Al Cass Mouthpieces?
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dukesboneman
- Posts: 791
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Al Cass Mouthpieces?
Anyone have any experience with them?
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stewbones43
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 5:11 am
- Location: Somerset, UK
Re: Al Cass Mouthpieces?
I have an Al Cass mouthpiece which I have used successfully on 2nd and 3rd parts in big bands, (I was never a lead player and nowadays I am happier on bass) I found the piece to be very comfortable for the typical long gigs that big bands do and it produced a good range of tone colours.
The original models were J-1, L-1 and S-1 (small, medium and widest) but my piece is marked T1 and, as well as the hand engraved? "Al Cass Milford Mass." around the outside of the rim, it has "MADE IN ENGLAND" on the shank. This was from an arrangement Al Cass had with Boosey and Hawkes, whereby they produced cornet, trumpet and trombone mouthpieces to his designs and sold them through their dealer network. The arrangement came to an acrimonious conclusion when he discovered that they were producing more than they were claiming and so doing him out of his commission per mouthpiece.......or so the story goes!
I also have a very nice mouthpiece designed by/for Mike Innes, a renowned British trombonist and it is a version of the Al Cass trombone mouthpiece but it has a slightly flatter rim surface and straighter sides than the curved ones on the originals. I suspect it was made in the last 20 years. It is marked 24 but I don't know the significance of that.
Conclusion, they are worth trying.
Cheers
Stewbones43
The original models were J-1, L-1 and S-1 (small, medium and widest) but my piece is marked T1 and, as well as the hand engraved? "Al Cass Milford Mass." around the outside of the rim, it has "MADE IN ENGLAND" on the shank. This was from an arrangement Al Cass had with Boosey and Hawkes, whereby they produced cornet, trumpet and trombone mouthpieces to his designs and sold them through their dealer network. The arrangement came to an acrimonious conclusion when he discovered that they were producing more than they were claiming and so doing him out of his commission per mouthpiece.......or so the story goes!
I also have a very nice mouthpiece designed by/for Mike Innes, a renowned British trombonist and it is a version of the Al Cass trombone mouthpiece but it has a slightly flatter rim surface and straighter sides than the curved ones on the originals. I suspect it was made in the last 20 years. It is marked 24 but I don't know the significance of that.
Conclusion, they are worth trying.
Cheers
Stewbones43
Conn 36H(Pitched in D/A)
Reynolds Medalist
B&H Sessionair
Besson 10-10
Conn 74H
Yamaha YSL-641 with Yamaha Custom Slide
Conn 88H Gen II with Conn SL4747 Slide
Besson Academy 409
Rath/Holton/Benge Bb/F/G or Gb/Eb or D Independent Bass
Reynolds Medalist
B&H Sessionair
Besson 10-10
Conn 74H
Yamaha YSL-641 with Yamaha Custom Slide
Conn 88H Gen II with Conn SL4747 Slide
Besson Academy 409
Rath/Holton/Benge Bb/F/G or Gb/Eb or D Independent Bass
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Bonebrain
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:16 am
Re: Al Cass Mouthpieces?
Al Cass Mouthpieces.
Yes, I have several and have been playing on them for around 12-15 years.
I have moved on and returned to them time and time again.
They don't seem to suit some horns and are great on others.
The J-1/T-1 is my preference but I have multiple variants and sizes.
Some of mine are very early pieces and don't have actual model/size names, just the Al Cass inscription.
I really can't find a better mouthpiece for my purposes.
I play jazz and mostly mainstream and back to earlier styles.
500 bore horns and sometimes a 2B or Olds Super or Standard.
Well worth testing out. You will always find a buyer if you want to on-sell later.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Yes, I have several and have been playing on them for around 12-15 years.
I have moved on and returned to them time and time again.
They don't seem to suit some horns and are great on others.
The J-1/T-1 is my preference but I have multiple variants and sizes.
Some of mine are very early pieces and don't have actual model/size names, just the Al Cass inscription.
I really can't find a better mouthpiece for my purposes.
I play jazz and mostly mainstream and back to earlier styles.
500 bore horns and sometimes a 2B or Olds Super or Standard.
Well worth testing out. You will always find a buyer if you want to on-sell later.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
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