SM4U compared to 4AL

[TexEuph96]

My brother is now wanting a SM4U now that hes gotten alot better at euphonium and he needs a new mouthpiece besides my schilke 51d. He likes my 4AL, but he wonders how the SM4U compares. Is the SM4U essentially the same depth and rim but with a different mass distribution? Or is the SM4U a little deeper? How are they alike and different? He wants a VERY thorough answer and I just don't have a SM4U to see for myself.

[daruby]

The SM4U and 4AL are the same rim size (26mm) and the transition between them is easy. The SM4U has a "sharper" rim than the 4AL, There are differences in cup and backbore (don't know exactly what they are), but the biggest difference is the dsitribution of mass in the mouthpiece. I find my Alliance E3 and SM4U to b e very close, though the Alliance plays a bit bigger.

On my Besson Prestige, the 4AL sings the best. It gets a real warm resonance with the 4AL. The Alliance and SM4U both sound a bit darker but deader,

On my Sterling, the Alliance E3 has the warmest, full sound, while the 4AL can be edgy at times. The SM4U plays similar to the Alliance, but just a bit "smaller".

Doug

[davewerden]

Just as an FYI, I am trying to find time to post a new blog article about the Adams adjustable-gap receiver. As part of that, I did a little measuring on 6 mouthpieces, including the Wick 4AL and the SM4U. Using my Adams, which seems to have a pretty standard receiver size/taper, the insertion depth (the part of the shank that goes inside the receiver) of the 4AL is 1.24", while for the SM4U it is 1.36". And because the overall length is different (4AL: 3.25", SM4U: 3.5"), the overhang (the amount of mp outside the receiver) is 4AL: 2.01", SM4U: 2.15".

So one has to wonder how much of the playing difference you feel is due to backbore, throat, cup, and weight distribution of the shell, and how much is due to the substantial difference in the length of the mp and the gap between the end of the shank and the beginning of the receiver.

Having said that, I own both the 4AL and SM4U. I noticed the difference in rim contour right away. The 4AL feels more comfortable, but the sharper rim on the SM4U will give a little clearer articulation. I agree 100% with Doug's comment about the singing quality of the 4AL - it's great that way. The SM4U seems a bit more contained, so not as much singing, but it also seems a bit more controlled, which can be a good thing. Your tone will probably be more consistent from top to bottom on the SM4U, but it will not quite "reach out" to the audience like the 4AL.

The SM4U MIGHT have a a little less fuzz, but I could not say that for sure. In any case, it doesn't get rid of the famous "Wick fuzz" entirely.

Keep in mind that my chops/teeth cause the mp to sit straighter on my face, so it's roughly perpendicular to my head. That causes my air stream to be pointed more directly toward the throat, which gives me more fuzz than most players would have, so that particular factor may not be a concern to your brother.

[tonewheeler]

I have both mp. The most striking difference is the SM4U has a deeper cup and bigger throat. I personally did not notice any difference in the infamous "fuzz" issue.

[TexEuph96]

I think an SM4U might be too deep for his liking if it is truly alot deeper than a 4AL, he wants a larger rim for sure. I'll probably get him a 4AL or give him mine but the SM5 has struck my attention because i like the depth of a BB1 and 4AL but the BB1 seems a tad too small and 4AL is a tad too big, though i havent played with it consistently to see how I like it. But having 25.75mm rim being in between the 25.5 and 26 of my 2 pieces seems like the happy median, maybe it's what I've needed for the past few years of searching!

[TexEuph96]

I hate to dwell on a subject but how MUCH deeper is the SM4U to a 4AL? I've heard it's almost or is the same depth of an SM3U which is like a 1-1/2G (but 26.4mm rim). Does anybody have pictures of the 4AL and SM4U side by side at certain angles to show me because I need to be sure about this because $140 isn't cheap for a high schooler.

[pam]

All the pictures from any angle you can think of won't help because they only show the difference in outside profile not the shape of the cup or the thickness of the cup wall, so you're still guessing at how deep the cup actually is. (And besides, the internal volume of the cup is at least as important--if not moreso--as the depth.)

Short of laser scanning both mouthpieces, the only people who know what the difference in depth is are the folks at Denis Wick.

$1 and knowing how much deeper one is than the other will buy you a can of Coke, but it won't tell you whether or not your brother can handle the SM4 Ultra. Either he has the chops to play it or he doesn't. The only way to find out is to try it.

Google shows 16 retailers selling the SM4U for under $100, and 12 of those for under $90.

Order the thing from a reputable retailer, and if it doesn't work, return it for a refund and try something else.

[TexEuph96]

I see, I will try wwbw and see what happens. The sterilization fee shouldn't be too expensive. Thanks for the info

[RickF]

I have a Wick 4AL (Lg shank) for sale in the for-sale section in near-new condition for only $40 if interested. If it doesn't work, you could always resell it.

Here's a direct link:
4AL mpc for sale

sent from iPad

[TexEuph96]

Sorry but I have a 4AL of my own, but then again,who doesn't play euphonium and own at least one of these!