Final update before availability of BBQ

[Charlie A.]

Well it's has been some time since I have written anything about the "SOON" coming BBQ mouthpiece for rock and roll, blues, r & b, funk, and whatever.
It has been a long, time consuming process of trial and error with improvements being made at different stages based upon feedback from those of you that have tried the piece and have given us positive commentary about what you saw in the piece and what you thought it needed to perfect it.
At this point I believe that we will have a substantial number of these ready for sale by mid July if all goes as planned.
I wish to thank all of you that have participated in the trial of these pieces and I want you to know that your comments HAVE been studied, considered, and in several cases acted upon.
I believe that these pieces will be something innovative in the sense that they are highly suitable for many more types of music than I had dreamed of in the beginning.
They are not for everybody-but there is not a single mouthpiece out there that is, is there. We have one here though that will satisfy the needs of a lot of week-- end warriors as well as the full professional.
Thanks for your patience and you can keep check on the announcement on my web site www.gigdust.com. as to when they will be available. Of course at present they are being made for Tenor sax only but plans are to have the same piece available for alto as well.
Thanks much,
Charlie A.

[tomsch]

Charlie - Do you have a summary of the changes you've closed on prior to production? I'm saving my $$ now!

[Charlie A.]

Basically all changes that have been made are really not "changes" per say but more or less specifically "embellishments" rather than changes. The basic designs are NOT being changed in any radical way.
I have just adjusted the thickness of the side rails and done some work on the tip rail. Also there has been some modification to the "duckbill design" to make it more player friendly. If a player plays the original design for a short period they can become accustomed to it and it will actually make them a better player as the facial contours using this design are in a more natural position. I have adjusted it some but not too much to a point that will diminish altogether this important feature---just to make it easier to accept and it still do it's job. There has been some work to improve the response in the lower register and I am glad to say that none of the other registers suffered at all.
Thanks for your inquiry and be assured that my original design and concept for this piece WILL NOT BE CHANGED TO CREATE ANY OTHER PURPOSE THAN ORIGINALLY INTENDED.
Regards,
Charlie A.

[gary]

WILL NOT BE CHANGED TO CREATE ANY OTHER PURPOSE THAN ORIGINALLY INTENDED.
...and that is slathered, greasy, drippin-off-the-elbow, Memphis Soul-Stew Barbeque. Am I right? Can't wait.

[Charlie A.]

It is still too early to count my pennies on this. There are many finishing touches to be brought into play and I don't have a clue at this point what those costs will be.
I'm going to try to keep it within the budget of as many players as I can.
Thanks for the inquiry,

Charlie A.

[Charlie A.]

You are absolutely correct!! But you know that playing this type of horn has to come from the "soul within the player" and I'm just developing a mouthpiece that a player with the desire to play this way that has that ingredient inside him/her will make it possible for them to bring that aspect out and I know that it will.
Thanks,
Charlie A.

[Morry]

Charlie,

What's the expected selling price?

[Charlie A.]

Hi Morry!
As stated in my reply to tmsch above, I do not have a figure at this point that I could comfortably give to you. I really have no idea what these pieces are costing me to produce and what the finishing up touches are going to cost. I do know that they are an expensive venture.
They will be gold plated by what I believe to be the best, not cheapest, platers in the business and that's not cheap as well as packaging, logo stamp, built in teeth saver and finishing handwork as well as time invested in playing each one in myself which means a trip out of town to accomplish this.
I just don't know!
I am looking at somewhere in the $300.00 range I suspect but I can't, as stated, say for sure. Maybe some less, maybe some more. I'm just not there yet but the piece will be worth whatever I charge for it, on that you can rest assured.
Hand crafted pieces are somewhat unique in this day and time of modern technology---a machine can't do what we do to them.
Thanks for the inquiry,
Charlie A.

[tomsch]

Based on my experience with the proto it will be well worth the price!!!

[Santee>]

This is gonna be a GREAT mouthpiece! I think a lot of the players who like the Bergs, Yanagisawas, Dukoffs, etc. will LOVE the BBQ! The more I think about it, it's really about the unique chamber that centers the sound in a way that I think is great for horn section work. I'm more of a large bore guy myself, but wouldn't change the BBQ's chamber/bore - it's what makes it unique. I think that's what makes it the "BBQ". It's a great funk mouthpiece! I wish U much success with the BBQ when it comes out this summer!!!