Bass mouthpiece comparison?
- pompatus
- Posts: 434
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
I’m hoping to find information on what you guys think of the Ferguson bass mouthpieces compared to similar sizes from other makers. Ferguson V and L vs. Brass Ark/Reeves Mr Bass and O Bass? What about comparison to equivalent Griego or Greg Black pieces? I’m intrigued by the Minick inspiration, and curious how similar they are.
Thanks, all, for any info or playing review you might provide. Best of luck out there!
Terry
Thanks, all, for any info or playing review you might provide. Best of luck out there!
Terry
- ZacharyThornton
- Posts: 615
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
V are in the 1 1/2 size range be the L is in a 1 1/4 size range. Loosely though.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
They're similar to the Minick sizes, all in that tradition. Nothing really crazy deep, all with wide rims. Most like a Rath 1 1/4L (the Ferguson L). Nothing really like it in Griego/GB land.
- blast
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
[quote="Burgerbob"]They're similar to the Minick sizes, all in that tradition. Nothing really crazy deep, all with wide rims. Most like a Rath 1 1/4L (the Ferguson L). Nothing really like it in Griego/GB land.[/quote]
It's the Rath 1 1/4W that is based on a Minick L, I know as I had a hand in that one. All Minicks are unique... he was not interested in great consistency. Therefore the Ferguson L and the Rath are related,but somewhat different. I had a V that I sold one of my students. I didn't like it but he sounds great on it. Bach 1 1/2G size but different in almost every way.
Chris
It's the Rath 1 1/4W that is based on a Minick L, I know as I had a hand in that one. All Minicks are unique... he was not interested in great consistency. Therefore the Ferguson L and the Rath are related,but somewhat different. I had a V that I sold one of my students. I didn't like it but he sounds great on it. Bach 1 1/2G size but different in almost every way.
Chris
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
[quote="blast"]<QUOTE author="Burgerbob" post_id="75767" time="1547881167" user_id="3131">
They're similar to the Minick sizes, all in that tradition. Nothing really crazy deep, all with wide rims. Most like a Rath 1 1/4L (the Ferguson L). Nothing really like it in Griego/GB land.[/quote]
It's the Rath 1 1/4W that is based on a Minick L, I know as I had a hand in that one. All Minicks are unique... he was not interested in great consistency. Therefore the Ferguson L and the Rath are related,but somewhat different. I had a V that I sold one of my students. I didn't like it but he sounds great on it. Bach 1 1/2G size but different in almost every way.
Chris
</QUOTE>
Yes! That's what I meant. I played one for a year or so, good mouthpiece.
They're similar to the Minick sizes, all in that tradition. Nothing really crazy deep, all with wide rims. Most like a Rath 1 1/4L (the Ferguson L). Nothing really like it in Griego/GB land.[/quote]
It's the Rath 1 1/4W that is based on a Minick L, I know as I had a hand in that one. All Minicks are unique... he was not interested in great consistency. Therefore the Ferguson L and the Rath are related,but somewhat different. I had a V that I sold one of my students. I didn't like it but he sounds great on it. Bach 1 1/2G size but different in almost every way.
Chris
</QUOTE>
Yes! That's what I meant. I played one for a year or so, good mouthpiece.
- hyperbolica
- Posts: 3990
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
The Ferguson V is slightly larger than the 1.5g. It gets a clearer, possibly brighter sound than anything I've played. It still gives power to the low notes, but doesn't make them mushy.
The V seems less popular than the other Fergusons for all those reasons. I personally like the lighter sound, but I realize my tastes are a little different than most bass players.
I haven't played the other pieces, but I've spent a fair bit of time on the V. It will give your small bass a bit more power, or maybe clear up muddy sound on a larger bass without losing too much low range or power.
The V seems less popular than the other Fergusons for all those reasons. I personally like the lighter sound, but I realize my tastes are a little different than most bass players.
I haven't played the other pieces, but I've spent a fair bit of time on the V. It will give your small bass a bit more power, or maybe clear up muddy sound on a larger bass without losing too much low range or power.
- mrdeacon
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: May 08, 2018
I'd describe the Mr.Bass and Orchestral as in between sizes.
