TONS of good info in this video. If you're new to trying out different mouthpieces I would recommend watching the video multiple times before you dive in. After playing .500 and .547 bore jazz and orchestral tenor trombones for years, when I first started playing bass trombone my Bach 1-1/4G felt like the biggest thing imaginable. After I started playing trumpet, suddenly all my trombone mouthpieces felt restrictive. Weird! Now my go to bass trombone mouthpiece is a Schilke 60, which is quite a bit bigger than the Bach. And oddly enough doesn't interfere with my trumpet playing. Big thanks to Christopher and Richard for posting this excellent content!
Back in the 70s (yes, I'm old) I tried a lot of mouthpieces, but I settled on just three for my playing. Bach 1.5G for strictly bass trombone work, the Bach 4G when I had to do all-around playing while using a bass trombone, and the Bach 7C while playing tenor. I might also mention that I prefer the Bach 6.5 AL for euphonium. The biggest priorities in choosing a mouthpiece were how it "felt" on my lips (call it comfort) and could I produce a big round sound. Bach mouthpieces always seemed to fit the bill for me.
Chris and Richard... Thank you for this. I have been looking at DW mouthpieces and was just struggling with biting the bullet and buying one (decided on the 6BS). Was glad to find it on DF Music for less than I was going to pay, AND then got a discount... SCORE! And since I was getting the discount, I picked up a DW anniversary straight mute while I was at it.
Thank you so much for this video. My best friend sent me this because she knew I’m having an early midlife crisis on mouthpieces (it’s my last year at our university). Wish I could’ve met you at TMEA!
I actually switched mouthpiece sizes a while back, I went from a 48L or 5G (about those sizes) to a 19c as a joke which turned out to be the best mouthpiece for me. Didn't loose range, just extended it and made it easier. And on top of that I sounded a hell of a lot better. The small mouthpieces just fit me so much better. Idk how christopher bill can play on these gargantuan sizes in the high register.
@@classicaltrombone I remember watching you solo on a bigger once though. But when I play bass though I prefer this mouthpiece from Yamaha it's sized at a 510 (whatever that's comparable to idk) it's not too giant just above mid sized stuff.
And thanks to Denis Wick for posting a very fine video of "Power Down"!!!!! Now I can listen to it on YT as well as Spotify and the visuals are super cool.
I actually contacted Richard back in April when I was looking for a mouthpiece for a Benge 175F I had just bought and since I live in Chicago he helped set me up with the DW studio. Got to try out a bunch of mouthpieces and found something I liked a lot (9BS heritage). It was a really good experience and something I'll certainly repeat when I buy myself a bass trombone.
Very good! Denis Wick has excellent mouthpieces. I play a Schlike 59 on bass (Bach 50 AF3). Another option for mouthpieces is Giddings. He allows for returns. They don't scratch or dent. Two bass bone friends of mine play the Chinook.
Recently bought a new mouthpiece for my sousaphone, had a used (not great condition) mouthpiece. Bought a helleberg and my playing has improved while playing louder volumes. I do wish i had known about his channel beforehand, might have made a better choice possibly. Still satisfied though.
Some decades ago, l was using a Denis Wick 2AL mouthpiece, gold plated on a B flat and F bass trombone. I remember that as having a rounder, much softer rim. I changed to a Vincent Bach 1 1/2 which gave me far more attack, cut, and rasp to my bottom end tone which is what l wanted in a bass trombone. Then I changed to a double independent. A year ago, l changed my long-standing Holton TR181 double independent to a far better Yamaha YBL 830G Xeno open wrap instrument. When using the valves it speaks so much easier due to less resistance in the open wrap design. I was wondering whether l should invest in a different mouthpiece to allow even more punch and power down in the depths. One thing l really don't want to do and that's lose the ability to cut through at the bottom end. I've even considered investing in a Wedge mouthpiece from Canada.....Any thoughts on this matter would be much appreciated. Thank you. Den Finch in the UK.
