Denis Wick Ultra bass mouthpieces

[AndyBaker]

Denis Wick were kind enough to send me a set of these to try. They’re a new design and shape custom made by Christian Griego. I’ve played a DW 0AL for about 15 years and have always been happy, but I REALLY like these new pieces (I only play bass bone as a double, definitely not full time).
They’re not just a different blank, but wholly new designs. I played The Great Gatsby for a couple of weeks on the new 0.5 - great presence in the sound and excellent, quick production.
Check them out!

[RustBeltBass]

A photo would be great to see !

[Burgerbob]

Same blank as the Ultra series euph pieces

[Kevbach33]

How does the rim contour compare to the normal Wick design? It's the one thing that prevents me from trying new Wick trombone pieces: I'm not a fan of the regular (and Heritage) rim shape. (I'm ok with it for my 4L tuba mouthpiece, however.)

Think you can post a photo of the new piece, rim up, with your old 0AL so we can see the difference?

[AndyBaker]

0.5 ultra on the left
0AL heritage in the right

[Kevbach33]

That looks more in line with Griego sizes. To my untrained eye, the ultra looks almost like a 60-sized piece with a wider rim (the 0AL is like a deep 1½G in concept). Then again, it could just be the angle and it's actually a size smaller.

[RoscoTrombone]

Couldn't get any info from the Denis Wick site so had to find a stockist...all of them have the same bore of 7.8mm & a deep cup.

2U rim 27mm/rim width 7mm

1.5U 27.3/6.9

1U 27.66/6.7

0.5U 28.09/6.5

0U 28.52/6.2

00U 29.03/6

Ross

[Kevbach33]

Couldn't get any info from the Denis Wick site so had to find a stockist...all of them have the same bore of 7.8mm & a deep cup.

2U rim 27mm/rim width 7mm

1.5U 27.3/6.9

1U 27.66/6.7

0.5U 28.09/6.5

0U 28.52/6.2

00U 29.03/6

Ross

Interesting... For us in the States, with (rough) ID comparisons:

2U: 1.063" ID/.276" RW (Bach 1½G, Greg Black 2G)

1.5U: 1.075"/.272" (Yamaha 59, Black 1½G)

1U: 1.089"/.264" (Schilke 58, Black 1 7/16G)

0.5U: 1.106"/.256" (Bach 1¼G, and my Pickett 1.5S is also about here)

0U: 1.123"/.244" (Schilke 59, Black 1¼G)

00U: 1.143"/.236" (Schilke 60, Black 1G)

Throat is .307" for all.

Thanks for the spec list!

[harrisonreed]

So Griego is making Denis Wick mouthpieces for them now? That's impressive.

[tbonesullivan]

So Griego is making Denis Wick mouthpieces for them now? That's impressive.

Yeah.. IF you can get the Denis Wick website to load:

"The Ultra Trombone Mouthpiece, designed in collaboration with mouthpiece designer Christan Griego, delivers a focused, projecting sound across all registers with exceptional clarity and control. A comfortable, supportive rim enhances endurance and confidence, making it an ideal choice for trombonists seeking power, precision, and reliable performance in any musical setting."

Does Denis Wick do any customizing work anymore? it seems like their entire line, like the Bach Line, was designed long ago. Not to say that they aren't very good mouthpieces, I just don't know if they really have anyone in house who designs / fits mouthpieces anymore. Probably decided it was cheaper to farm it out.

[Burgerbob]

It's also to avoid tariffs.

[RustBeltBass]

So Griego is making Denis Wick mouthpieces for them now? That's impressive.

That is the most interesting aspect of all this to me. Not a lot of experience with DW, but I am soemwhat surprised this is seen as good advertising, that essentially an American competitor contributes to their new line.

[tbonesullivan]

That is the most interesting aspect of all this to me. Not a lot of experience with DW, but I am soemwhat surprised this is seen as good advertising, that essentially an American competitor contributes to their new line.

Denis Wick is a much different company than Griego Mouthpieces, and also is based in the UK. They occupy a much different market segment traditionally than custom mouthpiece makers. I see this all the time in the Guitar amp world, where they get a "boutique" maker to design something for a production line manufacturer.

I don't really see this competing with the main Griego line much at all.

[harrisonreed]

So Griego is making Denis Wick mouthpieces for them now? That's impressive.

That is the most interesting aspect of all this to me. Not a lot of experience with DW, but I am soemwhat surprised this is seen as good advertising, that essentially an American competitor contributes to their new line.

Yeah, I mean, I've seen the Denis Wick "how it's made" video, they have some of those house-sized lathes that can churn out mouthpieces 24/7, with equally huge bar stock hoppers / magazines. More capacity than what I believed Griego was running. That's what's surprising to me.

[Burgerbob]

Again... tariffs.

[harrisonreed]

Again... tariffs.

Sure, from the business end of things. But what about the other half of the equation, being that Griego *designed* the dang things. That's even more surprising.

Are they only meant for the US market?

[Burgerbob]

He's a name. There's no one at Wick currently who has that cache, especially here in the US.