cheap amazon trombone mouthpieces...
- captain
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Oct 21, 2019
Eastrock, Glory, Missmore...oh my!
These things are so cheap it seems like they cannot be real. Has anyone tried any of these $10-$20ish mouthpieces? Are they truly silver plated, or just "silver color" plated? I could get TEN of these for the price of ONE name-brand, and maybe find something close to my Conn 2.
I'm concerned that they might be so cheaply made that they could poison me. Then again, I wonder if Bach, Selmer, etc. are just price gouging us, and $15 IS what a mouthpiece SHOULD cost.
These things are so cheap it seems like they cannot be real. Has anyone tried any of these $10-$20ish mouthpieces? Are they truly silver plated, or just "silver color" plated? I could get TEN of these for the price of ONE name-brand, and maybe find something close to my Conn 2.
I'm concerned that they might be so cheaply made that they could poison me. Then again, I wonder if Bach, Selmer, etc. are just price gouging us, and $15 IS what a mouthpiece SHOULD cost.
- BrooklynDad
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Feb 07, 2025
I bought one of these. While it looked and felt ok, it didn't feel great to play, and did not produce a sound nearly as good as one of my regular pieces.
- Kingfan
- Posts: 1371
- Joined: Apr 11, 2018
I was given a no name "gold plated" mouthpiece. The plating wore off pretty quickly. If I was going budget, I would go Faxx mouthpieces.
- ghmerrill
- Posts: 2193
- Joined: Apr 02, 2018
Amazon may not be the best source of such things (duh). However, I've had no-name copies of some common mouthpieces that were just thrown in by the manufacturer with an instrument I bought, and they were fine (not what I wanted -- but that's because I didn't want the original "brand" piece either). An accurate copy of a good mouthpiece will be a good mouthpiece (think of Faxx and Kelly -- or even Yamaha). There may be arguments about how "faithful" a copy it is and whether it's "exactly" like the original, but I think there's a lot of ideology and subjectivity there. Yes, there is a lot of junk out there, but not all of the low cost (Chinese or otherwise) examples are junk. With Amazon, if you try it and don't like it, just send it back. :)
- tbonesullivan
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Jul 02, 2019
Honestly, with Faxx and used mouthpieces from yamaha and bach already super affordable, I wouldn't risk it with those no-name pieces on amazon. Who knows what kind of metal they are really made from.
- ghmerrill
- Posts: 2193
- Joined: Apr 02, 2018
[quote="tbonesullivan"]Who knows what kind of metal they are really made from.[/quote]
I don't know. Depleted uranium from anti-tank rounds might be okay -- especially if you're looking for a heavy weight piece. And as long as it's really depleted. It's only "mildly radioactive". Hey, what isn't?
I don't know. Depleted uranium from anti-tank rounds might be okay -- especially if you're looking for a heavy weight piece. And as long as it's really depleted. It's only "mildly radioactive". Hey, what isn't?
- captain
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Oct 21, 2019
I figured I'd keep them in my vintage Vaseline Glass bowl anyway, so what's a little extra radioactivity? ;-)
But, seriously, here are some I'm considering:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DLMGDKWN/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMTX8GPV/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFDZ1NKW/
vs. $45 for Faxx
<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.amazon.com/Faxx-Bass-Trombo ... 004BLCE5I/">https://www.amazon.com/Faxx-Bass-Trombone-Mouthpiece-Shank/dp/B004BLCE5I/</LINK_TEXT>
vs. $100 for Conn
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002HU7DG/
As I've mentioned elsewhere, I really like the feel of the Conn 2. The Yamaha 48-L seems fine, as did the plastic thing that came with the PBone I no longer play. I just want to try a bunch of different sizes and styles to see if it really makes a difference.
But, seriously, here are some I'm considering:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DLMGDKWN/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMTX8GPV/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFDZ1NKW/
vs. $45 for Faxx
<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.amazon.com/Faxx-Bass-Trombo ... 004BLCE5I/">https://www.amazon.com/Faxx-Bass-Trombone-Mouthpiece-Shank/dp/B004BLCE5I/</LINK_TEXT>
vs. $100 for Conn
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002HU7DG/
As I've mentioned elsewhere, I really like the feel of the Conn 2. The Yamaha 48-L seems fine, as did the plastic thing that came with the PBone I no longer play. I just want to try a bunch of different sizes and styles to see if it really makes a difference.