Certainly a worthwhile video to watch if you're contemplating making a mouthpiece change. In my experience, the process of evaluating a new mouthpiece is difficult and often deceptive. Initial impressions are sometimes (and perhaps more often) misleading. It's only through devoting more time on the mouthpiece with a variety of pieces of music, that you can begin to understand the impact of the new mouthpiece on your sound and ease of playing. The problem of course is the cost involved with the experimentation. For me, there needs to be a closer examination of the scientific principles behind mouthpiece design characteristics and how each of those characteristics helps shape playing and sound.
wow the difference between that bach 1.5g vs the dw 1al hvy top was so drastic! the low sounded so much more beastly on the dw but the mid/upper sounded uncontrolled. 1.5g was probably all around better but that is your most familiar mouthpiece.
i think if you want to move to another mouthpiece, the 2AL sounded the best. I think Matt Jefferson of maniacal 4 uses that 2AL too and it sounds beastly.
I have a DW Heritage 5ABL, Heavytop 5AL, Shires 5MD and VB 6.5 AL I use with my new SE Shires Q30GA. My Shires and DW mouthpieces have pretty much the same rim (5), only difference is the depth. For me, the mouthpiece I use depends on what part I'm playing for a gig (1st, 2nd or bass). if I know I will be playing 1st with a lot of high register stuff, I want a mouthpiece that doesn't make me tired (Shires 5MD, or for super long gigs, VB 6.5 AL). If I'm playing 2nd, I go for the Heritage, because it gives an added depth to the lower register. If playing bass bone/pedals, I use the Heavytop, which gives me a bass trombone sound. The Heritage and Heavytop require a lot of effort in higher register and can be kinda fatiguing. Most pros use more than one mouthpiece in this way, but do not change the rim, so for me I wouldn't go to a 1.5 if I'm used to playing a 5. I don't think there is a magic one fits all mouthpiece, but maybe there is.
I’ve played on a shilke 51D for the longest time and I’ve tried switching over to a Giddings mouthpiece but I always end up going back to my shilke. Maybe a Dennis wick would feel better but I’ve always just stuck to shilke
Diogo WP Gonçalves It’s a 2AL so it’s quite big it wouldn’t be suited for Tenor playing. If you want a Tenor mp something like a 5 or 6 would be better for high playing.
I agree with Carson on this. Practice a lot, and work on your high range in doing so. If you haven’t already, you may wanna purchase a technique book by Emory Remington. Also practice lots of lip slurs and long tones. Start in the lower mid range, then slowly build up higher in the range. Don’t rush it, it takes time to develop. With that being said, shallower cups do enhance the high range more. And it’s little less work in the high range than a deep cup. However, if your high range is mediocre, a mouthpiece won’t help you there. All it can do is enhance whatever skills that you DO have, not necessarily improve them. If that makes sense.
Novice. Bugle. Taps. Which mouthpiece would be the easiest? Came with a 7c. I can play taps but am sometimes inconsistent, high note is the hardest. Thanks!!!
Mark Johnson www.dwerden.com/Mouthpieces/trombone.cfm I don’t know off the top of my head, but I always consult that chart if I have any questions. Hope it helps 👍
@christopherbill I play proffesional bore tenor trombone and play on a Dennis Wick 5AL.... ive been wondering about a 4? Or moving up in general. Would you say this is possible or would the mouthpiece be too large for a trombone?
I like a flatter mouthpiece . I’m old. I’m using a Bach 10 3/4 CW on my Getzen .I like your flat design . I would like it a little heavier. What size would you recommend ?
I'm looking for an upgrade to a better mouth piece. I currently use an old bach mouthpiece and was wondering if i should get a Dennis wick or a better bach. I don't know what model of mouthpiece I currently use, but if I had to guess it's at least 15-20 years old.
I switched from tenor bone to bass bone 2 years ago. I have been using a gargantuan OOAL even since. I own a 1AL and am wondering which is better. I read a chart that says OOAL is for contrabass trombone and am beginning to worry if I've been using the wrong mouthpiece. I've found I'm always struggling to keep my attacks clean and maybe that's because of the way too big mouthpiece. Any feedback would be very much appreciated.
Really nice video! I'm currently searching for an new mouthpiece too, but because I play a Chervony Bariton and they use a special shaft, I dont really have much options exept for a custom made one. Does anyone have another option for me?
