Mouthpiece for T-bone doubling?

[euphb0ne]

Hi, I'm a euphonium player who's currently a freshman in college. During the fall, I participate in two ensembles: the marching band and the concert band. For marching band, I play the trombone; for the concert band, I play euph. I currently play on a Wick 4AL for euph and a 12C for trombone (I play 1st bone; I play on a straight tenor and it has a small shank receiver). I was wondering if switching back and forth between the two mouthpieces would be detrimental to me in any way, because of the large change in size? And if it is, I would like suggestions for an appropriate mouthpiece to use for trombone.

Thanks in advance!

[walldaja]

I double trumpet and trombone. I wouldn't worry about trying to match the mpc. I even have two different t-bones, a small shank and a large shank. I use a Dave Harrison Wedge 5G for both large shank bone and euph. I also use a 1.5Wedge on my trumpet. I use a Schilke 18F on my flug, as I don't play it enough to spend the money for a Wedge.

[DougElliott]

Some embouchures tolerate change well, but most do better keeping the same rim as it keeps everything more consistent. I consider euphonium and all tenor trombones (and alto) to basically play the same range, so they all fall under my "one-rim" policy.

That is one of the major reasons I make mouthpieces as I do, so you can use the same rim on multiple instruments.

[Jhnthn]

I play euph with a 4AL for concert band and trombone (king3b) on a 6 1/2 for our jazz band. switching between the two feels more natural the more you do it, for a while I would easily over power the trombone because I didn't adjust my playing from the euph. It will feel more natural over time, however I do recomend getting at least a slightly bigger mpc for your trombone. You may also find the 6 1/2 more comfortable (not to mention they're not exactly hard to find or expensive)

[JoCologne]

I do play always the SM4 (large shank) resp. Wick 4AY (small shank) on Euph, but have to change my mp as well when I double on trombone in our local bigband. I play on a small shank King 3B/F and a JK exclusive 8E (nearly Bach 6 1/2 size) for lead or JK exclusive 4A (nearly SM3 size) for bass bone parts. It works well for me - and I love the bright sound of 8E in the high range and the punch of the 4A in low range. I've got no problems due to the permanent change.

Doug, thank you very much for your always helpful comments. Do you know a collection of DE mouthpieces with ONE rim size, which fits all these purposes (large/small shank euph, lead & bass bone)?

Additional question @all: What do you think about a mpc like the Perantucci PT-4 with small cup diameter and a large throat? Does it meet both low range and high range?

Best regards from Germany,

[DougElliott]

I'll give you the example of what I use:, with options:

XT series N104, D, D2 for .500 bore trombone

XT N104, F, F9 for .547 bore trombone

EUPH seies N104, J, J8 for euphonium

This can also be used for bass trombone, if you have decent low range on a rim that size. I have to use a bigger rim to get acceptable low range response, so I use MB series 109, J, J8 which is not the same rim size but it feels very compatible and familiar.

[JoCologne]

Thank you, Doug! This was also my experience when I tried my DW 4AY for bass bone parts. The JK 4A was siginificant better in response and power. Since I have no problems with different mp sizes I'll continue ignoring "one-rim-policy" and stick with different mp.

But the other question: Has anybody experiences with a Perantucci PT-4 or a similiar sized mp - cup diameter 25.5mm, but throat 8mm (compared to 7.38mm for SM4)? The developpers are tuba players, mmhh

[pam]

I received a PT-4 with my Sterling Virtuoso. Tried it for a week, then stuck it on the shelf, where it's been gathering dust.

For me, it's among the least responsive and least flexible mouthpieces I've tried over the years. It's also a lot more work and much more fatiguing to play compared to the 51D I was using at the time, particularly above the staff. PP dynamics were very difficult to initiate and sustain in the middle register (4th valve 2nd partial F to open 6th partial F), and borderline impossible in the upper-middle and high registers.

I found the sound semi-warm, tending toward bright, and more direct (trombone-like) than round, particularly in the compensating and pedal ranges and from the 6th partial Eb on up.

Probably make a heckuva trombone mouthpiece, though.

[ghmerrill]

I am using pretty much what Doug describes as his euph mouthpiece on my euphonium except that I have the J9 shank. And I'm currently using it to play the bass trombone parts in a community band. It's a wonderful combination.

But I think that it might be a bit easier in the low range with something a little larger (in either rim or cup: maybe a K cup or a larger rim -- worth trying at some point) for that purpose. And (thinking back to when I had one), I'm pretty sure I would want something larger still for a large bore bass trombone (I used to use a Schilke 60 -- which on the euph really sucks).

[highpitch]

I play on a Curry 5GB, same as Bach but with a lot more metal around the cup.

Dennis