[JWilpula]

I was just curious if anyone knew what the facing was on the metal Berg that Pepper Adams played throughout most of his career. If it's out there somewhere in the forum or on the internet somewhere I can't seem to find it. I'd just really like to know.

 

[JWilpula]

I read in an interview of Pepper in that he said that Wardell Gray went to England in the late 40s and came back with a Berg for tenor that made an impression on Pepper so he ordered from a music store in Detroit the same facing for bari: 95 over 1.

Thanks for the response!

 

[JWilpula]

When Pepper was playing his Berg he was playing on Rico 5s. What I can't find out is what the exact facing was on his Berg. I play on a 115/0 and my sound is close, but not quite as dry. Frank Basile sounds almost spot on to Pepper to me, but he also doesn't say what the facing is on his Berg. My guess is that it was actually a 120/0, but I DO NOT know that to be a fact. I also don't know whether he played an M or an SMS facing.

 

[JWilpula]

I kinda remember reading somewhere that he used strength 5 Bari plastic reeds.
But that may have been on the Dukoff later on.
He got a lot brighter in my ears as time went on.
I really love the tone he got on Motor City Scene with Donald Byrd.
And The Cool Sound of Pepper Adams recordings.

Those are great recordings!

 

[JWilpula]

A 1 baffle's pretty bright, correct? And what reed brand and strength was he using with that 95/1 piece, anybody know?

A 0 baffle is Berg's brightest baffle and they get darker from there. 0-1-2-3

http://www.berglarsen.com/howtochoose.html