finally got my hands on a berg....

[bartonsax]

....and was wondering if anyone can provide info on it. It's a stainless steel berg that came in the original blue box. London England is written on the mouthpiece, cap, ligature, and box. Reg. Design is written on the ligature and mouthpiece with a number under it (a serial number maybe?). I think it might be a somewhat vintage berg but im not exactly sure....
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bartonsax
PS: my upper octave problems have been cured with this mouthpiece (for those of you who read my other thread).....i just need harder reeds now to really maximize its performance :D

Edit: Pictures up on next page!

[Carl H.]

Well what are the numbers?

[bartonsax]

hah sorry should have posted them.
851427/8

[Phil Barone]

....and was wondering if anyone can provide info on it. It's a stainless steel berg that came in the original blue box. London England is written on the mouthpiece, cap, ligature, and box. Reg. Design is written on the ligature and mouthpiece with a number under it (a serial number maybe?). I think it might be a somewhat vintage berg but im not exactly sure....
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bartonsax
PS: my upper octave problems have been cured with this mouthpiece (for those of you who read my other thread).....i just need harder reeds now to really maximize its performance :D

Lucky you :twisted:

[bartonsax]

....and was wondering if anyone can provide info on it. It's a stainless steel berg that came in the original blue box. London England is written on the mouthpiece, cap, ligature, and box. Reg. Design is written on the ligature and mouthpiece with a number under it (a serial number maybe?). I think it might be a somewhat vintage berg but im not exactly sure....
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bartonsax
PS: my upper octave problems have been cured with this mouthpiece (for those of you who read my other thread).....i just need harder reeds now to really maximize its performance :D

Lucky you :twisted:

Care to elaborate?

[SaxPlayer1004]

You got a vintage Berg, i.e. much better than the newer ones

[bartonsax]

You got a vintage Berg, i.e. much better than the newer ones

Thanks saxplayer appreciate the answer.

Anybody know what year it was made?

[Carl H.]

No idea on the year, but Phil despises every Berg, except the baritone pieces.

[bartonsax]

Then I gues I can take his comment as more positive (as apposed to sarcastic/negative).....His :twisted: threw me off 8-)

[Phil Barone]

Then I gues I can take his comment as more positive (as apposed to sarcastic/negative).....His :twisted: threw me off 8-)

They pretty much all SUCK! Phil

[bartonsax]

Then I gues I can take his comment as more positive (as apposed to sarcastic/negative).....His :twisted: threw me off 8-)

They pretty much all SUCK! Phil

Hah funny....well thanks for your input on the matter i appreciate it.

[Phil Barone]

Then I gues I can take his comment as more positive (as apposed to sarcastic/negative).....His :twisted: threw me off 8-)

They pretty much all SUCK! Phil

Hah funny....well thanks for your input on the matter i appreciate it.

You're welcome! :)

[bartonsax]

Anyone know the year the berg was made? the decade?
Thanks
Bartonsax

[ThunderWhale]

http://www.theowanne.com/mouthpieces101/BergLarsen.php

Check out Theo Wanne's website above. Read about all the models, and decide what features yours has, and then you can find out for yourself. I don't believe that the numbers on the Berg indicate when it was manufactured, but you can tell based on the design.



Anyone know the year the berg was made? the decade?
Thanks
Bartonsax

[bartonsax]

http://www.theowanne.com/mouthpieces101/BergLarsen.php

Check out Theo Wanne's website above. Read about all the models, and decide what features yours has, and then you can find out for yourself. I don't believe that the numbers on the Berg indicate when it was manufactured, but you can tell based on the design.



Anyone know the year the berg was made? the decade?
Thanks
Bartonsax

Wow ThunderWhale thanks for the post and link.
Judging by the pictures on the web site, my berg looks exactly like the pictures of the Duck Bill models, inside and out....not 100% sure though
still not sure about the year it was made.
Thanks Bartonsax

[Finnerski]

Blue boxes were approx 1960's if I'm not mistaken. Your M or SMS is offset correct? Do you have the metal cap and metal lig with the flat screw heads?
How do you like it? That shoud be the most important factor.


Thanks for the laugh, Phil. I needed it this morning, seriously.

[bartonsax]

Blue boxes were approx 1960's if I'm not mistaken. Your M or SMS is offset correct? Do you have the metal cap and metal lig with the flat screw head?
How do you like it? That shoud be the most important factor.


Thanks for the laugh, Phil. I needed it this morning, seriously.

How do i know if mine is offset? (although i hear about offset m sms all the time im not sure what to look for) Mine has a plastic cap and the ligature is a 2 screw one sort of like the moder bergs (theos website says the duck bills came with several different caps/ligs and my lig is shown in one of the pictures, but my screws are round instead of square shaped) How do i like it? Best mouthpiece ever. period. It puts my modern link stm to shame.
would pictures help you guys? If so maybe i can get over my computer incompetency and figure out how to post some 8-)...
Thanks Finnerski
Bartonsax

[bartonsax]

Btw its a 90/1 M (yes small tip opening- i just need some harder reeds)

[Finnerski]

Btw its a 90/1 M (yes small tip opening- i just need some harder reeds)

By offset I mean the M underneath the 1. Is it directly underneath the 1 or is it moved over to the right?