- captain
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Oct 21, 2019
I never thought about the size of the MOUSE when considering a mouthpiece for trombone playing! ;-p
<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.amazon.com/Trombone-Mouthpi ... B09BMX87D1">https://www.amazon.com/Trombone-Mouthpiece-12-7mm-Accessory-Replacement/dp/B09BMX87D1</LINK_TEXT>
<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.amazon.com/Trombone-Mouthpi ... B09BMX87D1">https://www.amazon.com/Trombone-Mouthpiece-12-7mm-Accessory-Replacement/dp/B09BMX87D1</LINK_TEXT>
- ghmerrill
- Posts: 2193
- Joined: Apr 02, 2018
It appears that these products offer free returns. We have Amazon Prime, and with that you can return practically anything. I'm absolutely ruthless about that. So if you get free returns, just try out some of these. You have nothing to lose but a little time and a trip to your nearest UPS store or pickup location.
I'm pretty old school and for some time felt kind of sleazy about returning stuff. But this is the "new normal" and in fact the new approach to marketing and sales. Go with it. It's really the only way you can buy a lot of stuff nowadays (especially with any convenience) and see if it fits or works for you.
I'm pretty old school and for some time felt kind of sleazy about returning stuff. But this is the "new normal" and in fact the new approach to marketing and sales. Go with it. It's really the only way you can buy a lot of stuff nowadays (especially with any convenience) and see if it fits or works for you.
- captain
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Oct 21, 2019
I too used to be a ruthless returner. I don't have the energy for that, plus I've gotten "banned" for "too many returns", so I'm more careful these days. ;-) (most idiotically from Fry's Electronics, where the constant "sales pitch" was basically, "I know nothing, but you can buy it and return it if it doesn't do what I just erroneously told you it will do." fml)
I do have 10 of those "mouthpieces" in my amazon cart though, so since no one here seems to have researched it for me, I may be the canary. I'll try to write up something not totally worthless if I do the experiment. I'm basically Donny when it comes to trombone though. ;-)
I do have 10 of those "mouthpieces" in my amazon cart though, so since no one here seems to have researched it for me, I may be the canary. I'll try to write up something not totally worthless if I do the experiment. I'm basically Donny when it comes to trombone though. ;-)
- Posaunus
- Posts: 5018
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Spend your money (and waste your time) and buy all the cheap Chinese knockoff mouthpieces you want.
They'll look pretty in your glass candy bowl.
Here's the cheapest that I've encountered (in a 30-second search) at $10.97 for a 6½AL:
<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Trombone- ... EXJY&psc=1">https://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Trombone-Copper-Mouthpiece-optional/dp/B011RLEXJY/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_1/136-8686746-2219219?pd_rd_w=4Rqgc&content-id=amzn1.sym.de9a1315-b9df-4c24-863c-7afcb2e4cc0a&pf_rd_p=de9a1315-b9df-4c24-863c-7afcb2e4cc0a&pf_rd_r=1YTP5GFV6W703Y3NVNK0&pd_rd_wg=xDv9n&pd_rd_r=6b20e25e-d127-4e99-b948-81f5e0075530&pd_rd_i=B011RLEXJY&psc=1</LINK_TEXT>
But please don't bother with that sexy 51D piece - that size is a terrible match to your King 2B.
And report back to us in a year or two after you've tried all these mouthpieces (and probably many more) and still haven't found the "ultimate."
They'll look pretty in your glass candy bowl.
Here's the cheapest that I've encountered (in a 30-second search) at $10.97 for a 6½AL:
<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Trombone- ... EXJY&psc=1">https://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Trombone-Copper-Mouthpiece-optional/dp/B011RLEXJY/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_1/136-8686746-2219219?pd_rd_w=4Rqgc&content-id=amzn1.sym.de9a1315-b9df-4c24-863c-7afcb2e4cc0a&pf_rd_p=de9a1315-b9df-4c24-863c-7afcb2e4cc0a&pf_rd_r=1YTP5GFV6W703Y3NVNK0&pd_rd_wg=xDv9n&pd_rd_r=6b20e25e-d127-4e99-b948-81f5e0075530&pd_rd_i=B011RLEXJY&psc=1</LINK_TEXT>
But please don't bother with that sexy 51D piece - that size is a terrible match to your King 2B.
