul 19, 2007

I say the WTII. It's a decent m/p, it's (kind of!) half way between the other two in sound, and you'll have that "ya, boo to you, i'm a leader not a follower" kind of thing in your favour. Having said that, i agree with others that if you're posting polls here about m/ps you'll have tried 4 more in the next six months whatever choice you make now..

Dr G

· #12 · Jul 19, 2007

Get the Barone "Standard" - his CNC take on an improved Berg. They were selling new for $120 last year.

Hey, why metal? Used Saxscape or Morgan is the way to go!

Why not buy used? You think every used mouthpiece is somehow flawed? Hah! Some of the used mouthpieces around SotW are the best you'll ever see. I know because I've had many of them and sold several more.

(And there are some I'd love to have back someday when money is truly no object.) Some of us will buy mouthpieces just so we may form our own opinion of them, compare them to our best 'piece, and sell the runner up 'pieces. It doesn't mean that they won't be the End All and Be All for someone else.

Jonathan C.

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 19, 2007

If I can get a good deal here, then I will take it. But I just don't want a piece that has been worked on. Why change a perfectly good piece?

Canadiain

· #14 · Jul 19, 2007 (Edited)

Carbs said:
Why change a perfectly good piece?

There is no such thing as a perfect piece.

The reality of any manufacturing process is that there comes a point where you simply cannot afford to work on it anymore and still meet your price point.

I guess thats one of the gripes about the links...why not make a "super link" from the factory thats hand finished and "perfected" and sell it at a much higher price... look at what some people are prepared to pay for a good old one, surely they can make good new one too. I guess that would be in implied admission that the stock pieces can be a bit variable...maybe not smart marketing.

So the truth is that if someone else wants to come along later and take the stock piece and spend more time / money on it, then there are things that can be done to improve it that just cant be done at the original cost point, and thats why people might change a perfectly good piece.

I suspect its not so much that you dont want a piece thats been worked on, you just dont think you can get one in your price range. My monster link was the cheapest refaced link Ive seen (partly because its not in the normal tip range, and partly for the cosmetics), and that was $110 here, although I think EZs work is changing hands for more and more as more people recognise how good it is. Still, they are not prohibitively expensive yet, and you know its going to be a good olink regardless by the time Ed is done with it.

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Jonathan C.

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 19, 2007

Canadiain, the reason why I am worried about buying a vintage piece is that you don't know what someone has done to it. I am looking at the Bari's. But I think I may be first inline to a Link STM 7, so I don't know. From the pictures it looked pretty good.

Dr G

· #16 · Jul 19, 2007

Carbs said:
If I can get a good deal here, then I will take it. But I just don't want a piece that has been worked on. Why change a perfectly good piece?

Gads, you really don't seem to get it. If a mouthpiece has been worked on by a good tech - and there are a great many at SotW - you have a mouthpiece that has received quality attention to detail. Heck, if I could buy ONLY reworked mouthpieces, I would. Sure, if YOU or I did the refacing, it might well be garbage but something from someone that knows their stuff is a blessing. My favorite mouthpiece of the last 10 years was a reface by Jon Van Wie of a Ralph Morgan 'piece. Wow! Next best (actually, better - the one I use now) is a copy of that piece by Ed Zentera. Even some of my "boutique" mouthpieces ($ > $400) have had minor flaws that, once removed during refacing, were even better.

Ehhh...

G'luck.

Dr G

· #17 · Jul 19, 2007

Carbs said:
From the pictures it looked pretty good.

And we know that's what really counts.

Check out the modern metal Link STM NY. It's shiny too.

(and actually pretty good)

Carl H.

· #18 · Jul 19, 2007

Saying the Bari is half way between the Link and a Berg is like saying Cleveland is halfway between NY city and the Mississippi river. A Berg 3 and a Berg 0 are different animals completely.

LINK, looked at by someone who knows what to look at.

Dr G

· #19 · Jul 19, 2007

Carl H. said:
Saying the Bari is half way between the Link and a Berg is like saying Cleveland is halfway between NY city and the Mississippi river.

Is it? I'll have to revisit the cities game.

Halfway between a Link and a Berg is nowhere. Hey! So is Cleveland!

Canadiain

· #20 · Jul 19, 2007

Carbs said:
Canadiain, the reason why I am worried about buying a vintage piece is that you don't know what someone has done to it.

Well, you could try playing it and seing if you like it. Thats the acid test. If you do you keep it, if you dont, you sell it on. Thats the way the game is played.

Of course, if its been worked on by a pro refacer the chances are that it will be marked in some way to indicate that.

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