If it looks like the latter, then it is probably older. But if your cap and lig are original, I would bet that your piece is not 1960's. Probably 70's or later.

[bartonsax]

Btw its a 90/1 M (yes small tip opening- i just need some harder reeds)

By offset I mean the M underneat the 1. Is it directly underneath the 1 or is it moved over to the right?

If it looks like the latter, then it is probalby older. But if your cap and lig are original, I would bet that your piece is not 1960's. Probably 70's or later.

Its right underneath

[Finnerski]

Btw its a 90/1 M (yes small tip opening- i just need some harder reeds)

By offset I mean the M underneat the 1. Is it directly underneath the 1 or is it moved over to the right?

If it looks like the latter, then it is probalby older. But if your cap and lig are original, I would bet that your piece is not 1960's. Probably 70's or later.

Its right underneath

OK, now we are getting somewhere. Just because it doesn't have the offset M, doesn't mean it isn't a good piece. But unfortunately, the older pieces are the ones fetching big money, and only on occasion. If you dig it, that should be all that matters. I hope you enjoy it!
I have a 130/2/M for my baritone, and I love it!

[bartonsax]

Thanks for the reply Finnersky
Still wondering when it might have been made
Bartonsax

[Finnerski]

Well, I was able to at least narrow it down to the last 38 years!:D Why don't you post some pics of it, or talk to the experts like 10M fan?

[BariSaxDude]

i LOVE my berg. it plays awesome. I use a RJS 3 hard and it plays fantastic!!!! my father has been using them since the early 60's. He's liking the bari one just as much as i do.

good luck with it.

-BariSaxDude :D

[hakukani]

Send it to John Reilly for a reface. The bari player in our band had his 90 opened to .120 or so.

[seattlebari]

You might consider emailing Theo Wanne after you view his site, and ask for his assistance. Everyone out here in Seattle speaks highly of him, and his knowledge, including Bob Carpenter, Master Refacer. Maybe if you send him a photo, he would be able to help you specifically, although it does sound like a 70's vintage, very likely, and VERY RARE.
Best of luck.....

[bartonsax]

Finnerski: Thanks for your help regardsing the berg....as soon as i get over my computer incompetency ill post some pictures (maybe tomorrow if not the next day)

BariSaxDude: Yeah the mouthpiece is killer....its a smaller tip opening than the stm metal link i was using yet it plays a lot louder in all registers...also just curious: are your RJS filed or unfiled?

Hakukani: i may end up doing that somewhere down the line.....i didnt know a berg could be opened up that much!

seattlebari: Emailing theo wanne is a great idea! like i said ill be getting pictures up as soon as possible

(im assuming i take the pictures, put them on my computer, then somehow upload them onto photobucket or something, then provide the links here for you guys to view?)

Thanks for all the input everyone i greatly appreciate it!!!!!!! :D
Bartonsax

[bartonsax]

any contact info for John Reilly?

[hakukani]

any contact info for John Reilly?

jrmpcdr@cox.net

That's the address I have for him. If that gives you no joy, I know SOTW member hornimprovement knows him.

[bartonsax]

any contact info for John Reilly?

jrmpcdr@cox.net

That's the address I have for him. If that gives you no joy, I know SOTW member hornimprovement knows him.

Thanks hakukani!
when/if the time comes i need my piece opened, ill contact him.
Bartonsax

[Michael Ward]

Hard to beat a Berg stainless if you get a good one. Loads of great players use or used them John Surman for one. Pepper used a close one with 5 reeds ..he didn't sound bad.

[bartonsax]

Hard to beat a Berg stainless if you get a good one. Loads of great players use or used them John Surman for one. Pepper used a close one with 5 reeds ..he didn't sound bad.

Yeah i heard Pepper used a close one with 5 reeds.....with the rate im going ill probably need 4-5 reeds to really make it play good as my RSJ 3m's are too small.
Thanks for the post Michael!
Bartonsax

[geauxsax]

I've been using a fairly modern Berg, stock facing, on my Tenor (110-1-M) and really like it. Not dark at all, but not crazy shrill. I can pump a lot of air through, and it is also nice and responsive. Maybe my favorite piece.

[Phil Barone]

Hard to beat a Berg stainless if you get a good one. Loads of great players use or used them John Surman for one. Pepper used a close one with 5 reeds ..he didn't sound bad.

