I bought a Sovereign 967T five weeks ago, converting after 36 years playing a Willson 2900 with a Schilke 51D. Since I have become primarily a bass trombone player, I have found I need a trigger for intonation or I tire too quickly from lipping pitches (after becoming accustomed to blowing the true pitch on the bass trombone.) I also have played very little euphonium over the past 16 years.
With that as a background, I began searching for new mouthpieces, settling on the Mead SM4X so far; though the Mead 3 and 3.5 sure feel good and sound great in the low register, I have little endurance or accuracy in the highest register.
My experience with the SM4XR is that it certainly aids the high register and endurance but suffers in tone and flexibility in the low register. So far, I haven't really worked with it a lot as if it were my main mouthpiece.
I suspect I will switch in and out of the SM4XR when playing extended high range music -- which as you know, is more and more often in all the great new literature that is being written. (Hey, if I had wanted to play French horn, I would have bought one and done that!) For now, the SM4X is my weapon of choice. I'll know better as I get into September and can begin devoting a couple of hours a day to euphonium.
This weekend I attended a masterclass with Steven Mead; he has play with a new mouthpiece, completely different from the previous ones, which will be on sale soon. It has an external V-shape reminiscent of the first series, but with much more mass around the rim. It seems to me that he said it will be called "MITHOS", or something like that. I put a blurred photo, just to give an idea of the shape.
Last edited by franz; 12-01-2019 at 12:07 PM.
2007 Besson Prestige 2052, 3D+ K&G mouthpiece; JP373 baritone, 4B modified K&G mouthpiece; Bach 42GO trombone, T4C K&G mouthpiece; 1973 Besson New Standard 3 compensated valves, 3D+ K&G modified mouthpiece; Wessex French C tuba, 3D+ K&G modified mouthpiece.
That's exciting news to me! I have come to believe that part of what I like about my classic 4AL is the shape of the body. Perhaps the lesser mass in the cup and throat area allow it to have the open, singing sound that I have yet to find in any other mouthpiece with "fatter" bodies (i.e. most of them on the market). I'll keep an eye open! (Steve advises that it will be several months before any real news/availability.)
Dave Werden (ASCAP)
Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
Adams Artist (Adams E3)
Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
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I find that a new mouthpiece solves all my playing issues for six months, that’s why I buy a new one every five!