BERG LARSEN Slant Signature - Hard Rubber (-)

These are some of the earliest Berg Larsen mouthpieces made, and are fantastic players.  All of these vintage Slant Signature Bergs feature a Duckbill beak, and a bullet chamber.  They have great response, and a good amount of edge.  Bergs are generally known for having a number that represents the baffle height which translates into the brightness and darkness.  Berg usually had the tip opening listed on the shank, then under that would be the baffle height.  He used 0-3, with 0 being very bright, and 3 being dark.  They would also have an M or SMS on the shank for the facing length.  M for medium facing, and SMS for small.  The earliest Slant Signature models didn't have the brightness numbers or facing length on the shank.  They typically just had the tip opening.

 

Charecteristics of Slant Signature Hard Rubber:

  • Berg Larsen stamped at slant on shank
  • Tip opening stamped on shank under table
  • Baffle height/brightness number stamped under tip opening(on later models)
  • Facing length M or SMS stamp offset from tip opening and baffle height
  • Long table that extends past the end of the reed
  • Denim machine markings on table

 

Berg made a lot of their alto mouthpieces with very large tip openings.  It is not uncommon to find vintage Berg alto pieces with tip openings like .100".  For some reason they made a lot of alto mouthpieces with tip openings that were more like tenor sizes.  These vintage Berg alto pieces play very comfortably though, even with the large tip openings.  They make great lead alto mouthpieces because they have a good amount of edge and bite to the sound which makes it easy to cut through a section.

 

These vintage Slant Sig Bergs, along with the Slant Sig Stainless Steel models are the most sought after vintage Berg mouthpieces out there.  The facing work on these vintage Bergs is fantastic.  It is so good that you can often see your reflection in the baffle of the mouthpiece.  It's amazingly clean work.

 

Slant Sig bari pieces of this vintage are very rare as well.  Many of the first models were stamped with a "T" which signified that a tenor reed could be used on the mouthpiece. 

 

These mouthpieces came with a gold two screw ligature and cap.

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These are some of the earliest Berg Larsen mouthpieces made, and are fantastic players.  All of these vintage Slant Signature Bergs feature a Duckbill beak, and a bullet chamber.  They have great response, and a good amount of edge.  Bergs are generally known for having a number th...   [more]

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