Mouthpieces Vintage (White) Brilhart Tonalin Tenor Mouthpiece - Modern Equivalent?

[Alex9]

I just heard a wonderful sounding 60s vintage white Brilhart Tonalin tenor MP and wondered if there's a modern equivalent? Something that comes close to the unique sound of a Tonalin of this era (regardless of material). Pictures of the vintage below:

Straight side walls and not much baffle? And no, I'm not looking to pay £££ for a vintage piece - I'm getting to know my V5 T35! Just curious if any modern makers have tried to capture this beautiful sounding MP.

 

[JayeNM]

A question for Phil-Tone.

He is a member here ....but I don't recall his username here (?) Someone help (?)

He has spent a lot of time with vintage 'pieces both as a refinisher and as a maker of his own lines, and his new offerings actually use a number of vintage models as a basis.

I know he has one which is based off of a Brilhart Ebolin.....dunno what the major diff between an Ebolin and Tonalin is, however; so dunno if he ever used any aspects of a Tonalin in his work.

 

[nigeld]

Brilhart mouthpieces are not outrageously expensive, compared with other vintage mouthpieces. You should be able to get one for the price of a modern Selmer mouthpiece. But of course there is no guarantee that another one will sound like the one you have heard.

The one in the pictures seems to be from after the Selmer buyout in 1966. The earlier ones had a serial number on the side.

 

[JayeNM]

Brilhart mouthpieces are not outrageously expensive, compared with other vintage mouthpieces.

Huh. This is true....even if your purchase needed a bit of a reface, the investment would still be quite moderate (just wanna avoid the shank cracks when purchasing).....recent sold listings:

Brilhart Tonalin for sale | eBay

Get the best deals for Brilhart Tonalin at eBay.com. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items!

www.ebay.com

 

[hedgehog]

A question for Phil-Tone.

He is a member here ....but I don't recall his username here (?) Someone help (?)

I'm pretty sure you're looking for @Phil

 

[Adrian63]

Where did you hear it Alex ? On a recording ; somebody play it for you ??

 

[CliveMA]

The Great Neck vintage Brilharts tend to be expensive. They are the ones with the sought after reputation.

The non-Great Neck ones all sell for "normal" prices. Those made after Selmer acquired the Brand sell for less again.

Read about how to identify Brilharts at

Brilhart Mouthpieces - Theo Wanne

Besides making mouthpieces, Arnold Ross Brilhart also recorded about 30,000 records. His first recording was waxed in November 1921 with Yerkes' S. S. Flotilla Orchestra. He also recorded with The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, Joe Venuti, Irving Mills, and Hoagy Carmichael. Brilhart used a...

theowanne.com

Your best bet to get a "modern" Brilhart may be to get a custom Syos. @Pauline_Syos

(Mainly an Alto discussion but email Syos and ask about Tenor Brilhart Syos equivalent).

Brilhart mouthpiece review: description and best alternatives!

Shape Your Own Sound

www.syos.co

FWIW, I owned a Brilhart Tonalin Alto mouthpiece for 40 years but sold it earlier this year when I sold my Selmer SBA Alto.

 

[saxyjt]

I love mine!

I fell in love with a recent alto one, so I looked for one for tenor. I found a 4 made in England that I liked, then a 5* also made in England and real cheap, but it had been butchered wide open...

I sent the 5* to @Phil who worked his magic and fixed it beautifully. It's a touch open for my chops, but using a Légère 2.0 I can manage it.

If you're patient, you may find one in good condition that's decently priced. Mine were both under 100€.

I also found a very similar Brilhart Tonalin for my son's clarinet, but he dropped it! So it now has an ugly scar on it's pretty face.

 

[Alex9]

Where did you hear it Alex ? On a recording ; somebody play it for you ?

I heard it online from a well-known mouthpiece reviewer - the review's about 10 years old; I wasn't sure about posting the link on here!

 

[CliveMA]

I heard it online from a well-known mouthpiece reviewer - the review's about 10 years old; I wasn't sure about posting the link on here!

The link is easy to find by just googling Brilhart. The well known reviewer pops up.

 

[CliveMA]

View attachment 15497

I love mine!

I fell in love with a recent alto one, so I looked for one for tenor. I found a 4 made in England that I liked, then a 5* also made in England and real cheap, but it had been butchered wide open...

I sent the 5* to @Phil who worked his magic and fixed it beautifully. It's a touch open for my chops, but using a Légère 2.0 I can manage it.

If you're patient, you may find one in good condition that's decently priced. Mine were both under 100€.

I also found a very similar Brilhart Tonalin for my son's clarinet, but he dropped it! So it now has an ugly scar on it's pretty face.View attachment 15499
View attachment 15500

I love how they look. The white with the black inlay just does it for me for some reason.

 

[Alex9]

I owned a Brilhart Tonalin Alto mouthpiece for 40 years

I think these (the good'uns) sound incredible too.

 

[Alex9]

the investment would still be quite moderate (just wanna avoid the shank cracks when purchasing)

I've looked on eBay and there's a good number but ideally I'd get one from the UK if it was reasonably priced, with a return policy. I'd be concerned about the condition and what to look out for...hence the search for a modern equivalent. I do love the idea of a good vintage piece though.

Not that I'm in the market for another mouthpiece or anything! 😳

 

[Adrian63]

Famous last words..

 

[thomsax]

I'm happy owner to a "poor man" Tonalin: Dearman Super Ivorex 3* tenor mpc. Very big chamber. I never played it.

 

[Alex9]

I'm happy owner to a "poor man" Tonalin: Dearman Super Ivorex 3* tenor mpc

Never heard of a 'Dearman'! Going to look them up now - curious, why haven't you tried it?

 

[rhysonsax]

I've got Brilharts for ATB and clarinet, including Tonalins and some Tonalites (the clear plastic version). Arnold Brilhart was something of a genius.

Beechler collaborated with Arnold Ross Brilhart to make the ARB Great neck original mouthpieces to his old designs and I have an alto one of those that is fine. That webpage says:
Great Neck Original Mouthpieces are made from blanks of the 1940’s. These mouthpieces were given this name by Arnold Brilhart because of the location of his original factory in Great Neck, New York.

The Alto and Tenor are large bore, medium baffle mouthpieces. The white pigment in these mouthpieces help produce the compact and subtle sound of those years. These are limited editions mouthpieces. They will never again be available after the current stock is depleted.

Please note that as of December 1, 2004, tenors are no longer available.

Ed Pillinger makes some mouthpieces to the old Brilhart designs, although I don't think they are featured on his website. He is very helpful so it would be worth sending him an email enquiry.

Rhys

 

[CliveMA]

I'd be concerned about the condition and what to look out

Look out for cracks in the shank. Many Tonalins have them.

 

[CliveMA]

My Alto Tonalin I sold earlier this year.

 

[Alex9]

My Alto Tonalin I sold earlier this year.

Looks lovely...Are you missing it now?