And report back to us in a year or two after you've tried all these mouthpieces (and probably many more) and still haven't found the "ultimate."
- brassmedic
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: Dec 14, 2018
Eastrock? Didn't Fred Flintstone play one of those?
- captain
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Oct 21, 2019
I ended up with a couple of Bachs, a Blessing, and a Shilky from the local shop. Sadly, no Conn #2. Onward! Through the fog! <EMOJI seq="1f636-1f32b" tseq="1f636-200d-1f32b-fe0f">😶🌫️</EMOJI>
- CheeseTray
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Apr 21, 2018
Captain: sent you a PM
- tbonesullivan
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Jul 02, 2019
[quote="captain"]I ended up with a couple of Bachs, a Blessing, and a Shilky from the local shop. Sadly, no Conn #2. Onward! Through the fog! <EMOJI seq="1f636-1f32b" tseq="1f636-200d-1f32b-fe0f">😶🌫️</EMOJI>[/quote] Any interesting sizes? I've been on a mouthpiece buying hiatus to stem my addiction. hopefully.
- captain
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Oct 21, 2019
Several 6 1/2 AL (the Bach is much higher quality than the blessing); a Bach 12C, a Shilky 51, a Shilke 51D (I don’t know what the D makes different), an east rock 9BS that actually looks pretty damn close to my beloved Conn #2!, and something “made in China“ that has no markings on the actual mouthpiece, but looks kind of rectangular.
- captain
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Oct 21, 2019
Here’s the “made in China” no name mouthpiece.
This thing is very strange. It goes extremely loosely and floppily all the way into a large bore, but just barely goes 1 cm into the receiver of a small bore. WTF?! <EMOJI seq="1f61d" tseq="1f61d">😝</EMOJI>. Maybe this is one of those “medium bore” things i’d only heard about up to now.
BUMMER! Because I actually like the way this thing feels and plays. I’m not sure it’s OK to use it with only a centimeter of connection length. That seems like just asking to torque damage my receiver.
It turns out that it’s a “missmore trombone baritone tenor mouthpiece”. I think I’ll trade it in for the 9BS that specifically reads small shank, and add a 4AL for the large bore bone.
Oh yeah, and a Yamaha 48 small bore, so I now have the option of the same mouthpiece on both bores. And a few other non-descript Chinese mouthpieces.
This thing is very strange. It goes extremely loosely and floppily all the way into a large bore, but just barely goes 1 cm into the receiver of a small bore. WTF?! <EMOJI seq="1f61d" tseq="1f61d">😝</EMOJI>. Maybe this is one of those “medium bore” things i’d only heard about up to now.
BUMMER! Because I actually like the way this thing feels and plays. I’m not sure it’s OK to use it with only a centimeter of connection length. That seems like just asking to torque damage my receiver.
It turns out that it’s a “missmore trombone baritone tenor mouthpiece”. I think I’ll trade it in for the 9BS that specifically reads small shank, and add a 4AL for the large bore bone.
Oh yeah, and a Yamaha 48 small bore, so I now have the option of the same mouthpiece on both bores. And a few other non-descript Chinese mouthpieces.
- tbonesullivan
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Jul 02, 2019
[quote="captain"]Several 6 1/2 AL (the Bach is much higher quality than the blessing); a Bach 12C, a Shilky 51, a Shilke 51D (I don’t know what the D makes different), an east rock 9BS that actually looks pretty damn close to my beloved Conn #2!, and something “made in China“ that has no markings on the actual mouthpiece, but looks kind of rectangular.[/quote] The "D" is for "deep". It's more of a Euphonium Piece, but some play trombone with it. The regular 51 is I believe what Ralph Sauer played, or maybe still plays. Schilke mouthpieces don't really have a "system" the way that Bach mouthpieces to. Many of them were custom designs that later got model numbers.