MEYER Brothers New York (-)

The Meyer Bros mouthpieces are named after Ed and Frank Meyer who founded the Meyer Company in the early 1930's. Original Meyer Bros alto mouthpieces are the most expensive vintage mouthpieces in circulation today. Since their inception, they have always been highly sought after jazz mouthpieces. In the late 1990's the Internet really began to sensationalize this mouthpiece and its value shot up by some 300-500% in 10 short years.  New York Meyer Brothers mouthpieces are considered by many to be the Holy Grail for alto players.  The soprano, tenor, and bari pieces can play great too, but don't have the same mystique associated with them as the alto pieces.

Charecteristics of Meyer Brothers New York:

  • Meyer Bros. stamp on back
  • New York stamp on shank (under table or under Meyer Bros. stamp) explained below
  • Small Chamber, Medium Chamber, or Large Chamber stamp on early models
  • Small, Medium, or Large stamp for chamber size on later models
  • Facing stamp to the left of the table

The earliest Meyer Bros. mouthpieces manufactured by Meyer indicated the chamber size by saying "Small Chamber," "Medium Chamber," or "Large Chamber."  The later models indicated this with just the stamping, "Small," "Medium," or "Large."  The medium chamber pieces are most common and generally the most sought after.  However, the small chamber pieces are highly desired too and tend to be a bit brighter. Both small and medium chamber Meyer Bros mouthpieces have that quinessential "lead alto" sound. The large chamber Meyer Bros pieces have a distinctly darker tonal concept and lean more towards the sound of an early vintage Otto Link New York slant sig or Reso Chamber mouthpiece.

The earlier models that for example said "Medium Chamber" had this printed on the shank under the table.  Therefore the New York stamp that was on the shank was on the reverse side underneath the Meyer Bros. stamp.  They would reverse this when they started stamping the mouthpieces with just the "Medium" stamps. The very latest version of the Meyer Bros mouthpiece had a slightly narrower window and its this version of the mouthpiece that really gets people excited.

Perhaps the most famous alto player to have used these mouthpieces was Cannonball Adderley, but nearly every jazz alto sax player since the 1950's has used a Meyer for at least some portion of their career.  The great saxophonist and educator Jim Snidero has Cannonball Adderley's original Meyer Brothers mouthpiece.  Snidero also plays on a vintage NY Meyer Bros alto mouthpiece, but not the same one that Cannonball used.

Many modern makers have tried, but no one has yet been able to consistently recreate the sound that comes from these vintage pieces.  Artists who have used, or are currently usind New York Meyer Bros. mouthpieces include:

 

Cannonball Adderley - Alto

Jim Snidero - Alto

Lou Donaldson - Alto

 

 

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The Meyer Bros mouthpieces are named after Ed and Frank Meyer who founded the Meyer Company in the early 1930's. Original Meyer Bros alto mouthpieces are the most expensive vintage mouthpieces in circulation today. Since their inception, they have always been highly sought after jazz mouthpieces....   [more]

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