Originally posted by Simes
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Difference between Ultra Series mouthpieces?
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Dave Werden (ASCAP)
Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
Adams Artist (Adams E3)
Alliance Mouthpiece DC3, Wick 4AL, Wick 4ABL
YouTube: dwerden
Facebook: davewerden
Twitter: davewerden
Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium
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I did know that Steven Mead uses a SM3UX. I am curious as to why you insinuate my opinion is somehow worth less because Steven Mead uses one? I can normally adjust to a mouthpiece within a few minutes, and euphoniums in even less time. I also know two or three people personally that have sold their Ultra Xs in a very short time after buying them, and perhaps their quality is evidenced in the fact that I had to price mine, at less than a month old, at £25 inc postage to even garner interest. Emperor's new clothes is a phrase that springs to mind.1983 Boosey & Hawkes Sovereign
Denis Wick SM4 (original series)
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To be a little cynical, I do wonder if the SM line of mouthpieces changes as Steve develops and refines his style. AFAIK, his progression was 3AL, SM3, SM3U, and now SM3X. And somewhere in there was a brief stint on the Alliance 2 (my favorite). That said, 3AL and SM3 are still great mouthpieces for the euphonium -- even though he left them behind years ago, they may well be perfect for others.
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I've returned to my 4AL more times than I can count. It is really a pretty good mouthpiece!Dave Werden (ASCAP)
Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
Adams Artist (Adams E3)
Alliance Mouthpiece DC3, Wick 4AL, Wick 4ABL
YouTube: dwerden
Facebook: davewerden
Twitter: davewerden
Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium
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Having played on the 4X pretty intensively for three weeks, going back to the 4AL has made me realise that the things I initially found attractive about the 4X - ease of articulation and ease of moderate high register - are areas I have it within me to improve without recourse to equipment changes. Therefore it is back to the Kopprasch and Vizzutti studies and back to an organised practice routine.1983 Boosey & Hawkes Sovereign
Denis Wick SM4 (original series)
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Simes,
While it is never a bad idea to go back to fundamentals, I find the mouthpiece makes a difference. My Heritage or SM4U do make articulations clearer. They both have a sharper inner rim, and that matches a characteristic described in the Bach mouthpiece manual. I find the mouthpiece is affected by all the common things, like cup depth and diameter, throat size, backbore shape, etc. But I've been surprised that a small difference in the inner rim can change my articulations! To your point, I can work harder on the 4AL and get similar results, so I'm not left out in the cold, articulation-wise.Dave Werden (ASCAP)
Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
Adams Artist (Adams E3)
Alliance Mouthpiece DC3, Wick 4AL, Wick 4ABL
YouTube: dwerden
Facebook: davewerden
Twitter: davewerden
Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium
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Originally posted by davewerden View PostI've returned to my 4AL more times than I can count. It is really a pretty good mouthpiece!
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What's the difference between an SM3, an SM3U, an SM3UX, and an SM3UXCQDX/12AX7? About $25 for every additional letter.
PS--two brownie points to anyone who knows what a 12AX7 is.Last edited by Snorlax; 07-30-2016, 08:15 PM.Jim Williams N9EJR (love 10 meter CW)
Formerly Principal Euphonium in a whole
bunch of groups, now just a schlub.
Shires Q41, Yamaha 321, 621 Baritone
Wick 4AL, Wessex 4Y, or whatever I grab.
Conn 50H trombone, Blue P-bone
www.soundcloud.com/jweuph
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Originally posted by Snorlax View PostWhat's the difference between an SM3, an SM3U, an SM3UX, and an SM3UXCQDX/12AX7? About $25 for every additional letter.
PS--two brownie points to anyone who knows what a 12AX7 is.John Morgan
The U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) 1971-1976
Adams E3 Custom Series Euphonium, 1956 B&H Imperial Euphonium,1973 F. E. Olds & Son Studio Model T-31 BaritoneAdams TB1 Tenor Trombone, Yamaha YBL-822G Bass Trombone
Year Round Except Summer:Kingdom of the Sun (KOS) Concert Band, Ocala, FL (Euphonium)Summer Only:
KOS Brass Quintet (Trombone, Euphonium)Rapid City Municipal Band, Rapid City, SD (Euphonium)
Rapid City New Horizons Band (Euphonium)
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John, your 12AX7 is much more elegant than the one I had in mind!...I was thinking more of the old--but still popular--class A amplifier tube that sits in a lot of my old Hammarlund and National ham radio receivers!
Jim Williams N9EJR (love 10 meter CW)
Formerly Principal Euphonium in a whole
bunch of groups, now just a schlub.
Shires Q41, Yamaha 321, 621 Baritone
Wick 4AL, Wessex 4Y, or whatever I grab.
Conn 50H trombone, Blue P-bone
www.soundcloud.com/jweuph
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Ah, Jim, actual vacuum tubes still in service! Nothing wrong with that. I have a Sony receiver that I have used and still use with all of the other components that I have replaced multiple times. Got it before my son was born (1971), and it still works like a charm. I suspect there might be some vacuum tubes inside, but I have never had to look! How is that for reliability!?John Morgan
The U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) 1971-1976
Adams E3 Custom Series Euphonium, 1956 B&H Imperial Euphonium,1973 F. E. Olds & Son Studio Model T-31 BaritoneAdams TB1 Tenor Trombone, Yamaha YBL-822G Bass Trombone
Year Round Except Summer:Kingdom of the Sun (KOS) Concert Band, Ocala, FL (Euphonium)Summer Only:
KOS Brass Quintet (Trombone, Euphonium)Rapid City Municipal Band, Rapid City, SD (Euphonium)
Rapid City New Horizons Band (Euphonium)
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Originally posted by Snorlax View Post(snip)
PS--two brownie points to anyone who knows what a 12AX7 is.Rick Floyd
Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
"Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
The Cowboys (John Williams, arr. James Curnow)
Festive Overture (Dmitri Shostakovich)
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Originally posted by Snorlax View PostWhat's the difference between an SM3, an SM3U, an SM3UX, and an SM3UXCQDX/12AX7? About $25 for every additional letter. :1983 Boosey & Hawkes Sovereign
Denis Wick SM4 (original series)
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I got a used 4UX a while back and have been using it off and on for various types of performances -- I've settled it on being my "endless outdoor gig" mouthpiece, because it's a little brighter than some of my other mouthpieces (since I'm usually the sole euph player who'd otherwise disappear under a dozen trumpets) and I don't seem to wear myself out on it too easily. I still prefer my basic Yamaha 48D for anything that requires any kind of finesse or subtle playing, though.Last edited by jimpjorps; 07-31-2016, 06:10 PM.Dillon 3+1 non-comp euph - Wessex marching baritone - Dynasty DEG G baritone bugle
Schiller American Heritage Bb/F trombone
Kanstul Contra Grande G contrabass bugle - Schiller American Heritage 3/4 4V piston BBb tuba
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