What's the world coming to? I guess nobody has really tried top notch stuff. Pepper's piece was very open first of all. The rest of it I'll let go. Phil

[bartonsax]

Hey everyone - an update,
after finally really getting into some actual music to play with (as opposed to scales exercises etc.) I have noticed that there is some wierd reed chirp-like sounds going on with the mouthpiece. one of the biggest ones is going from D2-E2 (like your trilling them) and an unpleasant chirp occurs (maybe described as a reed squeek but sounds more like a chirp). Happens in a few other spots throughout the horn as well. I thought it might have been because of the new box of reeds i got, but i tried all the reeds on my stm link 6 and it was fine (just stuffier and not as loud). The other thing that comes into mind is the ligature the berg comes with. It looks slightly bent and does not seem to make contact with the reed at right right spot (instead of holding the reed on from underneath its holding the reed on the mouthpiece sort of from the side of the ligature....) and i would assume this would be a problem (size 4s rico RSJ for anyone curious) Im going to take pictures of what im talking about and try to post them up here so you all can see what im talking about
thanks for reading my really long post :D
Bartonsax

[bartonsax]

Yay taught myself how to post pictures :D
Heres the link:
http://s578.photobucket.com/albums/ss224/bartonsax/

Heres all the pictures i took. You'll see on the pictures that have the reed on the mouthpiece what im talking about with the ligature problem. I was thinking maybe i should get a rovner ligature-those seem to fit bergs (at least it fits Doc Kupka's)

Any input on the photos appreciated
Thanks
Bartonsax

[bartonsax]

Update- i bent the ligature so that now it makes contact with the reed from the bottom instead of the sides....it helped but there is still some reed chirping going on....i tried an old rico grand concert select 2.5 and there was no reed chirping (but the reed is too soft to play upper octave)....could it be my embuchure just needs to adjust to the new harder reeds (RSJ 4s) and smaller tipped mouthpiece (was using a 6 stm metal link before with rico RSJ 3m now on 90/1 M Berg)?
Thanks
Bartonsax

[Phil Barone]

Update- i bent the ligature so that now it makes contact with the reed from the bottom instead of the sides....it helped but there is still some reed chirping going on....i tried an old rico grand concert select 2.5 and there was no reed chirping (but the reed is too soft to play upper octave)....could it be my embuchure just needs to adjust to the new harder reeds (RSJ 4s) and smaller tipped mouthpiece (was using a 6 stm metal link before with rico RSJ 3m now on 90/1 M Berg)?
Thanks
Bartonsax

It could be too closed or it could be a result of the baffle being too high close to the tiprail of the mouthpiece. It could also be a facing issue. If you like the way the mouthpiece play I can put the facing on it from the mouthpiece that Ronnie Cuber used on [U]The Cookbook.[/I] If you haven't heard that you're really missing out. Some of the mpost amazing baritone playing you'll ever hear. He gave me that mouthpiece in the 80's after I did a custom Link for him. Phil Barone

[gary]

What's the world coming to? I guess nobody has really tried top notch stuff. . . The rest of it I'll let go. Phil

The Phil Barone International Berg Larsen Award
...given each year to the unenlightened. :D

[Phil Barone]

What's the world coming to? I guess nobody has really tried top notch stuff. . . The rest of it I'll let go. Phil

The Phil Barone International Berg Award
...given each year to the unenlightened. :D



No, now that's not fair. I've said that some of the bari pieces are okay. I'll still take anyone off of one though give the chance. Phil

[gary]

It's a joke Phil. ;)

[Phil Barone]

It's a joke Phil. ;)

I know...

[bartonsax]

Update- i bent the ligature so that now it makes contact with the reed from the bottom instead of the sides....it helped but there is still some reed chirping going on....i tried an old rico grand concert select 2.5 and there was no reed chirping (but the reed is too soft to play upper octave)....could it be my embuchure just needs to adjust to the new harder reeds (RSJ 4s) and smaller tipped mouthpiece (was using a 6 stm metal link before with rico RSJ 3m now on 90/1 M Berg)?
Thanks
Bartonsax

It could be too closed or it could be a result of the baffle being too high close to the tiprail of the mouthpiece. It could also be a facing issue. If you like the way the mouthpiece play I can put the facing on it from the mouthpiece that Ronnie Cuber used on [U]The Cookbook.[/I] If you haven't heard that you're really missing out. Some of the mpost amazing baritone playing you'll ever hear. He gave me that mouthpiece in the 80's after I did a custom Link for him. Phil Barone


Ill send you a pm later
Bartonsax

[bartonsax]

Just spent a lot of time with the berg today and found that my reed chirping problems disapeared....thanks for all the help everyone you guys have been awesome to me....
Thanks
bartonsax

[seattlebari]

bartonsax;

Makes an old guy misty....Glad we all could help you. All the best.

[BariSaxDude]

Finnerski: Thanks for your help regardsing the berg....as soon as i get over my computer incompetency ill post some pictures (maybe tomorrow if not the next day)

BariSaxDude: Yeah the mouthpiece is killer....its a smaller tip opening than the stm metal link i was using yet it plays a lot louder in all registers...also just curious: are your RJS filed or unfiled?

Hakukani: i may end up doing that somewhere down the line.....i didnt know a berg could be opened up that much!

seattlebari: Emailing theo wanne is a great idea! like i said ill be getting pictures up as soon as possible

(im assuming i take the pictures, put them on my computer, then somehow upload them onto photobucket or something, then provide the links here for you guys to view?)


Thanks for all the input everyone i greatly appreciate it!!!!!!! :D
Bartonsax

i prefer filed. they give off a nice sound. and they respond better in my opinion.
btw...i use RJS 3H.

Hope this helps :D