Mouthpieces Berg Larsen mouthpiece differences

Hi guys - for you lot with experience of Bergs, do you know how the various shape pieces differ. For example your basic stainless steel or duckbill or bullet or vintage. Is it simply the feel of it in your mouth (i.e. comfort) or does this effect the sound.

I have been doing some research and am looking for a good ol' rock 'n' roll sound. Berg seems the way to go something like 120/2. Does the MPC type make a difference. Also how much does the facing effect the sound e.g. SMS or M?

Help!
Al
 
Hi Al, I can't offer any advice on Bergs, but I play Rock 'n' Roll and use a Runyon Quantum. Its a plastic piece and of the duckbill design. It gives me a great raunchy sound (as well as being able to cope with soft mellow ballads) and is so free blowing you wouldn't believe. I have to say that I only take a small amount into my mouth and therefore I find it very comfortable to play for prolonged periods.
 
Hi Al, I've had about 8 or 9 Bergs over the years, and ended up selling the lot on. The best one I had for an out and out rock 'n roll sound was a 120/0 duckbill bullet in stainless. I've also had a couple of bronze with bullets, also good. The best advice I can give you (and this may be difficult, given where you are) is to try a load, as they are pretty inconsistent. Comments are often made on (particulalry US) websites about different brands of mouthpiece being very variable, and I usually take these comments with a pinch of salt. However, Bergs really do vary from outstanding to awful. The only mouthpiece I've ever had which was unplayable was a Berg 110/1.

Having made the above comment, I would say that the classic rock sax mouthpiece has to be a Berg duckbill 120/0, loud, bright, easy blowing (with a medium soft reed) and good and raucous. Just be sure you get a good one.....

Jon
 
Having made the above comment, I would say that the classic rock sax mouthpiece has to be a Berg duckbill 120/0, loud, bright, easy blowing (with a medium soft reed) and good and raucous. Just be sure you get a good one.....

Jon
I used a bronze duckbill 115/2 for rock gigs for years- lovely piece and do reckon the /2 gave it a bit more dept than I'd managed to get from /1s and /0s - But I am a pretty bright, loud player anyway)
 
More info on the Berg wesbite:

Berg Larsen Homepage

Bullet shape, SMS facing, it's all about what feels comfortable to play on I think. I played on a 110/2 SMS bullet for years, and changed to a Dukoff because I wanted a bit more punch (and it was cheap!).

Hope that's helped,

Nick
 
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I've just acquired a 115/2 HR which I haven't yet used in anger as it will be a gigging piece for use in the band, but I am impressed at the complexity and depth of sound compared to my existing "raucous" piece, a metal Brancher which sounds a bit thin and shrill in comparison. My other fave mp being a Link STM, I am aware of a bigger chunk of material in my mouth, but nothing uncomfortable.

Roll on next rehearsal, and then we'll see what it can do!
 
I used a bullet 100/2 for about a dozen years in a rock scenario . I used no 3 rico and vandoren reeds and always had a bright cutting tone which was what I felt was needed at the time.

http://www.kirkcaldybands.com/HTML/Blueonshock.html

I could play soft using this piece but I was faking it. I changed to ebonite as soon as I stopped playing with high vol electronic instrumentation.
 
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Berg

Hi Alan: If you can't find any over there to try you can have my stainless 100/2 , as I have moved on to PPT and RPC mouthpieces.I bought it in 1958, I think, and so it has played many good and bad gigs!!!! A little chewed up but it is stainless!!!!:mrcool
Just send me private email with address.

Richard
 
Just gone back to using my Berg Grained Ebonite 110/2 for Fat45 gigs- loving it. Big, ballsy sound, great altissimo, a great balance of fullness and edge......
 
Thanks everyone for your responses. I had to go to the field for a couple of days, so sorry for the delay in replying.
Taz - I bought a metal quantum last year on your recommendation. I really like it and it certainly has some volume on it. The only problem i have is that it is so free blowing that i find it very percussive. When i tongue a note it sounds like a bullet from a gun - pow!

I recently purchased a Dukoff D8 and really like the sound. Great raunchy buzz on it. It is a bit of an animal though and it will take some time to get used to. I am getting alot of squeeking. By the way if anyone knows a good cure for random squeeks i would be in your debt.

Richard - Wow! What an incredibly kind offer. You're right there is not so much as a music store over here, nevermind one that sells sax stuff. It is impossible to try out mouthpieces unless i travel to Bangkok in Thailand. I'll send you a PM.

I think I will be buying a Berg 115/2 or 120/2 metal the thing is I am just a bit confused about the various shapes. The Dukoff i believe is a duckbill design, since it tapers off at the end, and I like the shape. JonF describes a duckbill bullet, but checking the sax.co.uk site you can have a duckbill or a bullet, so some head scratching there.

Jon - Many thanks. I fully take on board your advice regarding making sure the Berg is a good one before buying due to the variability.

Cheers guys,
Al
 
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I;m not really hip to all the differences between the various Berg models, but they are all suitable for R&R, provided you find the rare good-playing one. If you're buying new, get ebonite, at least it's easier/cheaper to get refaced if it's a dog.
 

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