Mouthpiece for tenor doubling
- americanbozo
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Nov 14, 2022
I play bass trombone as my main instrument but I'm required to play tenor trombone for marching season and certain ensembles . I currently play on a Greg Black 1 1/2G on my bass trombone, but my tenor mouthpiece (Schilke 51D) Feels too small. Which tenor mouthpiece or even bass mouthpiece could I use on my tenor to make switching between both easier.
- Posaunus
- Posts: 5018
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Whew. A Schilke 51D is too small? This mouthpiece, designed (or at least usually used) for euphonium, has a very large cup volume, and is usually considered too large for tenor trombone. Apparently you are accustomed to a large (1½G) sized cup diameter. If you like Bach mouthpieces, you could try a Bach 4 or Bach 3 - both have larger diameter cups (but very small 5.85mm diameter throats). Or perhaps a Hammond 11 or 10 (ML or L), [older] Schilke 53, or Denis Wick 4BS (all have larger throats).
Or you could contact Doug Elliott for a custom setup that meets your preferences.
Good luck.
Or you could contact Doug Elliott for a custom setup that meets your preferences.
Good luck.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
[quote="Posaunus"]Whew. A Schilke 51D is too small? This mouthpiece, designed (or at least usually used) for euphonium, has a very large cup volume, and is usually considered too large for tenor trombone. Apparently you are accustomed to a large (1½G) sized cup diameter. If you like Bach mouthpieces, you could try a Bach 4 or Bach 3 - both have larger diameter cups (but very small 5.85mm diameter throats). Or perhaps a Hammond 11 or 10 (ML or L), [older] Schilke 53, or Denis Wick 4BS (all have larger throats).
Or you could contact Doug Elliott for a custom setup that meets your preferences.
Good luck.[/quote]
The 51D has a large cup, but the rim of a 6.5 or so. It's not large on the face.
As for OP, try a 4G.
Or you could contact Doug Elliott for a custom setup that meets your preferences.
Good luck.[/quote]
The 51D has a large cup, but the rim of a 6.5 or so. It's not large on the face.
As for OP, try a 4G.
- spencercarran
- Posts: 689
- Joined: Oct 17, 2020
I had this exact same dilemma in high school and college, never really found a satisfactory solution. Doug Elliott can make a shallower mouthpiece with 1.5G sized rim for you if you want - that didn't quite work out for me as a marching band tenor piece, but it does for many people. I wound up switching to sousaphone for marching band, which somehow didn't bother me as much as switching between tenor/bass sized mouthpieces.
- LIBrassCo
- Posts: 585
- Joined: Feb 24, 2019
- harrisonreed
- Posts: 6479
- Joined: Aug 17, 2018
Alessi 1B or DE XT106N/F/F8
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
Just want to point out that this is for marching band... I'm sure a $240 mouthpiece is good, but not what I would use for marching band for a season.
- harrisonreed
- Posts: 6479
- Joined: Aug 17, 2018
Future proofing! :biggrin:
- Kdanielsen
- Posts: 609
- Joined: Jul 28, 2019
[quote="americanbozo"]I play bass trombone as my main instrument but I'm required to play tenor trombone for marching season and certain ensembles . I currently play on a Greg Black 1 1/2G on my bass trombone, but my tenor mouthpiece (Schilke 51D) Feels too small. Which tenor mouthpiece or even bass mouthpiece could I use on my tenor to make switching between both easier.[/quote]
A Bach 2g can work pretty well.
A Bach 2g can work pretty well.
- Pezza
- Posts: 221
- Joined: Aug 24, 2021
I used to use a big MP ( 2G or 3G) in a tenor because I was a bass bone player. Now I use a 6 3/4ish in a small bore, 5G in medium bore & am playing tenor better than I ever did!
- deanmccarty
- Posts: 224
- Joined: May 01, 2018
I know quite a few people who prefer, or almost have, to use the same rim on all of their mouthpieces. I knew one guy who played his Schilke 60 sized rim on a small cup, played alto phenomenally. That could be you… Doug Elliott can set you up with the same rim on different cup sizes.
I’ve never had that issue… I can switch rims with no problem. I play a smaller bass rim than the norm, like you. I always tried to go larger for larger bore tenor and never found “the right” mouthpiece. Finally, I went the other way… I went a little smaller, and PRESTO! The horn sang… it may be worth trying… I would start with a standard 51 (slightly shallower)… The 51 is basically the same size as a Bach 5G… I ended up with a 6.5 sized rim and a deep cup… Elliott 100G
I’ve never had that issue… I can switch rims with no problem. I play a smaller bass rim than the norm, like you. I always tried to go larger for larger bore tenor and never found “the right” mouthpiece. Finally, I went the other way… I went a little smaller, and PRESTO! The horn sang… it may be worth trying… I would start with a standard 51 (slightly shallower)… The 51 is basically the same size as a Bach 5G… I ended up with a 6.5 sized rim and a deep cup… Elliott 100G