[saxspy]

A short video of Don Menza telling the story of the Selmer FF, the same model Charlie Parker used on Bird with Strings.

 

[Benjamin Allen]

Good stuff . . . thanks!

 

[J-Moen]

Didn't even know this mouthpiece existed until now. Thanks for sharing!

 

[tombg14]

I think someone was selling the tenor version of this piece here fairly recently

 

[allenlowe]

looking though, I couldn't hear him saying what opening Bird used - did I miss it? Very curious because I was told by Dave Schildkraut that Bird was always frustrated at not finding anything more open than a 5 or 6, and so just kept trying to find stiffer and stiffer reeds.

 

[turf3]

I also read, however, that later in life Parker moved to softer reeds, without losing any of his projection (he was well known for his powerful sound).

 

[rhysonsax]

Shame that the sound on his voice was so quiet.

More information on the metal Selmer England mouthpiece over on the Cafe Saxophone forum: https://cafesaxophone.com/threads/selmer-england-40-40-mouthpiece.6737/page-2#post-331532

It was made in a very unusual way, with the top part of the beak being a separate part that was soldered onto the rest of the body - you can see the join on close-up pictures of worn mouthpieces.

There are pictures showing the join highlighted with red arrows: https://cafesaxophone.com/media/albums/selmer-england-metal-tenor-piece.157/

I think that Ed Pillinger has made copies of these mouthpieces from his resin material but don't know whether that is tenor, alto or both.

Rhys

 

[Instrument Attic]

Menza on alto?! Gorgeous mouthpiece and sound, what a great story. Thanks for bringing this to light.

 

[Benny]

Ted Klum is working on a copy of these mouthpieces I think

 

[Benny]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2781706532119048

 

[LiAm84]

I think someone was selling the tenor version of this piece here fairly recently

There was a tenor one which sold a week or so ago on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RA...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557