The Mr.Bass, while advertised as an oversized 1 1/2G, is much bigger when you get it on the face, more in line with a 1 3/8ths sized piece. Orchestral series is sort of a 1 1/8ths sized piece.
As others have mentioned the Ferguson V and L are variations and more similar to the traditional 1 1/2G and Schilke 59 sizes.
The Mr.Bass, while advertised as an oversized 1 1/2G, is much bigger when you get it on the face, more in line with a 1 3/8ths sized piece. Orchestral series is sort of a 1 1/8ths sized piece.
As others have mentioned the Ferguson V and L are variations and more similar to the traditional 1 1/2G and Schilke 59 sizes.
- blast
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
[quote="hyperbolica"]The Ferguson V is slightly larger than the 1.5g. It gets a clearer, possibly brighter sound than anything I've played. It still gives power to the low notes, but doesn't make them mushy.
The V seems less popular than the other Fergusons for all those reasons. I personally like the lighter sound, but I realize my tastes are a little different than most bass players.
I haven't played the other pieces, but I've spent a fair bit of time on the V. It will give your small bass a bit more power, or maybe clear up muddy sound on a larger bass without losing too much low range or power.[/quote]
I briefly had a Ferguson V and didn't care for it myself, but the guy that bought it from me loved it. The Minick V that I sold to my student is a different beast.... rim slightly wider and flatter than a 1 1/2, cup more conical and throat slightly smaller.... confused ? I was !
Chris
The V seems less popular than the other Fergusons for all those reasons. I personally like the lighter sound, but I realize my tastes are a little different than most bass players.
I haven't played the other pieces, but I've spent a fair bit of time on the V. It will give your small bass a bit more power, or maybe clear up muddy sound on a larger bass without losing too much low range or power.[/quote]
I briefly had a Ferguson V and didn't care for it myself, but the guy that bought it from me loved it. The Minick V that I sold to my student is a different beast.... rim slightly wider and flatter than a 1 1/2, cup more conical and throat slightly smaller.... confused ? I was !
Chris
- hyperbolica
- Posts: 3990
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
The Horn Guys site describes the V as "efficient", which in context of my experience with it, I take to mean smaller and more focused and clear than you might expect.
- Cas
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sep 21, 2022
Does anyone know what the specs are (besides cup and throat) of the Ferguson L? Backbore Rim diameter etc. Just started using this mouthpiece on a bass trombone my college is lending me and was just curious on how big it is
- tbonesullivan
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Jul 02, 2019
[quote="Cas"]Does anyone know what the specs are (besides cup and throat) of the Ferguson L? Backbore Rim diameter etc. Just started using this mouthpiece on a bass trombone my college is lending me and was just curious on how big it is[/quote] I don't think those are published anywhere. You'd probably just need to measure them yourself. It does have a substantial cushy rim, and quite a bit of mass at 216 grams.
Regarding throat size, it looks to be around the same size of something like a Laskey 85MD, so .295"? It's not a huge throat, but definitely bigger than the Bach .276" G throat. They were copied / based on the Minick originals, and those were pretty much hand machined. I don't know if Minick had a template or blank he used when making the V, L, and LS mouthpieces, so I would suspect that the originals varied a bit.
I guess that is the one thing that is good and bad about the mouthpieces now that they are all CNC made: consistency is top notch, but sometimes it's the inconsistency that leads to what is perfect for one individual. I'm wondering if we'll start to see any "engineered inconsistency" in mouthpieces.
Regarding throat size, it looks to be around the same size of something like a Laskey 85MD, so .295"? It's not a huge throat, but definitely bigger than the Bach .276" G throat. They were copied / based on the Minick originals, and those were pretty much hand machined. I don't know if Minick had a template or blank he used when making the V, L, and LS mouthpieces, so I would suspect that the originals varied a bit.
I guess that is the one thing that is good and bad about the mouthpieces now that they are all CNC made: consistency is top notch, but sometimes it's the inconsistency that leads to what is perfect for one individual. I'm wondering if we'll start to see any "engineered inconsistency" in mouthpieces.