 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-04 18:36
In a post before this one. "For Boosey Players," David mentioned Ralph Morgan mouthpieces and I have a question about them that doesn't pertain to David's post:
I'm curious, when you buy a mouthpiece from Ralph Morgan, how do you reconciliate the fact that you have to buy it sight unseen, totally untested and do or die with it, since, as per his distrubutor, David Hoskins- the "Junk Dude," Ralph Morgan does not allow a trial period and will not take the mouthpiece back for anything other than workmanship or materials issues?
I have wanted to do business with Ralph Morgan for a while, in fact, I recently crossed e-mails with his distributor and, frankly, in spite of his excellent reputation, I can't see sending Ralph Morgan a couple of hundred dollars of my "hard-earned" money when I have no recourse whatsoever if I just don't like the mouthpiece or it doesn't suit me or my instrument for any reason.
How does anyone else here handle an issue such as this?
I'm already refraining from doing business with him, so that answer is not valid!
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2003-01-04 19:31
Ralph Morgan comes to the ClarFest and finishes his mouthpieces to match the individual player there. That's how I got mine, which I still use from time to time. He's in his 80s now, and a bit crusty, but if you ask him about his time at Selmer and how he set up the Selmer 10G line, he warms up and tells great stories.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-01-04 22:35
He is probably wary of time wasters. In a small one man operation it is probably a pain to have to send gear out on appro with not guaranteed sale and postage costs. Try using a larger retailer who stock his gear they are set up for that sort of thing manufacturers are not that is why retailers exist.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-04 22:40
Best to have Ralph make the mouthpiece in front of you, while you wait. He has a knack for making just the precise small finishing adjustments which truly make it "your own".
I have a number of Ralph's handmade mouthpieces (Bb, Eb, C) which I switch on and off from time to time.
Plus, if you see Ralph in person you get to hear his Selmer "war stories". That alone, is worth the price of admission...GBK
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-04 23:21
How stupid of me!
I know the WW/BW carries Morgan mouthpieces and they do trial periods, but it never ocurred to me.
When I tried to look Ralph Morgan on the web, the "Junk Dude" site came up in the inquiry, so I contacted him and he does trial periods with other mouthpieces, but not with Ralph Morgans, etc.
Thanks guys!
GBK,
Unless I was a high pressure professional I'd find it economically prohibitive to fly over to him to have a mouthpiece made, but you are right, actually, any custom mouthpiece is better made in front of you, so adjustments can be done on the spot and everyone is happy.
I still have to call Ralph and introduce myself to him anyway...who knows what might develop!
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2003-01-05 00:55
Peter,
I did a trial on the Morgan RM06 thru weinermusic.com.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-05 03:24
Hey, hey, Bob, whaddaya mean? My charm, together with my snappy wit and good humor will surely win him over, no?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-05 03:48
Peter...Ralph Morgan is probably one of the few people on this planet who could probably keep up with you - word for word :-)
...GBK
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Author: Bryan
Date: 2003-01-05 16:24
I just tried a few days ago to order one through IMS and was told they'd been deleted from the catalog. So don't bother trying to get one from them.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-05 18:38
Gee, GBK,
Then Ralph Morgan must be a tremendously quiet, unobtrussive fellow.
Much like me! (Right!)
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