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Harrelson SpectraTone Mouthpieces


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Phoenix864
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:52 pm    Post subject: Harrelson SpectraTone Mouthpieces Reply with quote

Harrelson seems to have launched a new mouthpiece. I play some of their 5MM stuff and generally like them, but these new pieces seem pretty weird. Lots of big claims, but no concrete info or even comparison to the 5MM system. I'm interested to hear any thoughts on the piece.
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Goby
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

they bear a strong resemblance to ACB and Wedge pieces
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Crazy Finn
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Harrelson tends to have a lot of big claims.
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kalijah
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Harrelson tends to have a lot of big claims.


And fancy quasi-technical names for products.
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Crazy Finn
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 4:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kalijah wrote:
Quote:
Harrelson tends to have a lot of big claims.


And fancy quasi-technical names for products.

Some of the videos or descriptions I've seen remind me of sci-fi shows with the techno-babble.
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annvill
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The price is absurd.
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Phoenix864
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

annvill wrote:
The price is absurd.


Honestly, out of everything the $150 price for a fully modular mouthpiece doesn't stick out as too crazy to me (at least until the Kickstarter deal ends). A Bach Megatone is $115 on Dillon Music. The piece would be more interesting if Harrelson gave some rationale for the unusual body design.
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y-o-y
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hope this thread turns out at least as entertaining as the Monette Unity thread.
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Goby
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree that $150 for a modular piece, especially one with that many components, is a fair price
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Gottfried Reiche
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Anyone else remember Harrelson's early work? It looked like he just glued chunks of metal to horns. His craftsmanship certainly improved, but I think his horns are garbage. One of my colleagues in one of the orchestras here in town uses one and loves it, but I think it's a hunk of junk.

GR
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Dayton
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 1:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've owned two Harrelson trumpets, one of which came with a 5MM mouthpiece. The horns and mouthpiece were well made. Seems like he is finding his niche as a "modular" maker and continues to have some interesting ideas regarding regarding the application of mass on mouthpiece/trumpet design.

Regarding cost, $350 is a lot of money for a mouthpiece (from my perspective), but Monette, GR and others have already proven that people will pay that much. Also, I play on Pickett two-piece mouthpieces ($176). I have three tops and two backbores to cover the bases. That's over $500, so I can see how a modular concept could be appealing to some players.
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JGulyas
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gottfried Reiche wrote:
Anyone else remember Harrelson's early work? It looked like he just glued chunks of metal to horns. His craftsmanship certainly improved, but I think his horns are garbage. One of my colleagues in one of the orchestras here in town uses one and loves it, but I think it's a hunk of junk.

GR


I remember those days... looked like he took a Bundy trumpet and just soldered fat braces everywhere he could fit one.
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JPHB
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 15, 2021 4:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have to say, nothing against Harrelson, but these horns and mouthpieces look ridiculous to me and I would be embarrassed to show up at a session or a gig with one. That's just my worthless two cents, others might like this aesthetic. Grab a trumpet and play your ass off . . .
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Winghorn
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 15, 2021 5:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am not a Harrelson fan, but I heard one being played by a young woman at a brass retreat and she had one of the most beautiful sounds I ever heard.
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Gottfried Reiche
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 7:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Winghorn wrote:
I am not a Harrelson fan, but I heard one being played by a young woman at a brass retreat and she had one of the most beautiful sounds I ever heard.


SHE had one of the most beautiful sounds. SHE.
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Winghorn
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Correct, but SHE had a horn that allowed her to express this sound. If you don't think a particular instrument has an influence on the sound a player produces, you haven't played as many horns as I have.

Play a Benge 2X and an Olds Opera back to back if you don't believe me.

Steve
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omelet
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 5:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What's the deal with them doing a kickstarter? He already has manufacturing capability and supply chain setup, and it sounds like the mouthpieces are already designed. Seems like they just need to make the pieces and send them, what am I missing?
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Phoenix864
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

omelet wrote:
What's the deal with them doing a kickstarter? He already has manufacturing capability and supply chain setup, and it sounds like the mouthpieces are already designed. Seems like they just need to make the pieces and send them, what am I missing?


The Kickstarter stuff did strike me as odd - Harrelson is certainly an established builder with the necessary experience and equipment to build these mouthpieces, and has even shown photos of completed SpectraTone bodies. I can only assume that they choose Kickstarter as an easy way to take pre-orders, though it wouldn't seem to difficult to just have a "SpectraTone - pre-order" item in their webstore.

Harrelson certainly does have some unique designs - personally, I think the machined bits on the horns look nice a 'modern' way. However, they still offer equipment that looks pretty normal.
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Crazy Finn
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 9:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

omelet wrote:
What's the deal with them doing a kickstarter? He already has manufacturing capability and supply chain setup, and it sounds like the mouthpieces are already designed. Seems like they just need to make the pieces and send them, what am I missing?

In other areas, I see established publishers and such use Kickstarter when they want to release a new volume. There's usually some sort of discount via the Kickstarter than if you buy it later the normal way, maybe some fancy or special edition available only via the Kickstarter.

It's not just books, either. Established companies, though maybe not huge ones, use if for things as well as less established companies or producers. I think it's kind of an established marketing platform, so it works that way as well.
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Retlaw
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 3:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Winghorn wrote:
Correct, but SHE had a horn that allowed her to express this sound. If you don't think a particular instrument has an influence on the sound a player produces, you haven't played as many horns as I have.

Play a Benge 2X and an Olds Opera back to back if you don't believe me.

Steve


I haven't been around these parts for awhile ....interesting how the myths and misconceptions still abound and a bash on Jason just for luck. I had one...great trumpet and got it during the infamous "shill" period for a song. You are of course absolutely right and anyone with discerning ears that are not blown out can hear the difference between different horns played by the same player. I have had a lot of horns on my safari and it still continues but at a much reduced pace. My latest is a most wonderful Carol Brass 5260L...who would have thought....after Committees , Recordings, Schilkes, Taylors, Bachs, Edwards.....and more.......
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