Today, I am excited to be reviewing the return of the Brilhart Carlsbad Ebolin alto saxophone mouthpiece released by Conn-Selmer.  These new Brilhart Ebolin alto saxophone mouthpieces are advertised as being made from the same Brilhart Carlsbad-era molds that Arnold Brilhart used in the 1950’s to make these iconic saxophone mouthpieces.

*It’s important to note that these new Carlsbad-era Ebolin alto saxophone mouthpieces are distinct from the mass-produced Brilhart Ebolin mouthpieces of the last 50 years, which strayed from the original Arnold Brilhart Carlsbad design played by so many great players of the past.

Brilhart Ebolin Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Here is a description of the new Brilhart Ebolin alto saxophone mouthpiece from the Conn-Selmer website description:

The Iconic Brilhart Ebolin alto saxophone mouthpiece has returned for a new generation of jazz musician.  Utilizing the original molds created by Arnold Brilhart, Conn Selmer has masterfully revived the Brilhart “Carlsbad” Ebolin saxophone mouthpiece. Each mouthpiece is engineered to precise specifications, producing a full, resonant tone while giving players the perfect amount of “edge” and carrying power.

Every Brilhart “Carlsbad” Ebolin mouthpiece is 100% manufactured and hand finished in Elkhart Indiana, USA.

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  • Original Carlsbad Era Molds: Faithfully produces the exact feel of the West Coast Brilhart vibe.
  
  
  • Hand Finished / Voiced: Ensures the best possible response, intonation and color.  
  
  
  • Serialized: Return to a signature element of the Brilhart artist lines of mouthpieces
  
  
  
  

Brilhart Ebolin Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

I know next to nothing about the history of Brilhart saxophone mouthpieces so I emailed Ryan Lillywhite (Director of Woodwinds at Conn-Selmer) asking about the history of Brilhart saxophone mouthpieces.   Here is Ryan’s detailed response:

“A legendary figure in the saxophone history books, Arnold Brilhart (1904-1998) began in the 1920s as an in-demand saxophonist and prolific recording artist in New York. Brilhart was frequently heard on live radio performances and eventually recorded on some 30,000 records. He also headed a plastics company where he honed a unique expertise with injection molding technology and specialty plastic composites engineering.

In 1939, fueled by his passion for improving saxophone mouthpieces, he established his own Brilhart Musical Instrument Corporation in Great Neck, New York. As he reminisced in later years, “I started making reeds and mouthpieces because the ones on the market were so lousy” (New York Times, Dec 1 1994).  Brilhart was on a quest for the perfect sound that combined sweet, fat and warm, complemented by enough bite to ring yet not become shrill. 

One of Brilhart’s crowning achievements during the Great Neck era was the creation of the Brilhart Ebolin and Tonalin saxophone mouthpieces, released in 1940. Ebolin, made from a black composite with a white bite plate, quickly became a staple in the saxophone world. With unique facing options, these provided saxophonists a range of tonal options from dark and mellow to bright and punchy. Gene Ammons famously played an Ebolin tenor saxophone mouthpiece.

The Tonalin mouthpiece, distinct in its ivory-white color with black bite plate, was a softer material celebrated for its warm, focused sound and impeccable response. Its versatility made it a favorite among saxophonists across genres and the Tonalin quickly became a favorite of many saxophonists, with notable players like Benny Goodman and Charlie Parker endorsing it.

Brilhart also continued to make a hard rubber model from ebonite, a more traditional mouthpiece material. These had a larger chamber and became the iconic sounds of players such as Zoot Sims.

One notable addition to Brilhart’s lineup during the later Great Neck era was the Personaline series. These mouthpieces, crafted under Brilhart’s personal supervision, offered saxophonists a personalized playing experience with their customizable facings and chamber shapes. The Personaline series showcased Brilhart’s dedication to meeting the individual needs of players and pushing the boundaries of mouthpiece design.

In 1954, Brilhart relocated his company to southern California, marking the beginning of his Carlsbad era. Ebolin and Tonalin mouthpieces were initially made almost identically to those from Great Neck, and in later years the Carlsbad models have a slightly smaller chamber. These are distinguished by a quick response and slightly more “edge” to the sound.

In 1966, the Brilhart Company was acquired by Selmer who continued making and selling the popular mouthpieces. That same year saw the introduction of the Level Air model,  a metal mouthpiece made of stainless steel which had a distinctly brighter sound than other Brilhart tenor sax mouthpieces.

While original Great Neck and Carlsbad era Brilhart mouthpieces are highly sought after, it’s no small chore for a saxophonist to find the right one: not only did vintage Ebolin and Tonalin mouthpieces from this era commonly suffer cracks in the shank, the facings were also notoriously inconsistent in facing and tip opening.

The Brilhart mouthpieces gradually became more generic and, while still being sold and appreciated for decades, drifted from the original professional models that Arnold Brilhart designed.

Then, in 2023, the Selmer company made waves in the industry when they found the original Brilhart mouthpiece molds and reintroduced the true Ebolin and Special mouthpieces back into the saxophone market. This new era is marked by carefully controlled molding and machining, expert hand finishing, and a reworked numbering system that is in line with other mouthpiece brands.  The reissue of these classic mouthpieces is not a revival but an actual rebirth of the original Great Neck Ebolin molds.”-Ryan Lillywhite (Director of Woodwinds at Conn-Selmer) 

Brilhart Ebolin Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

The Brilhart Ebolin alto saxophone mouthpiece came well packaged and protected in a beautifully crafted vintage looking black box with the original Brilhart trademark from 1942 on it (“Brilhart” with a mouthpiece on the left side and a reed on the right side).  On the sides of the box are stickers with the facing number on one side and the serial number of the mouthpiece on the other.

Brilhart Ebolin Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Inside the box, the mouthpiece is protected on all sides with foam and there is a card with the serial number, finishers name and play testers name on it.   I like this personal touch of having a persons name attached to the quality of the mouthpiece.  It seems to me that this practice would help improve quality standards in many mouthpiece companies that have had, and still have, quality control issues (not naming any names……).  By the way,  can you figure out the name of the person who worked on this mouthpiece from the signature above?    Yeah, neither can I…….

Brilhart Ebolin Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

The Brilhart Ebolin alto saxophone mouthpiece has the classic cursive “Brilhart” logo engraved in white on the top of the mouthpiece with the 7 tip opening engraved in white below the logo.  Below the 7 on the top of the shank is engraved “Ebolin” in white as well.  The serial number is stamped into the body off of the right side of the table.  The serial number is more discreet and is not in white.

Here is a list of the tip opening sizes the Brilhar