Thanx KHP, I had gone to a local music shop several months ago looking for a case for my Holton, the last case was destroyed 25+ years ago in a fire. The shop finally got one in last week & the guy had a display case full of Marcinkiewicz mouthpieces too. Seeings the last mouthpiece I bought was in high school (a Holton Maynard Ferguson model, tapered cup, big rim) and was the one I was attempting to return on, I sat down & started trying them out. MAN, what a difference 40 years has made! I played thru about ten different, tossing them out one by one until I found this E12.4 Ingram model. Yeah, I know, probally not the best choice by alot of standards, but it sounded sweet. It re-sparked me from a point where I was saying, "I'm not going to make it". I was using a mute in the shop as not to blow out the neighborhood and when I pulled the cork, it was like old times. The old mouthpiece was presenting sooooo much back pressure, I just didn't realize it. The selling point was when the "spousal unit" told me she could tell the difference (she is definately non-musical), I was hooked (I wasn't gonna turn loose of that mouthpiece at any rate). Things the way they are with me, I'm figuring this mouthpiece is like 8 million dollars, had to be 'cause it's the one I picked, I love it, & I want it. Shocked me.....under 50 bucks. Best money I have spent in a long time.
So, lesson learned, coming back? Go out and buy a brand new mouthpiece that you can play on......chuck Oh yeah, the case? ProTec......like socks on a rooster....way too kewl!
