Mouthpiece characteristics for a british baritone

[opus37]

I recently purchased a Wessex BR140 baritone. It came with a heavy weight cone shaped mouthpiece. I don't know the size, but I guess it is in the 4 to 6 range. Previously I have been playing a Wick 6BY on an old Conn Double bell. I liked that mouthpiece. Does anyone have an opinion of the differences between these two mouthpieces and what tonal differences I might get by using either mouthpiece?

[davewerden]

I know nothing about your Wessex-included mouthpiece, so I can't compare. The Wick is an industry standard, so it's a safe bet.

Can you describe the differences you feel and hear when using both mouthpieces in your new baritone?

[DaveBj]

My Jinhao baritone (ordered directly from China) came with an unmarked Dennis Wick-clone mouthpiece. The diameter is smaller than my DW 4ABL; I'm thinking maybe a 6 something, but that is only a guess.

[opus37]

I know nothing about your Wessex-included mouthpiece, so I can't compare. The Wick is an industry standard, so it's a safe bet.

Can you describe the differences you feel and hear when using both mouthpieces in your new baritone?

I don't have the 6BY any more, I was thinking of getting one. I will try a friend's first. The Wessex mouthpiece is a true cone (like a french horn mouthpiece). The inside rim diameter is 25.87 (which makes it like a Wick 4 or 4.5). The rim is semi flat and is 7 mm wide. This cone depth appears to be 38 mm. I have added a picture.

[daruby]

I have been playing British Baritone for a number of years now. I tried a LOT of different mouthpieces and have found my two favorites are either a Bach 5G or a Wick 6BS (NOT the SM6B). If find the these two to be VERY similar, allowing a nice deep baritone tone, yet providing enough back pressure and shallow enough cup to make the high range very accessible and pitch pretty near spot on. I find the Wick SM6B to be too deep and sharp for my taste, though the rim diameter is fine.

[bbocaner]

Totally agree with Doug on this. I use a Doug Elliott setup on baritone, but the SM-series and Alliance mouthpieces are too deep.

[LittleJimmy]

I also have a question about a mouthpiece for my

Yamaha 621s baritone. I use a Schilke 51D but have a friend who has a plastic mouthpiece which helps his upper range. I don't want to spend much but wonder if the Kelly plastic mouthpiece might be a good one for helping me with my upper range. I'd appreciate comments. Thanks.

Jim
Yamaha 621s baritone

[bbocaner]

ordinarily I'd say the 51d was too deep for baritone, but the 621 is a pretty thin-sounding instrument to begin with, so maybe it'd work. I'm not a believer in using a mouthpiece to extend range, you should have the strength to play high notes with any mouthpiece. I'd work on embouchure strengthening instead of buying a new mouthpiece.

[GregEuphonium]

Jim,
You asked a very good question. I don't usually recommend buying a mouthpiece with the specific intention of extending your high range playing. You might be able to extend your range a little bit with a different (smaller) mouthpiece, but any notes that you gain in your high range through this method will probably be thin sounding and not well developed. Mouthpiece switching is something that does have its place, but only in certain applications. Most brass players who are switching mouthpieces during a concert are usually doing it with the purpose of achieving a different timbre or something like that. It's almost never because they can't hit a high note without a smaller mouthpiece.
The best way to gain some extra notes in the high range is through the practice room. If you consistently devote some time during your personal practice towards high range studies, you will undoubtedly see some improvement. And the best parts is that practicing is cheaper than buying another mouthpiece!

[opus37]

Back to the Wessex BR140. I tested the Denis Wick 6BY against the supplied mouthpiece. First, the sound is noticeably brighter with the 6BY. The Y shank is a bit big, so the S shank is the proper one for this instrument. I will be getting the 6BS and I will have the sound I'm looking for. The supplied mouthpiece is a a mellower and will have some uses too.

[Cameron J.]

I have been playing British Baritone for a number of years now. I tried a LOT of different mouthpieces and have found my two favorites are either a Bach 5G or a Wick 6BS (NOT the SM6B). If find the these two to be VERY similar, allowing a nice deep baritone tone, yet providing enough back pressure and shallow enough cup to make the high range very accessible and pitch pretty near spot on. I find the Wick SM6B to be too deep and sharp for my taste, though the rim diameter is fine.

Absolutely agree. I have both a 5G and a 6BS. 5G is what I have come to use as my main mouthpiece and I have a 6BS Heritage incase I have a very upper register demanding part (which you can get when playing 1st Baritone in a brass band). I have never given the SM series a go, but from what I have heard, the general concensous is that they are too deep.

[iiipopes]

Here is how Steven Mead describes the SM6BU of the "Ultra" series of baritone mouthpieces on his web store:
"We thought long and hard about this mouthpiece. The classic baritone mouthpiece over the years has been the 6BS, and the SMB6 (U) takes this mouthpiece one step further. Although it will initially feel the same on the lips, it is a high performance mouthpiece that is already receiving rave reviews from the leading baritone soloists in the country.
Although the inspiration for this was the 6BS we've modified the cup depth a little making it just slightly deeper, giving what many traditionalists feel is the perfect baritone sound. But its ease of playing and rich vibrant sound is sure to make a big impression.
The high range is quite astonishing and will allow for hours of full playing with increased stamina."

[daruby]

Although the inspiration for this was the 6BS we've modified the cup depth a little making it just slightly deeper, giving what many traditionalists feel is the perfect baritone sound. But its ease of playing and rich vibrant sound is sure to make a big impression.
The high range is quite astonishing and will allow for hours of full playing with increased stamina."

This is exactly what I do not want. I don't want deeper than the 6BS. I can get a very deep, rich, sound with the 6BS or the Bach 5G. Anything bigger (even the SM6B (non-U)), does not respond well for me and I do not have as good stamina when playing it. Plus, I like the "soft" rim of the 6BS compared with the typical Steven Mead mouthpiece (older SM or SM(U) or SM(X)).

[bbocaner]

The SM6BU is quite a bit deeper than the 6BS. I don't know of any "leading baritone soloists" who use the SM-series mouthpieces. The proper approach to the baritone gives you a rich, vibrant sound without having to have the negative effects that come from a deeper mouthpiece.

[iiipopes]

Ah, yes. It is interesting to see what the "real world" players say as opposed to the marketing blurbs. - Just don't shoot the messenger!