1.5’s for all around play

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bassbonebuster
Posts: 39
Joined: Feb 21, 2019

by bassbonebuster »

I’m playing my way through the world of 1.5 size pieces after living in the 1+ size for 20 years. I’m not sure what changed, but a random encounter with an unmarked 1 1/2G piece rocked my world and now I’m exploring this size range. What best all around 1.5’s have you all come across and recommend?
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Pezza
Posts: 221
Joined: Aug 24, 2021

by Pezza »

I use a plastic Wedge 1.5.

I use plastic due to allergies. The future will probably see me get a hybrid!

I have a damaged bottom lip, that the wedge takes pressure away from.
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MTbassbone
Posts: 558
Joined: Apr 21, 2018

by MTbassbone »

Griego 2

DE J cup (my daily driver, but I use a larger rim)

Stork 1.5S (pretty large for 1.5 range but I liked it for a number of years)
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Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

How about a Doug Elliott setup: J8 Shank, MB J Cup, MB 108 or MB 109 Rim?

Or

• Marcinkiewicz Geo Roberts (or 1½G)

• Schilke 58

• Wedge 108G

• Denis Wick 2AL

• Yamaha 59

They all work - personal preference.
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hyperbolica
Posts: 3990
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by hyperbolica »

I've recently been on this safari as well. I was into the 1.25 size, and I'm realizing that it's a bit large for me. One of my problems is that I rarely meet a mouthpiece I don't like. So the last one I use is usually my best friend. Right now its the Stork, although my long term buddy in this size has been the Ferguson V.

Ferguson V - nicely focused mouthpiece

Faxx 1.5 - good all around bass bone piece

Stork 1.5 S - latest obsession

DE LB110J9 - this is what I think I'll wind up using
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claf
Posts: 148
Joined: Oct 22, 2018

by claf »

Symington 1.5 for classical

Schilke Reichenbach for big band

Both are very slightly larger than a typical 1.5, but hardly.

And I could do everything on the Symington, I just like Bill Reichenbach and find that the Schilke helps me cut through the too-many saxophones in my big band.
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LIBrassCo
Posts: 585
Joined: Feb 24, 2019

by LIBrassCo »

I play the same rim size (27mm), and have a couple of nice options there. The Eon 700 is probably the one I'd suggest.
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elmsandr
Posts: 1373
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by elmsandr »

Just a note to say, the original Bach is fun. And different examples are not all the same. This summer had an opportunity to play through a few 1.5s of another forum member…. Really fascinating how similar they all were, but how radically different they all responded to different horns. One I thought was nothing special…. But in the other horn, it just really matched and aligned to that horn. Made me want to just buy the next 10 random Bach pieces I see and play with matching them. (I’m not going to do that, it would drive me insane and I’m all stocked up in the crazy department).

Cheers,

Andy
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Burgerbob
Posts: 6327
Joined: Apr 23, 2018

by Burgerbob »

Yup, a great Bach is still the gold standard.
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Hamby86
Posts: 14
Joined: Jan 15, 2024

by Hamby86 »

[quote="LIBrassCo"]I play the same rim size (27mm), and have a couple of nice options there. The Eon 700 is probably the one I'd suggest.[/quote]

Which backbore did you go with?
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LIBrassCo
Posts: 585
Joined: Feb 24, 2019

by LIBrassCo »

[quote="Hamby86"]<QUOTE author="LIBrassCo" post_id="254648" time="1727955205" user_id="4931">
I play the same rim size (27mm), and have a couple of nice options there. The Eon 700 is probably the one I'd suggest.[/quote]

Which backbore did you go with?
</QUOTE>

Depends what you're after. Most popular is the B3.
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sf105
Posts: 433
Joined: Mar 24, 2018

by sf105 »

A second here for the Symington. It's not quite the standard but, then, no Bach ever is.
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bassbonebuster
Posts: 39
Joined: Feb 21, 2019

by bassbonebuster »

I’ve looked for the Symington and have had zero luck finding one.
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Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

[quote="bassbonebuster"]I’ve looked for the Symington and have had zero luck finding one.[/quote]

Precious few Symington 1.5s (or any other size) available on the used market. Those that have purchased them are probably still playing them.
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sf105
Posts: 433
Joined: Mar 24, 2018

by sf105 »

[quote="bassbonebuster"]I’ve looked for the Symington and have had zero luck finding one.[/quote]

Bill says he's found a new foundry so there should be a new batch sometime.

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spencercarran
Posts: 689
Joined: Oct 17, 2020

by spencercarran »

[quote="Posaunus"]<QUOTE author="bassbonebuster" post_id="254713" time="1727985621" user_id="4851">
I’ve looked for the Symington and have had zero luck finding one.[/quote]

Precious few Symington 1.5s (or any other size) available on the used market. Those that have purchased them are probably still playing them.
</QUOTE>

Indeed we are. There's some sort of magic to those Symington pieces. Very easy to maintain a controlled warm sound even at softer dynamics where most bass trombone equipment struggles.