Wow! I am playing a BB1!
For many years, (1965 - 1980) I played a Bach 6 1/2AL. Then I swtched to the Wick 4AL after I got my old Boosey & Hawkes Sovereign. I have used a Wick 4AL consistently for the last 28 years, evntually wearing through the gold on my first one. I have since found that the newer 4AL's have a slightly different lip profile that makes them easier for me to play, with one caveat....
I really do not have a "large" embouchure. With the 26.0mm rim on the 4AL, I find that I don't have the facility or the ability to play pianissimo in the extreme upper range that I would like and thus get tired easily when working on numbers like Pantomime. Also, while I can get a nice sound on a 26.4mm MPC like the SM3 or Alliance E2, they are just too big for me.
In past years I would switch back to the 6 1/2AL (25.4mm rim) when doing solo work, but I found the sound really grates on me when I tried to use it with my old Sovereign or my new Prestige. I happily use the 6 1/2 (or a 5G 25.5mm) when playing tenor trombone or with one of my smaller bore American baritones.
Over the last 2 years, I have owned a BB1 (25.5mm rim) and never really used it. I always thought it was kind of a "souped up" Schilke 51D and all "true euphist's" would play a big Wick. Then I started working on a Bach number that requires extreme pianissimo playing in the upper register. I was really struggling with getting clear attacks and holding notes in pitch, despite how hard I worked. After listening to Jamie Lipton last summer I knew one can get a rich sound wiith the BB1. Since the Sterling valve cap modification has significantly darkened the sound of my Prestige anyway, I decided to give the BB1 a serious try.
Surprise! After over a month of every day use, I am finding I can get a warm, rounded sound, play with better pitch, and the horn is MUCH easier to play in the upper register. Early in the process, my teacher did a blind listening test (without knowing what kind of new MPC I was trying) and could tell little difference until I got below low F. I have since worked on the low range and find that I can warm up my sound by relaxing my embouchure and neck muscles in just the right manner.
I find the BB1 VERY comfortable for me, and I continue to be surprised by how warm it is given its (for me) relatively small size. I am finding the BB1 to be a good compromise between the large, full Wick sound and the smaller, traditional Ameriican sound of the Bach MPC's. It is easier to play and still darker than the 5G and much warmer and richer sounding than the 6 1/2AL. I would probably not choose to play the BB1 in a brass band, but for solo work, it appears to be a great compromise for me. The biggest significant down side is that I cannot get the same volume level with the BB1 that I can with the Wick.
So...I guess I surprised myself, but I never thought I would settle on this particular mouthpiece. I still plan to use a Wick 4AL in large ensemble and brass band work, but I am much more confident playing difficult repertoire with the BB1.
Doug
Adams E3 0.60 Sterling bell - Prototype top sprung valves
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