Starting mouthpiece for Yamaha YSL-671 Alto?
- dj4eagle
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Feb 06, 2024
I play principal trombone in a couple community Orchestras, and have never played Alto trombone before.
Have a couple Mozart/Beethoven heavy concerts coming up in the spring, found a used Yamaha 671 for the right price, and decided it would be fun to try to learn Alto. I looked into the Chinese options, including the hand-picked/collaboration ones (like ACB Doubler or Schmitt Music Lake City), but felt more comfortable going with a reputable model. I've been bitten by crappy, cheap horns.
I'm wondering what a good "baseline" mouthpiece to start out on would be, particularly for that horn. I have always played standard 5g sizes (Conn, Griego 5/5M/5ES) on large tenor, and have had good luck with a Bach 6.5 on small tenor, which is what the horn comes with.
Do I need a special alto shank piece? Is a 6.5 too large? I don't wish to ebark on the perfect mouthpiece journey, just find something appropriate for the equipment that won't sabotage me learning or my tenor playing.
Have a couple Mozart/Beethoven heavy concerts coming up in the spring, found a used Yamaha 671 for the right price, and decided it would be fun to try to learn Alto. I looked into the Chinese options, including the hand-picked/collaboration ones (like ACB Doubler or Schmitt Music Lake City), but felt more comfortable going with a reputable model. I've been bitten by crappy, cheap horns.
I'm wondering what a good "baseline" mouthpiece to start out on would be, particularly for that horn. I have always played standard 5g sizes (Conn, Griego 5/5M/5ES) on large tenor, and have had good luck with a Bach 6.5 on small tenor, which is what the horn comes with.
Do I need a special alto shank piece? Is a 6.5 too large? I don't wish to ebark on the perfect mouthpiece journey, just find something appropriate for the equipment that won't sabotage me learning or my tenor playing.
- Doug_Elliott
- Posts: 4155
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
Cheap options:
5C, Yamaha 48, 48A, or Nils Landgren.
6-1/2 works OK.
See how a standard small shank fits.
Learning the instrument is more important right now than finding the "perfect mouthpiece."
5C, Yamaha 48, 48A, or Nils Landgren.
6-1/2 works OK.
See how a standard small shank fits.
Learning the instrument is more important right now than finding the "perfect mouthpiece."
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
The 671 takes a standard trombone shank -- nothing special. My Conn 36H came with a 7C (but a special shank for that horn). I played a Bach 4C since I'm not comfortable on smaller rims. Then I got a Giardinelli 5M with a screw rim to which I fitted a Doug Elliott MT 102 rim. This worked great for me.
Some find the really small mouthpieces like Bach 12C or 15C work great. The Bach alto came with a 15EW (extra shallow with a wide rim).
Just a few suggestions.
For learning the horn, I have the alto method by Forum Member Harrison Reed, although I had to learn it by brute force since Harrison only published his method about 20 years after I got my alto. There is also a nice book by Mike Lake.
Some find the really small mouthpieces like Bach 12C or 15C work great. The Bach alto came with a 15EW (extra shallow with a wide rim).
Just a few suggestions.
For learning the horn, I have the alto method by Forum Member Harrison Reed, although I had to learn it by brute force since Harrison only published his method about 20 years after I got my alto. There is also a nice book by Mike Lake.
- Bach5G
- Posts: 2874
- Joined: Apr 07, 2018
The 671 came with a Yam 48A, the “A” signifying an alto back bore.
Why not start with that?
Why not start with that?
- UATrombone
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Sep 15, 2024
Personally, I don't like to change everything at one moment and prefer to have something "old/familiar" as a start point (new mouthpiece / old instrument, new instrument / old mouthpiece).
So, in your situation I'd start with 6,5 and learn how to play on Alto (positions / blowing etc.) and later change mouthpiece if something is wrong (tone/partials etc.).
So, in your situation I'd start with 6,5 and learn how to play on Alto (positions / blowing etc.) and later change mouthpiece if something is wrong (tone/partials etc.).
- AtomicClock
- Posts: 1094
- Joined: Oct 19, 2023
[quote="Bach5G"]The 671 came with a Yam 48A, the “A” signifying an alto back bore.
Why not start with that?[/quote]
My 671, purchased new from WWBW, did not come with a mouthpiece. Come to think of it, of my 4 "new" instruments, only one came with its mouthpiece. Is it rare for mouthpieces to actually get delivered like they're supposed to?
Why not start with that?[/quote]
My 671, purchased new from WWBW, did not come with a mouthpiece. Come to think of it, of my 4 "new" instruments, only one came with its mouthpiece. Is it rare for mouthpieces to actually get delivered like they're supposed to?
