Dukoff Short Shank Phil Barone Modified 6* Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

I bought this mouthpiece from Phil Barone through eBay on July 19, 2006, for 480$. I remember giving Phil a call regarding his wooden mouthpiece that I wanted to try at that time. We spent some time on the call and Phil basically talked me out of his wooden mouthpiece. I was then tempted to try his Hollywood model but he pointed me to this piece. Although Phil called this 'Charlie Ventura' model I am more inclined to think this is a short-shank model. He bought it for himself, refaced it a bit and put a nice satin finish on it. I ended up bying it and I am soooo happy that I did.

This mouthpiece has been my main piece for the last year or so. Spread, powerfull, warm, big sound that fills up the room. I would say medium bright with a touch of sweetness. I have been a Link man most of my playing days but I now love this piece better than my Links. It's in perfect playing condition, opening around 7, very reed friendly and so easy to blow. This gets me closest to Dexter's sound than any other piece I have. Works great with Hemke's, Gonzales and Rico Jazz select reeds. Tips, rails, table, buffle, beak - all in excellent condition. Serial number A279.

Another note here: When I started playing this piece it was not giving me it's full potential. I then started reading a thread on SOTW forum started by Phil regarding tone production. I learned a lot on how to improve my tone - basically putting a lot more mouthpiece into my mouth. You can see that in one of the photographs below. It really got me to the whole new dimension. My altissimo is now with 'meat' - not thin sounding. My lower tones are huge. At first, you loose control and refinement when you switch embouchure but in time you adjust. The tone, however, gets you to a place you won't return from. Thanks Phil for a great lesson and a wonderful mouthpiece.

Here is what Theo says about these:
Bob Dukoff "Dukoff" (1945):
These mouthpieces are shorter than the BD model. They have a very large chamber with very deep rounded inner side-walls. In fact, what makes these mouthpieces so great is that they have such profoundly rounded inner side-walls, much like the NY Otto Links made in the 1940's. However, they have higher floors than their Otto Link counterparts so have more projection. These are fantastic playing mouthpieces; however, the facings vary widely from piece to piece. About 200 of this model were bought by a New York Distributor who put the Woodwind Co. name on them. Most have a serial number on the shank with white bite.

I bought this vintage Bobby Dukoff Charlie Ventura model for my personal collection. It was originally a #6* but I refaced to a #7 (.100). It is a free blowing mouthpiece with a round chamber a lot like an Otto Link but I think it's better than Links. The original facings were too long causing them to be overly stuffy and dark but I fixed that when I faced it. Contrary to popular belief, this is the more desirable model, not the Hollywood model. Steve Grossman played this for model for many years before switching to a mouthpiece I make called the New York model. This mouthpiece is probably darker than that. I've put a brand new biteplate in it and buffed out most of the imperfections and put a nice satin finish on it. There's not many of these around so take advantage of this mouthpiece before they're all gone. Phil Barone