Tenor mouthpieces for doublers

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JCBone
Posts: 373
Joined: Jul 29, 2020

by JCBone » (edited 2021-03-18 9:30 p.m.)

I currently primary on bass on use mostly a Holton 87. Whenever I switch to tenor (stomvi 5a) it becomes very unpleasant to sudennly mover to such a small piece. So what recommendations do you have. I have heard that a lot of people will use a 4g size with a 3g rim. What are your opinions on this?
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dukesboneman
Posts: 935
Joined: Apr 02, 2018

by dukesboneman »

When I have to double quickly, as in a Musical. I have to practice the double.

I played Music Man a couple years ago , and the book was tenor/Bass starting in Nov

In July I put my tenor and Bass out on the practice stands and every day I would practice both horns

This got my chops used to switching back and forth
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BGuttman
Posts: 7368
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by BGuttman »

I'd agree with dukesboneman.

Some will play both instruments with a 3G (Schilke 57) mouthpiece.
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hyperbolica
Posts: 3990
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by hyperbolica »

I had to increase the diameter of my tenor pieces. Once that got to a certain size, the switch to bass or even tuba was less traumatic. I went from a basic 5g to a DE 104 rim, about the size of a 3g.
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Doug_Elliott
Posts: 4155
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by Doug_Elliott »

104 is a good size for a lot of tenor players whether they double or not. Yes, it makes it easier to do the switch.

I also make the option of using your bass rim size on tenor depth cup, so the switch is seamless - if that works for you. It doesn't work for everybody.
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MTbassbone
Posts: 558
Joined: Apr 21, 2018

by MTbassbone »

I am primarily a bass trombone player, and I like the DE N104 rim size on tenor as well.
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harrisonreed
Posts: 6479
Joined: Aug 17, 2018

by harrisonreed »

I play the N106 size on alto, small bore, large bore, euph, and hopefully soon bass. It works very well, and there is never an issue switching instruments.
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FOSSIL
Posts: 688
Joined: Jul 09, 2019

by FOSSIL »

I take a different position.... as a bass trombonist doubling small tenor, I need to make sure the mouthpiece is a classic for that instrument so as to most easily get the sound and range, so it's a MV Bach 11c for me. Primary tenor players can have more latitude and still sound right.

Chris
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GabrielRice
Posts: 1496
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by GabrielRice »

[quote="Doug Elliott"]I also make the option of using your bass rim size on tenor depth cup, so the switch is seamless - if that works for you. It doesn't work for everybody.[/quote]

That's what works for me.
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ZacharyThornton
Posts: 615
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by ZacharyThornton »

I am a bass player that can’t be picky about gigs right now. So I have gotten a lot of tenor gigs. I play a 1 1/2Gish on bass and a Alessi 1C on tenor. I am getting the right sounds and blending in brass quintet and trombone octet stuff. (We are still social distanced and wearing masking when not playing, Covid tests before, etc).

That is what works for me. YMMV.
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Johnstad
Posts: 225
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Johnstad »

[quote="Doug Elliott"]I also make the option of using your bass rim size on tenor depth cup, so the switch is seamless - if that works for you. It doesn't work for everybody.[/quote]

I use this too. Works great. No "Rim shock" when I switch from bass to tenor.
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MuscleMouth
Posts: 9
Joined: Jan 07, 2021

by MuscleMouth »

I always got a funny buzz sound when switching from my marching band peashooter Olds Ambassador back to my Blessing big bore concert/solo/ensemble tank. I remember asking my trombone professor in college about it, because that funny buzz sound was rampant among trombone doublers everywhere. I seriously thought it was impossible to fix, but he managed to conquer it somehow.

“You practice a lot, on both of them. That’s how you do it.”

- Dr. Bruenger

He spoke softly, carrying 22 pounds of medal.

Equal time, and lots of it. Practice the transition areas back and forth between instruments and that funny buzz will get better, or worse until it gets better. Or it’ll get worse until you give up and take your precious concert/solo/ensemble tank to the football field, to sacrifice it to the gods so that they May feast upon your woeful lamentations.

They really dig that. It’s like, their thing.
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ArbanRubank
Posts: 424
Joined: Feb 23, 2019

by ArbanRubank »

FWIW, I'm currently using a Yamaha 52L on bass and large-bore tenor, then a Yamaha 52S on my King 3B/F. True, I wish the 52S would have a bit more of a shallow cup, but since I tend to play bright on small-bore to begin with, it's okay. I don't notice any range issues with it on small-bore. So, for my own use, I have proof of concept for keeping the rim size the same, although I think most people would tend to find the 52L a little small for bass. I don't, though. I like the sound and flexibility it affords.