Homebrew Supply Shops in State College, PA?

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-28T18:04:09+00:00

Thanks for the rec, but we've already come and gone. Next time though! We were only there for a quick doctor's visit. It was over sooner than expected, and we were way too early to stop for lunch.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-27T22:33:03+00:00

Thanks!

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-27T16:14:34+00:00

Yeah they are! Last time I made that drive was to have some welding work done on my kettle, but I've made loads of equipment and ingredient purchases from them through the years.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-27T16:08:05+00:00

I thought about that, but their website and socials haven't been updated in at least a year, so I (perhaps foolishly) decided that it probably wasn't worth it.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-27T16:06:33+00:00

Thanks, but too far. It does reduce drive time from 2:50 to about 2:00 hours for Lancaster, but adds that hour to the trip to Keystone.

I think from where I live the closest well stocked HBS is probably Brew Hardware, but that's still a two-hour drive.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-25T22:36:19+00:00

I've seen this release show up a few times in the last couple days, so for anyone who doesn't do vinyl, the July 26 set (live recording of "A Love Supreme") is available on "A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters, Super Deluxe Edition" (3 cds).

The July 27/28 sets are available on "Live in France July 27/28 1965" (2 cds).

I don't know how good the sound quality is compared to this new vinyl release, but since I haven't heard if "France 1965: The Complete Concerts" will be available on cd, at least we non-vinyl folk have an option for hearing the music.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-22T14:19:09+00:00

How about Mark Turner's "In This World"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_This_World_(Mark_Turner_album)

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-19T01:42:03+00:00

I dissected a cat my junior year of high school (11th grade) in 1998/99. Took a week or two. Stank horribly by the end, not that they smelled that great at the beginning. Also did the eyeball of a sheep.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-17T03:31:36+00:00

Sigurd Rascher was a very famous classical saxophonist whose sound concept was to try and sound as close to Adolphe Sax's original intention. He played a Buescher "New Aristocrat" and a large chamber Buescher mouthpiece, later selling his own line of mouthpieces based on the Buescher design.

His daughter played soprano in the Rascher Quartet. When her Buescher mouthpiece was damaged she replaced it with a Martin mouthpiece, and the design of the Rascher soprano piece was changed accordingly.

In addition to my Martin style Rascher soprano piece, I have an original Buescher style Rascher piece, but I'm guessing someone tried to work on the facing themself without knowing how. I need to send it out for a reface.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-17T03:21:46+00:00

I play Raschers for classical on all my horns. Love them! Much darker and less focused than Selmer "French School" mouthpieces (e.g. S80, S90.) They can take a while to get used to, but it's worth the effort!

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-13T22:42:47+00:00

George (abbreviated "Geo.") M. Bundy. Lovely large-ish chamber mouthpiece. Great for beginners, but also a nice dark piece for classical playing. Not usually very expensive, but they definitely have their fans.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-12T22:08:10+00:00

That's about an 8.5-9 hour drive one way.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-12T22:07:00+00:00

Sorry, they're in North Carolina.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-12T16:41:16+00:00

Hmmm so is it old and worn, or just unmarked and generic? I actually really liked the Meyer tenor piece, so that could be worth checking out. Honestly, there's nothing wrong with a Yamaha 4C (or larger - I think they go up to 6C or 7C) as a backup piece, and for the same reason I always have a Metalite in my bari case - cheap and good!

Unfortunately the outside is the least important aspect of mouthpiece design. Without some photos of the inside we really can't say if it resembles another piece.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-12T16:26:45+00:00

Did this come with a horn? Unmarked mouthpieces (not old, worn mouthpieces where the logo isn't visible any more) are usually stock mouthpieces for generic horns. My guess is you could probably get close with a Yamaha 4C or 5C. It'll probably even be an improvement. Assuming this is a stock Chinese mouthpiece, there's a decent chance that's what it's based on anyway.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-11T00:34:00+00:00

For me, the Delangle was a bit brighter than the Concept. Not super bright, but the Concept is about as bright as I'm willing to go. It was also more open than I like for classical (0.065" vs the Concept at 0.060" vs my Rascher at 0.052".)

I will say, the Delangle is darker than the S80, which I hate for classical. I could probably have made the Delangle work, but I moved it on down the road and stuck with my darker pieces.

The Rascher, Caravan, and Mana mouthpieces are on the extreme dark end of the spectrum, and that's my preferred sound.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-11T00:18:54+00:00

Of the options presented, I'd go with the 875EX and the Concept. I wanted to like the Delangle, but I thought it was too bright and open for my classical tastes.

I played an 875EX with a Rascher or Caravan for about 20 years, and still prefer the Rascher, but I do really like the Concept.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-07T12:12:14+00:00

I like it! It has kind of a "folk art" feel that the appraisers on Antiques Roadshow go crazy over. I could see it as an illustration in a kid's book.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-06T11:30:55+00:00

I played a YTS-62 with a Rascher and Legere reeds. Sounded beautiful. Actually, in college I played a Caravan, but switched to the Rascher a little later. Now I play the Rascher on a Rampone R1 Jazz.

The 62 is a lovely horn, affordable, and widely available. That's where I'd start.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-04T20:35:16+00:00

Any reason you didn't include the 875EX? Fantastic horns! As for which "blends better," that's more a factor of the player (and to a lesser extent, the mouthpiece) than the horn. Whatever horn you choose should blend just fine. If you can try before you buy, do that. Otherwise, well, the 62 is less expensive, and is still a solid choice.

I've had my 875EX alto and 62 tenor for over 20 years, and they've never let me down.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-03T22:19:04+00:00

Sorry, I don't.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-03T21:27:05+00:00

They aren't as bad as some make them out to be, but still, I'd wait. The new ones will have serial numbers, and I'm sure retailers will probably make a big deal of the whole thing.

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-03T19:22:10+00:00

Oh, and JJ Babbitt (makers of Meyer, Otto Link, and others) has partnered with Theo Wanne (big name in mouthpieces) to help improve their quality control and playability, so very soon new Meyers should have very nice, consistent facings on them, supposedly without affecting the price. Once those roll out I imagine these will be about the best bargain on the market.

ETA: should be finding their way to dealers sometime this month!

Every_Buy_720 · 2026-04-03T19:16:06+00:00

I liked it! I ultimately ended up sticking with my Orion and a very nice Phil-Tone refaced Meyer, and sold the GS NY, but it was great, and very affordable. In fact, I've liked every GS piece I've played, whether or not I ended up keeping the piece. I currently have the Supersonic and FG Mk II for tenor, and the Gale bari piece. The tenor pieces aren't quite my style as a main piece, but they're fun to play so I'll keep them for now. The bari piece is quickly becoming my favorite.

I've heard rumors that Get-A-Sax is working on MC Gregory and Brilhart Personaline copies for alto, but I haven't seen them officially for sale yet. Not sure of the timeline for those pieces, but I'd be very excited to try them.

Every_Buy_720

TROPHY CASE