Alison Balsom MPC

TupeloCOTA · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:50 am Post subject: Alison Balsom MPC

Does anyone know what mouthpiece Alison Balsom plays on? On the Bach recordings she has a really dark french horn/trombonish sound quality.

Atomlinson · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:04 pm Post subject:

According to an interview with her in The Brass Herald October-November 2006 she uses a 1 1/4C (presumably Bach) on the C trumpet, the Eb trumpet and the natural trumpet. (She mentions she hardly ever uses a Bb trumpet anymore, preferring the C trumpet.)

For the Piccolo Trumpet, she wasn't entirely sure, but thought it might a Warburton 4MD or something like that.

Andrew Tomlinson

Crazy Finn · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject:

I doubt that Ms. Balsom's mouthpiece is the primary factor in her tone quality.

Mouthpieces can enhance, slightly modify, tweak, or ease a certain type of sound, but essentially most of one's tone comes from their technique and personal sound concept.

I suppose it would be interesting to know for curiosity's sake.
_________________
LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn

trumq · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:39 pm Post subject:

jazztrumpet216 · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:55 pm Post subject:

Chuckledoo · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:00 pm Post subject:

bigdanv · Veteran Member Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 213

The fact that she doesn't even know for sure what mouthpiece she uses on picc just goes to show how little it really matters.

wvtrumpet · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

Come on guys be serious...we all know its the 1937 wheat penny that she tapes inside of her bell that gives her that great sound!
_________________
Freelance Performer/Teacher WV, PA, MD, and OH http://www.neil-king.com
Yamaha NY Bb, Adams F1 Flugelhorn, Schilke P5-4, Stomvi Eb/D Elite, Bach C 229 bell 25A, York Monarch cornet.

JoeCool · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject:

I looked at the title of this thread and thought, "Cool! She has her own artist model now? I wonder if she play tests all of them?!!?" Ahhh...wishful thinking.

_________________
Joe

Crazy Finn · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject:

TupeloCOTA · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

OK, OK, OK. I wasn't looking for the mouthpiece so I could run out and get one in the hope it would solve my problems. Just a little curiosity since she has a really dark sound. I have a couple bags of mouthpieces myself, and after thinking it through I canned it all and put a 3C on the horn and started practicing after a 24 year layoff. I get a kick out of some of the MPC discussions since it seems most of the Heavyweight folks stick to pretty basic/conventional equipment. I am thinking more practice. Time will tell.

rockford · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:48 am Post subject:

oxleyk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 4180

Atomlinson · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:53 am Post subject:

Incidently, Tine Thing Helseth also uses a Bach 1 1/4C as her main mouthpiece! And a Bach 7D on picc.

Andrew Tomlinson

loudog · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:09 am Post subject:

No no..you guys have it all wrong. It's the gold plated trim kit that makes all the difference in the world!! And the satin finish...
_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Louie Eckhardt, trumpeter
http://www.LouieEckhardt.com
Associate Professor of Music
Hastings College

crzytptman · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:19 am Post subject:

Double cup?
Sorry . . . bad . . . bad . . .!!!
_________________
Crazy Nate - Fine Yet Mellow Fellow
"so full of it I don't know where to start"
Horn: "just mismatched Kanstul spare parts"
- TH member and advertiser (name withheld)

John Mock · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:21 am Post subject:

TupeloCOTA · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:54 am Post subject:

I've certainly got more mouthpieces than I can play on at one time! I was a 7C that went down the 13A4A route so that I could wow the high schoolers at the University Jazz Festival with my high Gs during my Claudio Roditi imitation on Rob McConnell charts. I liked the Schilke, but my mid range control stunk. This time out I am starting back at basics and plan to work for a year or so before worrying about gear.

windandsong · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:53 am Post subject:

same as my ex..1 1/4c, lots of the ex brass band lot are in this ballpark re. gear.. Big classical sound, loads of control etc..

John Mock · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

TupeloCOTA-

Your illustration is exactly why I avoid mouthpieces like the 13A4A. Obviously they work for some, but when I have tried them, my tone, flexibility, and pitch goes out the window, and the high range is not so important as to sacrifice all other aspects of one's playing. That's why I choose to stay with good, relatively standard mouthpieces.

I tried the Yamaha Bobby Shew Lead recently--and while closer to a standard mouthpiece, it does help in the high range--but playing with the brass quintet on all styles of music it was totally unacceptable. My playing on that mouthpiece was very sharp in pitch, with some notes way out relative to the other trumpet player. The Yamaha Shew Jazz, and Marcinkiewicz Shew 2, are much better for me in pitch and overall control, sound quality, flexibility, etc.

John
_________________
Kanstul 1500 trumpet
Kanstul 800-2
GR WB Classic and Studio M mouthpieces