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Thread: Comparison between the Wedge Euphonium and Steven Mead Ultra X mouthpieces

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Indianapolis area
    Posts
    1,003
    Yesterday I used the wedge on my Yamaha Neo to do a concert with the Indianapolis Brass Choir. Parts were very busy, but not difficult. Also includrd the piccolo part to S&S.
    *The Wedge matches my Neo well. Of all the horns I have owned, the Neo seems to be the most mouthpiece-sensitive...given that fact that the same person helped to develop both the Neo euph and the Wedge mouthpiece, the match of mpc to horn isn't surprising.
    *The Wedge is COMFORTABLE. While I rarely have endurance issues, the Wedge fit comfortably to my embouchure and I was not tired after a 60-minute concert with busy parts and short times between tunes. I'll see how it is when I do my upper-register drills, but for normal work--I like the Wedge.
    *The Wedge blows nicely. Between the wedged rim, the cup size, and the backbore/throat, I perceived some difference compared to the usual 4AL, and the difference was for the better. I like the amount of resistance the Wedge offers as well, finding it to be a good match to the Neo.
    *Slurring is slightly easier, both across partials and when changing valves.
    *The lower register is nicer for me with the Wedge. Either it is some characteristic of the mpc itself or it is the fact that the mpc forces the user to have a better embouchure set for the lower register. I don't care which is which; the low notes speak better with the Wedge.
    *There seems to be no compromise in the upper register...I can reach double B flat with no issues reliably, and the double B I end PANACHE with pops right out.
    *I think I hear a somewhat warmer tone coming out of the horn when using the Wedge. I haven't had a chance to confirm, however, with ears other than mine.
    *I had to tell Sean that I wasn't picking my nose, just ensuring that the Wedge was aligned properly. I verify by sneaking a fingertip under the middle of my nose and making sure I can feel the dot. I can easily see this becoming a habit, for better or worse.
    *I have yet to determine how much leeway there is in placement before quality of the music suffers. I'm thinking that there isn't very much, hence the need to verify position frequently.
    *OVERALL IMPRESSION...It's a keeper.
    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

  2. #32
    Quote Originally Posted by Snorlax View Post
    *I had to tell Sean that I wasn't picking my nose, just ensuring that the Wedge was aligned properly.
    I think you were doing both.
    Sean Kissane
    Low Brass Specialist, Paige's Music
    Principal Euphonium, Indianapolis Brass Choir
    Principal Euphonium, Crossroads Brass Band

  3. #33
    I got my Wedge 102 last week. So far, I'm not that impressed. I went with the 102 rather than a 103 at Dr. Dave's' recommendation. But, I find the sound to be smaller, my flexibility to be less, and the low range to suffer compared to my 103 Elliott rim, with no apparent increase in endurance etc. I do play with the mouthpiece offset from center, so maybe I haven't yet found the sweet spot. For anyone interested into getting one of these, I found out that the rim is measured along its long axis (up and down), rather than the short axis (across the lips). So, it you normally play a 103 rim and you get a Wedge 103, the actual width across your lips is less than 103. This combined with what seems to be a fairly sharp bite makes it feels small.

    Mike

  4. #34
    I'm admittedly the kind of guy that will try any mouthpiece. Always looking for that silver bullet that will make me David Childs with zero effort!

    All kidding aside, I recently tried the wedge 104E.

    Having recently been playing the K&G 3D, the 104E felt smaller, with a sharper rim, although on paper, the rim diameter (inner) is the same. I don't know whether the general feel runs "small".

    In any case, I did not seem to be a wedge "responder", at least in my first day or so trying it. Go figure.

    Quote Originally Posted by DutchEupho View Post
    Hi Dean,

    Yes the mouthpiece has the dots to indicate the mouthpiece orientation. However we euphonium players don't hold our instruments straight like a trumpet player does. So the dots indicate the orientation but you still have to place it on the embouchure. Checking with a mirror works to see if the dot is straight under your nose when playing.
    Mike Taylor

    Illinois Brass Band
    Fox Valley Brass Band

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