Mouthpieces Ben Davis Selmer Vocaltone alto mouthpiece

[ProfJames]

Have been given one of these mouthpieces (looks like new) and I am trying to find out what the two grooves are for down the side of the mouthpiece. Also what ligature is recommended and has anyone got any experience of them?

View attachment 2570

 

[thesaxman71]

maybe the grooves are for a "Lawton" type of ligature system, i can't see the grooves so i only speculate

 

[ProfJames]

This link will show the grooves. I couldn't upload the image -

http://www.hillsound.co.uk/componen...1039&category_id=170&flypage=flypage_pip2.tpl

 

[thesaxman71]

This link will show the grooves. I couldn't upload the image -

http://www.hillsound.co.uk/componen...1039&category_id=170&flypage=flypage_pip2.tpl

yes as i speculated, it IS definatly for a Lawton style of ligature, you know what they look like yes? if not then you will see the similarity here in this link.

http://www.bill-lewington.com/images/lawton.jpg

 

[ProfJames]

Now the search for the ligature!!! Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[thesaxman71]

Now the search for the ligature!!! Any help greatly appreciated.

i think you know my prefered ligature, stated below in my signature, really amazing ligature also look it up also try the rovner versa (i also have 1)

http://www.thomann.de/gb/francois_louis_ligatures_and_caps.html

http://www.thomann.de/gb/rovner.html

 

[ProfJames]

Thanks Saxman, your help is much appreciated. It is indeed a "push pull" lig as described in the photo below.

 

[jonf]

I had a tenor version of one of these. Bought it for 50p out of a cardboard box outside Richer Sounds in London Bridge Walk in 1985, along with about a dozen other mouthpieces, all at the same price. To be honest I didn't like it much, rather a dull and one dimenisional sound. Perked it up a bit with a home-made baffle. I ended up selling it on a few years ago, for rather more than I paid......

 

[majordennis]

I have an HR model with an inlaid metal table, window, tip and rails, from what I can gather Ben Davis was quite a famous bandleader back in the day, I can't vouch for this info, only what I've gleaned from tinterweb. I have an old Conn stencil silverplate Cavalier (simplified New Wonder) and it works well enough for me on that although I don't play alto much these days. I don't have the inset on top of mine so just use a standard 2 screw.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I play a Ben Davis vocal tone on alto. Silver plated brass. I love it. Any ligature that fits and holds the reed will do. I wish I'd used a textile lig earlier, as the silver plate has worn through on mine.

From what I can remember from researching him when I was given my mpiece, Ben Davis was an accomplished alto player. He founded the Selmer franchise in England, so that dates him. He was something to do with early EMI I seem to remember too.
1920's I think.


There will be a lay stamped on it somewhere. Mine is at the base of the table.

If you can't get on with it I could give it a good home if the price is right.

It may save me from brass poisoning.

 

[ProfJames]

Colin - give me a couple of weeks to try it (it looks brand new) and if it is not me we shall talk! Howzat?

 

[secondhandsaxes]

how did you go with that mouthpiece profjames?
did you end up finding a lig for it?
cheers,philip

 

[ProfJames]

how did you go with that mouthpiece profjames?
did you end up finding a lig for it?
cheers,philip

I had forgotten all about that mpc until your post! Never really looked for a lig. It must be in my basket of mpcs! Having not played for a while "out of sight is out of mind"