- heldenbone
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Aug 21, 2018
My 671 works marvelously well with a garden variety Faxx 7C. Nice, light alto sound, good intonation with octaves that line up well, and responsive articulation. I experimented with other, more exotic options, but they all were missing some piece of the whole -- Hammond 45C, Schilke 40something, one of John Calder's bespoke alto creations, Wick 10CS. The 7C just made music easiest for me.
- dj4eagle
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Feb 06, 2024
Thanks all!
I'll have 2 (perhaps different vintage or spec) Bach 6 1/2's, a Marcinkiewicz 12 (bit smaller) I used to use for lead big band playing, and possibly a Wick 10cs to play around with. One of them should work.
I'll have 2 (perhaps different vintage or spec) Bach 6 1/2's, a Marcinkiewicz 12 (bit smaller) I used to use for lead big band playing, and possibly a Wick 10cs to play around with. One of them should work.
- Bach5G
- Posts: 2874
- Joined: Apr 07, 2018
A friend tells me his 671 came with a 48A, but he bought it a number of years ago.
- mooretrombone
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Apr 12, 2018
[quote="Bach5G"]A friend tells me his 671 came with a 48A, but he bought it a number of years ago.[/quote]
They did. I also recommend trying a 48A. I’ve used it on both a 671 and my current 871. I might have an extra one I could unload - send me an email if interested.
I’m in the camp that no single mouthpiece is ideal for all situations where alto gets used. I have a couple alto pieces I like (Greg Black customs, etc.), but I still find myself coming back to the 48A on the rep you’re using it on… I just used it on Mozart Requiem a week ago.
As far as using tenor pieces on altos go, a 6 1/2 is ok. One of my favorite alto players uses it with great success... But I have found it much easier for me to play alto well with the smaller throat of a “real” alto piece.
They did. I also recommend trying a 48A. I’ve used it on both a 671 and my current 871. I might have an extra one I could unload - send me an email if interested.
I’m in the camp that no single mouthpiece is ideal for all situations where alto gets used. I have a couple alto pieces I like (Greg Black customs, etc.), but I still find myself coming back to the 48A on the rep you’re using it on… I just used it on Mozart Requiem a week ago.
As far as using tenor pieces on altos go, a 6 1/2 is ok. One of my favorite alto players uses it with great success... But I have found it much easier for me to play alto well with the smaller throat of a “real” alto piece.
- elmsandr
- Posts: 1373
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Many decades ago now, but I recall that it worked really well with the stock 48A and a Bach 7C. I still have a DE setup I got to use with it…. But I sold the horn before I played in public with it.
Cheers,
Andy
Cheers,
Andy
- harrisonreed
- Posts: 6479
- Joined: Aug 17, 2018
The 15CL and 13CL are very good choices, too, and not very expensive.
- Bach5G
- Posts: 2874
- Joined: Apr 07, 2018
According to a list set out in Alto Savvy, a Bach 6 1/2 AM works for some.
I also liked a Bach 11C in my JP 236.
I also liked a Bach 11C in my JP 236.
- vintage88h
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Ferguson 11 works great on Yamaha altos
- Doug_Elliott
- Posts: 4155
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
For starting, nearly any small shank mouthpiece would be acceptable if you can deal with its rim size.
- dukesboneman
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Apr 02, 2018
I have Beethoven 9 coming up in April.
After playing around with different mouthpieces, a Mount Vernon 12C makes my horn Light up and sound great
After playing around with different mouthpieces, a Mount Vernon 12C makes my horn Light up and sound great
- Ellefson
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Apr 15, 2018
I have used the Yamaha 48A since the mid-1980s on Yamaha, Shires, Conn, Courtois, and Ganter altos. At some point in time, Yamaha tightened the throat, which, in my opinion, was a mistake. I am always on the lookout for older 48As. The Ultimate Brass A1 is the best copy that I have encountered if an older 48A cannot be found.
I have tried others here and there and always return to the 48A. It works for me it might or might not for others and I often put my students on a 7C or 6 3/4C.
PE
I have tried others here and there and always return to the 48A. It works for me it might or might not for others and I often put my students on a 7C or 6 3/4C.
PE
- dj4eagle
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Feb 06, 2024
Very partial to gold plating (more for feel than optics), so gambled on a 48A from Mouthpiece Express. Loving it so far, great fit for the horn, and much cheaper than the boutique options even after having the rim/cup gold plated.
Thanks for the recs!
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Thanks for the recs!
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