Goldbeck Bari Mouthpiece...

[xax]

anyone have any knowledge of, or experience with goldbeck metal bari pieces?
thanks

[saxtek]

The Goldbecks were made of solid nickel in 2 halves, brazed together, something like metal links. They have no rubber or plastic bite plate, so most people use a stick-on cushion for their teeth. Craftsmanship was excellent.
They have an enormous concave chamber, no baffle, and play a lot like an old stock Conn or Buescher mouthpiece. They are not loud, and they are very dark. Maybe a good legit mouthpiece, but if you want a modern sound, or play jazz, or play with loud bands, this is not the mouthpiece for you.

[DD]

Chet Sporney, my baritone colleague with the Pittsburgh Quartet from the late 60's through '77 played a Goldbeck. He had used it since his days with WCAE radio staff band in the 50's. Chet taught in Aliquippa PA but has long since passed and I have no idea what happened to his stuff. He was a big guy (@6'3") and really filled up a bari - he could push a lot of sound out of what is usually a "dark " piece. I've only seen one Goldbeck bari on ebay in the last few years - don't seem to be many around.

[Jough]

I got one a few years ago from a guy who was trying to use it on a Tenor. He told me that the tenor was leaking like crazy and was unplayable. When I checked it out for him it played like butter so I asked to see his setup, sure enough a Goldbeck bari mouthpiece. I offered him $50 for it, so now I own it. It is more of a paperweight that anything else. It does not resonate well, it's very soft and you can actually pack your lunch inside it. Very unusual piece.

[bari_saxxy]

I know this thread is a little old, but maybe someone is still looking at it. What would be a good price range for a Goldbeck bari piece?

[xax]

Hey bari_saxxy
I've picked up several Goldbeck pieces for around $50 and seen many others go for about that on ebay and online dealers. The baris are not very common but $50-75 should do it. A private sale could go even less; ebay on bad day(for you) could go quite a bit more because of rarity... My 2 cents

[bari_saxxy]

Actually, it would be a very good day for me on ebay because I would be the one selling it! I have one that I don't play much, so it would be nice to turn it into some cash in my pocket. I just don't know if I want to sell it that cheap because it might be worth more for me to keep it. Someone is offering me $100 for it. Will an offer like that come around very often? Is there much of a market for these pieces?

[barisaxplayer]

sounds to me like you should take the offer. unless you're gonna play in a concert band. If the person revokes his offer of $100 I can pay you $65. Send me an email for it. I am still getting a really edgy sound on my mouthpiece(vandoren b35). If it's as dark as these guys are sayin maybe it's worth the money for it. I always like to play with sounds I can get on my horn anyways :)

[SaxPlayer1004]

if anyone else comes across one please email me. i am really struggling getting quiet and dark enough for the concert pieces i play. i am using a newport jazz artist series bari, so i need an extremely dark and soft mouthpiece to compensate. the s90 just doesnt cut it anymore

[Attila]

Serge Challoff played one with his Selmer (Cigarcutter or Radio Improved?) and he DID play soft and quiet, didn´t he...;)
Attila

If you come accross one I would be interested in as well. Thanks attila.gelencser@helsinki.fi

[Michael Ward]

Attila I thought Serge played a metal Link. It looks that way to me on the albums and books I have. I've never seen a Goldbeck. Do they look like a Link?

[DD]

Michael:
Look at http://cgi.ebay.com/Goldbeck-Chicago-metal-Tenor-saxophone-mouthpiece_W0QQitemZ7360066966QQcategoryZ16234QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem and think steroids.

[Michael Ward]

Thanks and looking at that Attila you could be right.... Where did you get that information from? Anorak that I am I need to know....

[Attila]

Well, check these out:
http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/buescher/true_tone/bari/gold/200xxx/i_5.jpg
I asked from Mr.Saxpics about this mp on the picture and it is a Goldbeck according to him.
And. Here is a picture where he seems to play a similar mouthpiece. The shank is narrower than the Links.
http://www.apoloybaco.com/sergechaloff.jpg
But. This one IS a Link, whatsoever:
http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/c/chalof_serg_blueserge_102b.jpg

Who knows. I have some records with some pics you can´t find in the internet, mostly his mps looks to me a Goldbeck.

[Michael Ward]

Thanks a lot Attila... It's totally feasable he played a variety of pieces. There's a great little book called Serge Chaloff A Musical Biography & Discography with some photos showing Serge playing a hard rubber piece on baritone with Charlie Mariano in 1954 also playing tenor. Whatever his sound and conception were superb... Are you primarily a baritone player? You seem to like vintage pieces. Carney?

[Attila]

Well, there has been heroes, all the time. Mine are the ones who spoke to me and I was able to understand them, regardless of the instrument they played. However the bari has been around in my mind for a decade. More exact: A piece of Gerry Mulligan (who else????) Theme from "I want to live". There was at least two version of this piece, I am talking about the original soundtrack of the movie. There was A sound in his solo that took me to a neverending journey. I do listen to Carney, Pepper Adams, Chaloff, Mulligan, of course, and one of my favourite is absolutely Lars Gullin (EVERYONE should listen to him who cares about the bari!!!)...Above all I appreciate is the musicality and creativy combined with a unique tool like a bari. You may have a talent for this and that but I would say, you have to be born as a "freak" to be a bari player...You need that 6th, 7th, 8th... sense, you know...

Someone said on this site that the bari is one of the greatest inventions of mankind. He/she was right!


p.s. I begin to have some incertanties about Serge´s Goldbeck...or his Link...We should examine those pics more carefully, shouldn´t we?

Of the vintage stuff. I have a good friend of mine who is a regular member of this site ("keuhkoman"). Through his advices I leared to value what vintage is.

Am I a bari man? Well, I do play a Buescher TT alto from 1925 with Tonalin mp for the moment but my bari (late True Tone bari from 1928) is about to be ready to play within a few weeks, let´s see how it works...

[Michael Ward]

very interesting post Attila. It was Mulligan that turned me on to baritone too. Playing Take 5 with Brubeck on an old Atlantic sampler I bought which led to Black Saint and the Sinner with Jerome Richardson which I still love. I know the film you mean. I haven't seen it for a long time. Lars Gullin I have listened to some , I have his music on Dragon. When I heard " What's New" I fell in love with Serge Chaloff's music and it is in my top tracks of all time.
I listen a lot to Pat Patrick from Sun Ra's band a lot too also Charles Davis who made a great quartet album with Steve Lacy.
On the horn front I play a low Bb V1 baritone . I've had it about seventeen years and apart from the Low A V1 I had before it's the only baritone I've ever played. Only two serious mouthpieces too .. one Berg stainless and now Lambersons of which I have tried several and have settled on 7. Do you like Edward Vesala's music ? Cheers