Mouthpieces George Shelby

Saxlicker · Jul 6, 2006

Hi all,

Does anyone know what mouthpieces George Shelby uses in his set ups?
I've just watched the yamaha podcast posted on this site and ..what a great sound!
He had an oleg ligature on an alto..thats all I know and would love to find out.
Thanks in advance
Saxlicker

Jules · Oct 10, 2007

Yes- it's a Strathorn, or is it Strahorn- A German thing with a moveable baffle, he's uses Vanodren Java reeds too... Great player and aimiable bloke too.

spike · Oct 10, 2007

Just for info:
To expand on the "Strathorn Adjustone" to give it it's full name.
Played, for as long as I can remeber by Klaus Doldinger (Passport) on tenor, they're not made anymore. Similar idea to the Jody Jazz replaceable "wedge" baffle, except there's a slot in the roof of the mouthpiece and a lever attached to the wedge (baffle) so it can be adjusted (adjustone) backwards and forwards to give more or less baffle. Still quite a few knocking about.
gruss - spike

Jules · Oct 10, 2007

apparently George's leaked air out of it's adjuster, so once he'd got it set up properly he sealed the top with epoxy resin....

spike · Oct 10, 2007

here's a pic of Doldinger's Adjustone

Bobby G · Oct 10, 2007

How to never practise? Surely this is a circular thing; you never practise by never practising! A bit like John McEnroe, who claimed he 'practised' by just playing a lot of tennis. Not that that system ever did much for his guitar playing >.<

Mind you, those free Shelby clinics could be interesting.

Cheers, Bob

philthd · Oct 12, 2007

i assumed it was a grammatical error and he meant how never to practise

but now youve got me doubting

Simon · Oct 13, 2007

philthD wrote:
i assumed it was a grammatical error and he meant how never to practise

but now youve got me doubting

Yeah you're right... I should have typed "how never to practice", ie don't do these things. If he's up for a laugh, this could be quite funny...
Simon

spike · Oct 30, 2007

Just discovered that the lads at
www.hans-zinner.de
are still making the strathon mouthpieces for alto, tenor and baritone.

c9off · Nov 4, 2007

There is one of these mouthpieces on Ebay if of interest just search this item number :

330181740338

Jules · Dec 5, 2007

Update following an evening with the splendid Mr Shelby in Brighton. Strathon on Tenor, Yanagisawa metal on Alto (plus tenor reeds on his alto..odd, but true)

Saxlicker · Dec 5, 2007

Ah yes,
Didn't think to update this its originator.

What an inspiration. Appealed to all levels me thinks.

Don't want to make too much stupid analysis of his playing but I also made it to the gig and thought it was bright, melodic (great riffs) and articulated. (yes articulated :whistle: )

It was plain to me that alto is his forte.

greg_strange · Dec 7, 2007

The May/June 2007 (Voume 31, No. 5) issue of Saxophone Journal magazine had an interview with George Shelby which was conducted by Thomas Erdmann, and here is his equipment list, exactly as recorded in the article (spot the errors):-

Soprano Sax.

Alto Sax.
Yamaha Custom gold plated EX875EXG, gold plated G1 neck, Yanagasawa size 9 metal mouthpiece customized by John Reilly, Olegature, Vandoren Java 3 Tenor Sax reeds.

Tenor Sax.

Baritone Sax.
Yamaha YBS62, Otto Link Tone Master 7* mouthpiece, Fibracell Medium reeds.

Flute.
Yamaha silver 561-925, David C. Williams mouthpiece #103.

Clarinet.

Yamaha WX5 midi wind controller, 2 VL-70m tone modules, Shure wireless Microphone rig, Shure wireless in ear monitor rig.

Also George Shelby's Selected Discography
Available from Sax Journal online at:
www.dornpub.com/download.html
(scroll down to May/June 2007 Sax Journal)

I hope this information helps.
Regards,
Greg Strange.

Simon · Dec 14, 2007

Hey Saxlicker -

I met George here in London at a masterclass - nice guy, very approachable. Heard him at his final gig at the Octave Bar - man was he out of his depth, with a UK rhythm section inc. Laurence Cottle and Ian Thomas...

Me thinks that in LA, he's a rank n file studio player...
Simon

BTW Also heard Ernie Watts in masterclass a few nights before: old skool brilliance. He should have taken the gig with L & I...

Saxlicker wrote:
Ah yes,
Didn't think to update this its originator.

What an inspiration. Appealed to all levels me thinks.

Don't want to make too much stupid analysis of his playing but I also made it to the gig and thought it was bright, melodic (great riffs) and articulated. (yes articulated :whistle: )

It was plain to me that alto is his forte.

Jules · Dec 19, 2007

Ernie certainly won on the musical pyrotechnics front- wow does that guy know his way round a saxophone. Conversely, I found George far more inspiring at his clinic in Brighton- he's a very good talker and extremely effective at communicating....

simon wrote:
Hey Saxlicker -

I met George here in London at a masterclass - nice guy, very approachable. Heard him at his final gig at the Octave Bar - man was he out of his depth, with a UK rhythm section inc. Laurence Cottle and Ian Thomas...

Me thinks that in LA, he's a rank n file studio player...
Simon

BTW Also heard Ernie Watts in masterclass a few nights before: old skool brilliance. He should have taken the gig with L & I...

Saxlicker wrote:
Ah yes,
Didn't think to update this its originator.

What an inspiration. Appealed to all levels me thinks.

Don't want to make too much stupid analysis of his playing but I also made it to the gig and thought it was bright, melodic (great riffs) and articulated. (yes articulated :whistle: )

It was plain to me that alto is his forte.

Read more…

Moz · Dec 21, 2007

How never to practice

How to never practice

How to hear abiguity, perhaps?

How to split an infinitive or not (to boldly go/go boldly, arguement etc) and all of a sudden I see it's importance. Quite a revelation.

Moz