• FAQ  • Search  • Memberlist  • Usergroups   • Register   • Profile  • Log in to check your private messages  • Log in 

Louis Armstrong's Trumpet Mouthpiece



 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    trumpetherald.com Forum Index -> Performers
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
jimspeedjae
Veteran Member


Joined: 05 Apr 2013
Posts: 165

PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:06 am    Post subject: Louis Armstrong's Trumpet Mouthpiece Reply with quote

http://auctions.alexautographs.com/auction-lot-detail/LOUIS-ARMSTRONG%27S-TRUMPET-MOUTHPIECE&salelot=67+++++++128+&refno=+++90588

Has an estimate of $ 2,000-3,000...anyone buying?

At least it looks used, but I bet he had boxes of mouthpieces sent to him my every manufacturer out there.

Anyone have any knowledge to share?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Danbassin
Veteran Member


Joined: 13 Oct 2013
Posts: 460
Location: Idyllwild, CA

PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very cool keepsake and piece of historical memorabilia, but who's to say how much Pops actually played this one. Most of his collection is well-preserved in the must-visit Louis Armstrong House Museum, in Corona, Queens ( http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/ ) and also through a relationship they share with Queens College (City University of New York).

A well-documented piece of trivia about his mouthpieces is that he would slash etchings directly into the rim, coming up with something that looks a bit intimidating. Here's a photo which looks a lot like the one I've seen at the museum: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/28/02/20/28022039b96893cf0276f06df4cfd2ee.jpg

Some time ago I saw an ad either here or on eBay for a mouthpiece that Claude Gordon had even more violently modified to perhaps encourage less pressure. I don't, however, think that this is why Pops modified his mpc - he was by no means a no-pressure player.

Good luck to any and all bidding!

-DB
_________________
Daniel Bassin
Conductor/Composer/Trumpeter/Improviser/Educator
I play:
Monette - CORNETTE/PranaXLT-STC Bb/MC-35/Raja A Picc;
Kromat C-Piccolo; Thein G-Piccolo; Various antique horns
MPCs - Monette Unity 1-7D and DM4LD
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
GordonH
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 16 Nov 2002
Posts: 2893
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 2:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Louis played on a variety of mouthpieces. Right at the end of his career he was on a Purviance 4*K4 (maybe wrong model number ut I am sure that is the one). Earlier he played on a Giardinelli which was a scaled up version of his earlier Selmer double cup mouthpiece. This got the bite away from some of his scar tissue but it is huge. This is the one you can buy a duplicate of from RS Berkeley.

I don't recognise the one in that box, but he used many and I think even Schilke did one for him at some point.
_________________
Bb - Scherzer 8218W, Schilke S22, Bach 43, Selmer 19A Balanced
Pic - Weril
Flugel - Courtois 154
Cornet - Geneva Heritage, Conn 28A
Mouthpieces - Monette 1-5 rims and similar.

Licensed Radio Amateur - GM4SVM
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Winghorn
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 2156
Location: Olympia, Washington

PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I were sure Satchmo actually played this mouthpiece, I would bid on it. What a piece of trumpet history it would be! I would probably build some sort of shrine for it.

Steve
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
king leopardi
Veteran Member


Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Posts: 278

PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Danbassin wrote:
Very cool keepsake and piece of historical memorabilia, but who's to say how much Pops actually played this one. Most of his collection is well-preserved in the must-visit Louis Armstrong House Museum, in Corona, Queens ( http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/ ) and also through a relationship they share with Queens College (City University of New York).

A well-documented piece of trivia about his mouthpieces is that he would slash etchings directly into the rim, coming up with something that looks a bit intimidating. Here's a photo which looks a lot like the one I've seen at the museum: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/28/02/20/28022039b96893cf0276f06df4cfd2ee.jpg

Some time ago I saw an ad either here or on eBay for a mouthpiece that Claude Gordon had even more violently modified to perhaps encourage less pressure. I don't, however, think that this is why Pops modified his mpc - he was by no means a no-pressure player.

Good luck to any and all bidding!

-DB
I read somewhere that players would put those marks on a mouthpiece rim to grip and twist the lip in the belief that it would help them reach the higher notes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JetJaguar
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 1504
Location: Vancouver, BC

PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

king leopardi wrote:
Danbassin wrote:
Very cool keepsake and piece of historical memorabilia, but who's to say how much Pops actually played this one. Most of his collection is well-preserved in the must-visit Louis Armstrong House Museum, in Corona, Queens ( http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/ ) and also through a relationship they share with Queens College (City University of New York).

A well-documented piece of trivia about his mouthpieces is that he would slash etchings directly into the rim, coming up with something that looks a bit intimidating. Here's a photo which looks a lot like the one I've seen at the museum: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/28/02/20/28022039b96893cf0276f06df4cfd2ee.jpg

Some time ago I saw an ad either here or on eBay for a mouthpiece that Claude Gordon had even more violently modified to perhaps encourage less pressure. I don't, however, think that this is why Pops modified his mpc - he was by no means a no-pressure player.

Good luck to any and all bidding!

-DB
I read somewhere that players would put those marks on a mouthpiece rim to grip and twist the lip in the belief that it would help them reach the higher notes.


Looks brutal. I can't stand the slightest scratch or nick on a rim.
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Connstellation 7B-N mouthpiece

I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece

www.jazzscales.org

The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
chase1973
Veteran Member


Joined: 19 Nov 2018
Posts: 121
Location: Valdosta

PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Louis went through many brand name MPCs including Charlie Allen, Giardinelli, Purviance and towards the end Ren Schilke made a piece for him as he described "just to keep him playing." It was gold-plated and in the Louis Armstrong Museum too...Chris LaBarbera told me once, he had so much lip scarring he used to actually rub cocaine on his chops to numb them.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    trumpetherald.com Forum Index -> Performers All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group