 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-08-24 14:47
Friends,
I just learned on the SOTW Forum that Ralph Morgan passed away yesterday peacefully in his sleep.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Ralph for all of his advice, information, and great mouthpieces. Ralph Morgan was one of a kind. I can't think of anyone quite like him.
Thank you Ralph!
Roger
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-08-26 08:52
He was a great man. I can't think of many people that have such an honest love of what they do like Ralph did.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2007-08-26 13:14
I consider myself fortunate to be playing on one of Ralph Morgan's excellent "duckbill" clarinet mouthpieces. To get an appreciation of the man's enormous contribution to saxophone (and clarinet) culture, I recommend reading of Michael Segal's excellent book "The Devil's Horn."
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2007-08-27 00:05
Ralph was a very giving person......I visited him at his home and he was great to deal with. He had a definite idea of what he wanted but respected others. He was there to help you. Goodbye Ralph it was honour to have met you. John
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: nickma
Date: 2007-11-25 21:03
He was a great character, the likes of which we're unlikely to see again.
His mouthpieces and amazing barrels were a true vocation, reflected in the personal way he gave advice and time to customers, laced with funny and apocraphal stories about his time at Selmer.
In an increasingly material world, his pricing reflected a different and musically democratic ethos.
Nick
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-11-25 21:25
Ralph's pricing and generosity were from a bygone era.
I fondly remember spending many hours on the phone with him and ordering a few mouthpieces and barrels. I had mentioned that I had an important orchestra concert coming up and needed a new Eb clarinet mouthpiece. He said that a recent large Japanese order took all his Eb mouthpiece blanks but thought he still might have one left. He later called me back to say he had one blank remaining and would make the mouthpiece for me that evening.
When I offered to secure my entire order (4 mouthpieces, 2 barrels) with a credit card, he declined and said to just try everything for a few weeks and then send back a check along with anything I didn't find satisfactory.
BTW - Ralph's Eb clarinet mouthpiece is the best one I've every played...GBK
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-11-26 12:36
Does anyone know if the company is still running as it was before Ralph's passing?
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Author: Kel
Date: 2007-11-26 14:26
As I understand, "The Mouthpiece Guys", who worked with Ralph and also have their own line of sax mouthpieces, will continue the Morgan line. Prices are significantly higher.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-11-26 20:22
His mouthpiece measurement and refacing kit is great, too.
richard smith
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Author: Kel
Date: 2007-11-27 20:41
The situation with Morgan mouthpieces is addressed on the Saxontheweb forum,
http://forum.saxontheweb.net. In the General Mouthpiece Discussion sub-forum there is a thread, "What's going on with Junkdude/Morgan prices". Post #25 gives an insider's view by Brian Powell, one of "The Mouthpiece Guys" working with Georgia Morgan to preserve Morgan mouthpieces.
Post Edited (2007-11-27 20:47)
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