Eric Marienthal's setup

[MB-913]

I would like to know if Eric Marienthal use Beechler Bellite Metal or Beechler Custom Metal ? Some article said he use Bellite but some said Custom metal.

[scottyhoop]

I will be with Eric this weekend. I will fiind out straight from the horse's mouth for you. :-)
Scott

[MB-913]

You will together with Eric M.....??!!! Please check if he use a Custom Metal or regular Bellite + Why he use Custom/Beelite instead of Bellite/Custom ?

If it is a Custom Metal, remember take a look of his MP if there is engraving "Custom & serial" on the back side (bottom).

BTW, this week? I know he will have 2 show:
31June Richmond Jazz Fest, Richmond, VA
& Innsbrook Pavillion, Glen Allen, VA

You will see him there ? ???

[scottyhoop]

I had a lesson with EM this weekend. We talked at length about mouthpieces, at least an hour. He uses a bellite, but had some very small mods made. I'm currently using a dukoff, and we both agree thats not the mouthpiece for me. So I got hold of 4 beechlers to try this week, all bellites. Very excited about trying them out. Not happy with my Dukoff at all. Let me know what you think of your beechler. Be well!
Scott

[M Exner]

Scott, What sax is Eric playing now?
I see some pictures with yamahas and yet others with VI"s
Mike

[scottyhoop]

He has a yamaha Z and said its a nice horn, but still plays on his Mark VI. He played one of the new Selmer reference altos and said it was a great horn. I goofed around on his horn for a while. Quite impressive I must say!!

Scott

[SaxyAcoustician]

Scott, where do you live that you can be so lucky to take lessons with Eric Marienthal? Must be sweet...I'm jealous!

[MB-913]

scottyhoop

Reed
I know Eric is using Vandoren Blue Box Traditional reed. But what strength he is using now? 2.5 or 3 ?

Beechler Custom metal
I can't believe he just use a regular Bellite Metal. I heard many people said he use Custom model. (It look very same, just Custom has engraved the word "Custom" and it's Serial No". ) Are you sure is a Bellite? I guess Eric use No. 7, right ?


Bellie Metal
Mine is a Bellite metal #6, I enjoy it very much. But I may change to #7 a few months later. Have you compare 6 & 7, any big difference in sound? Does #7 required much more air than #6 ?

[scottyhoop]

Eric plays on 2.5 now. Said it was a "major" change for him. He met with the Vandoren people and found that the 3's her liked were actually much closer to a 2.5 than a 3. He gave me some reeds, and they sure are 2.5. As for his mouthpiece, it's a bellite 7, but he had it worked on, so maybe thats where people are getting the custom from. After this weekend I ordered a bunch of bellites to try, and I fell in love with a 7. I tried a 6 and I felt very constricted and kinda small on the sound side. Weiner music will send them out on trial, so if you're curious as to the difference, order some from them and check them out. I ordered 5 on Monday, and Wednesday afternoon I was playing them here in VA. It was a close call between the 7 and 8 for me, but I felt more in control of the 7, the 8 was a bit brighter. One curious thing about EM's beechler. When he had it opened a bit it actually got a little darker. Hope this helps!
Scott

[Tears June]

Eric plays on 2.5 now. Said it was a "major" change for him. He met with the Vandoren people and found that the 3's her liked were actually much closer to a 2.5 than a 3. He gave me some reeds, and they sure are 2.5. As for his mouthpiece, it's a bellite 7, but he had it worked on, so maybe thats where people are getting the custom from. After this weekend I ordered a bunch of bellites to try, and I fell in love with a 7. I tried a 6 and I felt very constricted and kinda small on the sound side. Weiner music will send them out on trial, so if you're curious as to the difference, order some from them and check them out. I ordered 5 on Monday, and Wednesday afternoon I was playing them here in VA. It was a close call between the 7 and 8 for me, but I felt more in control of the 7, the 8 was a bit brighter. One curious thing about EM's beechler. When he had it opened a bit it actually got a little darker. Hope this helps!
Scott

Scottyhoop,
I wonder where you can get the Beelite Custom Metal? I heard it can only order directly from Beechler. I tried to contact them by email but thier email address doesn't work (beechler@aol ). Do you know their correct email address ? Thanks.

:cry:

[1saxman]

scottyhoop; If you open a mpc without changing the baffle/throat, it does blow 'darker'. That's why you most often find open mpcs with high baffles. A Berg Larsen 130/0 would be an example. With the high baffle, the mpc would tend to play easier than without, and a player using a loose embouchure can play it 'dark'. Of course, to open any mpc, some change is necessary to the tip baffle (the area within 1/4" of the tip). To say the only change was to open the mpc is not accurate, as it's impossible. The results of the opening are dependant on how the tip baffle was blended back in to the overall baffle contour, and how the altered facing curve was designed and made.

[scale_master]

I can confirm the reed story: I actually met the Vandoren Rep here in LA recently, and he told me that Eric used to use strength 3, but picked all the reeds more towards 2.5. He claimed that Vandoren provides him now with reeds that are somewhere between 2.5 and 3 (I guess custom selected). He told me this story because I had the same problem somehow....I buy 3 and can use the softer ones and need to file the harder ones...

[SMOOTHJAZZ]

What's Eric using on soprano? I love his sound, and have had simular results to his alto setup.

[CountSpatula]

What's Eric using on soprano? I love his sound, and have had simular results to his alto setup.

Super Session. It might help to check his website first...

[Saxapwn1]

He uses a Super Session. But back in the 80's he used a gold plated BARI soprano mouthpiece. Both he used this Harrison Ligature with.

[SMOOTHJAZZ]

I found it on his site right after I posted this. Sorry to make you move your fingers a little for me:)

[Saxophonic121]

i was wondering if someone could help me figure out this part of Eric's Solo
its from 5:10-5:12ish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgHiD-pkEkM
it seems like hes splitting the tone or something
can someone help me figure out what he is actually doing? thank you