Our Doug Elliott experience

[jakewillis]

Hi Mike - thank you! I sure hope I hear from him prior to that since my son's birthday is the 9th. I wish I could go to the Army Band Trombone workshop. The Tuba - Euphonium conference was amazing.

[jakewillis]

So while I wait, Logan liked the I cup a bit better than the J cup on the euph series. Is I the right choice for an aspiring artist or should he go to the J? Can he eventually swap out just the cup?

[RickF]

I like the 'I' cup myself, even though I mostly play on the Warburton 'Brandon Jones' signature model.

[bbocaner]

I also like the Euph I cup better than the J. The J is just a little too much. You can swap out the cup and shank, you're not really supposed to mix and match different letter cups and shanks although it sometimes seems to work OK if you are in adjacent sizes.

[ydave]

Another vote for the I cup.....but depends what euph I'm on.....

For a number of years I've now been on the Euph 105 I 9s.

if I play a smaller sounding euph I go to a J cup or even a K, on a baritone I go H cup.
at the moment I'm mostly on my Emminence so it's 105 I 8 to keep it a little more focused.
When im on my Prestige it needs the 9 shank to keep the sound from being too bright for me.
go with what Doug wrote down.....he's a star
best
Dave

[jakewillis]

Well, I wrote Doug again today. I really don't want to be a pest, but I just hope to hear something from him. It's been since the 12th and we paid on the 8th for a mouthpiece I really hope to have in hand for my son's birthday next Thursday. Cross your fingers!

Thanks to all for the feedback on the "I" cup. It seems like it will work out great for him! He liked the "I" better and Doug seemed to agree, so I will go with the experts on this one.

[ydave]

Did he say if it was in stock and give you a date?
one of the things you have to remember with doug if that he's a pro musician so if he touring he may not be back to his workshop for a good while....... But it's worth the wait. However as you found out he's a cracking bloke who 'knows his onions'!

[jakewillis]

On the 12th, he said he had just run out of shanks and said he'd make another one as soon as possible, and said he'd do it possibly today (meaning the 12th).

I'm OK waiting, just would like to know what to tell the kid on his birthday. I'm sure there's a legitimate reason for the delay.

[booboo]

If your son/daughter is big enough to play the full size instruments and 4al in your signature, then they are probably old enough to handle the truth. I understand there may be some level of disappointment and frustration, but you've done your bit by placing the order and funding via the bank of dad, and I'm sure you child can still enjoy the day and their euphonium, and you can reasure them the de mp is on its way.
Hope it all works out.

[davewerden]

Assuming the mouthpiece doesn't arrive, you could print some nice color photos of the DE mouthpiece and include those in a card (or box, if you want to be fancy):

Doug Elliott Mouthpiece - Google Image results

[jakewillis]

If your son/daughter is big enough to play the full size instruments and 4al in your signature, then they are probably old enough to handle the truth. I understand there may be some level of disappointment and frustration, but you've done your bit by placing the order and funding via the bank of dad, and I'm sure you child can still enjoy the day and their euphonium, and you can reasure them the de mp is on its way.
Hope it all works out.

Thank you. To be clear, I never was worried about telling my son the truth. Telling him 'it's on the way' will be fine. In that sense, I get what you're saying, but that's not what I was concerned with. He's going to be happy to know it's coming and that he doesn't need to spend his birthday money on the mouthpiece. I was just getting concerned that I hadn't heard anything after being told it would be finished possibly on the 12th of Feb. Like I said, I was sure there was a good reason, but based on the posts here and the glowing reviews about his service, I was getting concerned.

Doug did contact me today, so I am very pleased it should arrive the week after his birthday or possibly just a day or two after, which will be great.

Assuming the mouthpiece doesn't arrive, you could print some nice color photos of the DE mouthpiece and include those in a card (or box, if you want to be fancy):

Doug Elliott Mouthpiece - Google Image results

I'm definitely saving that link! I had planned on putting a picture in a birthday card.

[daruby]

My 103J9 euph mouthpiece ordered at the USABTEW arrived today. I'll let you know how I like it after I have played it for awhile.

[jakewillis]

My son's mouthpiece arrived about Four weeks ago.

I have to say, the change has been incredible. His tone is very similar in the middle of his range, but the top and especially the bottom are vastly improved. The difference in the lower register is striking. Anything with the 4th valve down is more focused, better in tune, easier for him to play, and has far more tone than buzz if that makes any sense.

He's been able to play higher notes easier as well.

It wasn't immediately noticeable, but he seems to be able to play for longer as well. Well worth it.