mouthpiece choices over the last 50 years.
- NotATrumpet
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Jan 07, 2025
I've been listening to the early recordings of the Philip Jones ensemble and comparing them to present day groups. Does anyone else think that the overall tone of trombones, has changed ( taking into account improvements in recording ).
I'm wondering if, over the last 50 years, the criteria on which professional players choose a mouthpiece has changed and therefore the tone of the trombone. Or, to put it another way, the Conn 88H has been around for decades but does it sound the same today as those of 50 years ago? If not , why ? ( I don't want to get into model differences, ie Gen 11s etc)
I'm curious to know if today's jazz players have a different tone than those of 50 years ago, too. Is it all down to changes in mouthpiece designs and size preferences etc.
I'd be interested in your thoughts and opinions.
I'm wondering if, over the last 50 years, the criteria on which professional players choose a mouthpiece has changed and therefore the tone of the trombone. Or, to put it another way, the Conn 88H has been around for decades but does it sound the same today as those of 50 years ago? If not , why ? ( I don't want to get into model differences, ie Gen 11s etc)
I'm curious to know if today's jazz players have a different tone than those of 50 years ago, too. Is it all down to changes in mouthpiece designs and size preferences etc.
I'd be interested in your thoughts and opinions.
- hyperbolica
- Posts: 3990
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Specifically for the 88h, the bell has gone through design changes including becoming thicker, welded seams and soldered rims. The sound of trombones in general is more... generic or homogenized these days. I think the old 88hs had a lot more personality, even if the orchestral Brits didn't push that aspect of it.
For mouthpieces, today there are a lot more choices. Back then we played 5g and Schilke 51-52.
For mouthpieces, today there are a lot more choices. Back then we played 5g and Schilke 51-52.
- Fidbone
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Apr 24, 2018
My trombone teacher at the Royal college of music in London was John Iveson and he was in the Philip Jones quintet and ensemble at this time. He played an Elkhart Conn 8H with a Denis Wick 5AL. This tended to be the winning combination back then.
Even today amongst British Orchestral players there still seems to be a penchant towards the old Elkhart instruments particularly the 88H.
However I now see other makes popping up more and more, in particular Shires, Rath, Getzen and Yamaha. In my mind they are all easier to play than the old Conns and are usually better constructed with superior slides and valves.
Do they sound the same? I think sound concept is determined by the player and is possibly better conceived on the more modern instruments.
Even today amongst British Orchestral players there still seems to be a penchant towards the old Elkhart instruments particularly the 88H.
However I now see other makes popping up more and more, in particular Shires, Rath, Getzen and Yamaha. In my mind they are all easier to play than the old Conns and are usually better constructed with superior slides and valves.
Do they sound the same? I think sound concept is determined by the player and is possibly better conceived on the more modern instruments.
- WGWTR180
- Posts: 2152
- Joined: Sep 04, 2019
Changed big time! And in my opinion not in a positive direction. But that's just me.
- Doug_Elliott
- Posts: 4155
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
50 years ago there was a fad of lightweight mouthpieces for faster response and flexibility. Giardineli offered "skeletonizing" as a mouthpiece service.
I suspect it may have improved some slow-response Bach 42B's and 50's.
I suspect it may have improved some slow-response Bach 42B's and 50's.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
A lot of pieces designed 50 years ago (so not the original Bach designs, etc) were trying to get around limitations of the instruments. That's not nearly as necessary now.
- tkelley216
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Oct 25, 2021
I feel like the general shift has been towards wider, shallower mouthpieces, I think Ian Bousfield even mentioned something about that in one of the videos he did for Getzen/Griego. Not sure if the shift is for sound or feel, but I do see plenty of people play older mouthpieces with newer horns and newer mouthpieces with older horns...
- NotATrumpet
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Jan 07, 2025
Thank you all for your interesting comments.