Description
Legends CHASE 1973 Trumpet Mouthpiece
This mouthpiece is a replica of the custom mouthpiece that Bill Chase was using at the time of his tragic death in 1974. In 1972, Chase visited Renold Schilke, who copied his mouthpiece which had been made by Ray Amado in 1966. Mr. Schilke made some significant changes to the 1966 design, and sold the new design as the 6A4A. He continued to modifiy Bill Chase’s personal mouthpiece when Chase would return to the shop periodically, until it was perfected in 1973. The Legends CHASE 1973 is a duplicate of the rim, cup, throat, and backbore of the final perfected mouthpiece, personally owned and used by Bill Chase.
The inside rim diameter is 0.630″, the cup is a shallow bowl, and the throat is a #27. Click the “Additional Information” tab below to see all specs.
Legends Brass is in no way affiliated with Bill Chase or the estate of Bill Chase. All web links and/or videos found on this site are for educational and entertainment purposes only. No relationship between the two parties is implied. Legends Brass uses this information solely to honor the accomplishments and legacy of this great performing artist.
Legends Brass is in no way affiliated with the Schilke company. No relationship between the two parties is implied. Legends Brass references Mr. Renold Schilke and the Schilke company only to document the history of the personal mouthpiece owned by Bill Chase.
Bill Chase Bio:
Bill Chase, trumpeter and leader of the band Chase, was born October 20, 1934 in Squantum, Massachusetts. As a child his parents encouraged his musical interests, which included time on violin and drums before he settled on trumpet in his mid-teens. His musical talent developed quickly. After seeing Stan Kenton’s band featuring Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Childers, Conte Condoli and others, he was hooked on jazz and high note trumpet. After graduating from high school, he studied classical trumpet first at the New England Conservatory but then switched to Berklee College of Music (which was known as Schillinger House of Music at the time). In the late 1950’s to early 1960’s, Chase played lead trumpet with Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, and Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd. He then moved on to freelancing in Las Vegas. In 1967 he led a six-piece band at the Dunes and Riviera Hotel, arranging and performing in the lounge production Vive Les Girls. During his time in Las Vegas he began combining rock and jazz, and eventually formed his own jazz-rock fusion band: Chase. The debut album, Chase, was released in 1971. The band skyrocketed to fame with their most popular song “Get It On”, which spent 13 weeks on the charts. The public loved the hallmark Chase sound in which four trumpets, four rhythm instruments and one vocal blended rock, blues, jazz and pop with riveting passion and charisma. The band received a nomination for Best New Artist Grammy that year. They continued performing and recording until 1974, when keyboardist Wally Yohn, guitarist John Emma, drummer Walter Clark, and Bill Chase himself were tragically killed in a plane crash. Even now, more than forty years later, the music of Bill Chase and his band is so intense and exciting that people tend to remember the “first time they heard Chase” as a personal milestone. The early demise of this jazz-rock icon has left us all forever wishing for more.
Equipment:
Early on, Chase used a custom-made Tottle mouthpiece with a Martin Committee model 2B trumpet. He then moved to a custom Jet-Tone mouthpiece with a Getzen 900s trumpet. Jet-Tone marketed a “Chase Model” mouthpiece which was similar, but not identical to the personal piece made for him by Ray Amado. In 1973, he transitioned to Schilke. His personal Jet-Tone mouthpiece was scanned and used to create the Schilke 6A4A, but again, his personal 6A4A was further customized. He was using his customized personal 6A4A, with a Schilke B6LB trumpet until his death.
References:
- Wikipedia. n.d. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Chase). Retrieved 10/30/2020.
- Cooper, Dick. n.d. (https://web.archive.org/web/20090525071451/http://www.great-music.net/story.html). Retrieved 10/30/2020.
- Radio Swiss Jazz Music Database. n.d. (http://www.radioswissjazz.ch/en/music-database/musician/608093f589bcd03ab3e3a5980ca574f7d263e/biography). Retrieved 11/4/2020.
- Seeley, Kevin. n.d. (http://www.seeleymusic.com/chase/story.htm). Retrieved 10/30/2020.
Other Bill Chase models to consider:
Similar to the mouthpiece made by Ray Amado: Legends JT BC
Replica of Bill Chase’s personal mouthpiece made by Ray Amado in 1966: Legends JT BILL CHASE 1966.
Similar to the mouthpiece made by Renold Schilke: Legends L-6A4L
Replica of Bill Chase’s personal customized Schilke 6A4A: Legends CHASE 1973
More playable version of Chase’s personal customized Schilke 6A4A: Legends BC Master
Flugel piece with same rim as BC Master: Legends BC Master Flugel
