Bass mouthpiece thoughts

[DanZ]

I am a relatively recent convert to bass trombone (less than i year), and have been playing a Yamaha 620G with a Yamaha 58L mouthpiece. Playing in community concert and a community orchestra. I have really enjoyed playing the bass and have a comfortable range of pedal Bb/A to F4 (bottom space treble clef) and couple of notes higher with chops warmed up but still fresh. I play up to Bb4 on my tenor with a Yamaha 48.

I was recently loaned a couple of mouthpieces to try out, a Wedge 114XD and a Shires Vintage 1-1/4G. Both give me better pedal notes, but make my high range harder, and the notes break up much more easily. One thing i did notice was that with the Wedge in particular it is much easier to get pedal notes started. The Shires has quite a narrow rim and it sort of feels like my lips are harder to control with that mouthpiece. It feels like at this stage they are both a bit too much of a step up in size, I am not as young as I used to be and lip strength takes a bit longer to build.

My inclination is to stick with the 58L for now, but having tired these two I wonder if something like a Bach 1.5G might be somewhere in between and worth using for a while.

Any thoughts would be welcome .

Danz

[Burgerbob]

I'd keep using the 58. That's a very good mouthpiece.

[Doug Elliott]

It sounds to me like you need a lesson more than a mouthpiece.
Playing doesn't have to be that hard.

[GabrielRice]

Yes and yes. The Wedge concept is very interesting and effective for some, but that 114XD is huge. The 1-1/4MD is a much more reasonable size, but still...guidance seem much more important for you now than equipment.

A Bach 1-1/2G is not such a different size from that Yamaha 58.

[hyperbolica]

I'm not posting as an expert, just as someone who has struggled with the same things and also is "not as young as I once was", although that should include everyone, right?

Anyway, definitely go for a lesson/eval. That will help you understand where you are wrt all of this equipment. The Yamaha 58 might be a little small in the end, but don't go any larger than a 1.25g. It can be tempting to stick the soup bowl in there - those pedals can be seductive - but remember you have to also play other notes on bass bone.

I went down the same rabbit hole. I was playing stuff that was too big, and my corners started to tire out quickly, upper range sounded funny. I backed off a little, and things are better. It still takes a bit of warmup to roar a pedal F, but it's there. I'm using a Curry 2D, the 1.5D is actually a little bit big. https://www.currympc.com/Trombone-Mouthpieces.html If you get a lesson with Doug, he'll recommend something to fit better. Maybe something in the 110-112 range rim on a K cup, but he'll be better to say that.

You have to practice low range (and high range), you don't get it just by buying a mouthpiece. Land the mouthpiece somewhere between the upper and lower range. Cheap answer is probably between a Yamaha 59 and a Schilke 59, or the Curry 2D and 1.5D. Curry mouthpieces are more V shaped, and I think you get extra low range of a deeper cup without the sacrifices of getting too big around.

[blast]

Stick with that 58L for the moment. It works okay for now and makes sense. There will pressure from others to go bigger, but why ?

[musicofnote]

If you like the Wedge as a concept, but you want something bigger, try a 108 with the larger bore. the good thing is, you can order one and if you don't like it (and don't scratch it up), you can send it back for refund. Slightly larger but also very good is the 110, also with the larger bore.

I have both I can sell you for US$125.- each, shipped. PM me if you're interested.

[JohnL]

I'm using a Curry 2D...

Take good care of it. Mark Curry shut down back in February 2025.
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/vie ... p?t=166448

He's been selling out his remaining inventory and there's still some stock available from various dealers, but, after more than a year, it's getting pretty sparse.

[bassboy]

I'm using a Curry 2D...

Take good care of it. Mark Curry shut down back in February 2025.
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/vie ... p?t=166448

He's been selling out his remaining inventory and there's still some stock available from various dealers, but, after more than a year, it's getting pretty sparse.

Seconded! My 2D is one of, if not my favorite piece currently; has been for several years now.

[tbonesullivan]

My inclination is to stick with the 58L for now, but having tired these two I wonder if something like a Bach 1.5G might be somewhere in between and worth using for a while.

Any thoughts would be welcome .

Danz

I played a Faxx 1 1/2G for a few years before moving "up" to a Laskey 85MD. I think the smaller throat did help me a bit. I had a 58L as well to use with a Yamaha 612RII, but I didn't have nearly as much luck with it. I did try it later when I had gotten used to playing a bass trombone, but it was a bit too small. However it is working for you, and you have a good high range, I would stick with it then.

I should also mention that the Yamaha 59 is also a VERY good mouthpiece. Just a bit bigger than a 1 1/2G.

[harrisonreed]

I don't know about "bigger is better" with bass, I don't buy that all the way, but the mouthpiece has got to have a way of putting air through it that is balanced with the cup. There have been more than a few "normal" and "very deep" bass mouthpieces that I've tried which have had backbores and throat sizes that did not make sense to me. Some of them are in the .273-.281 range with very tight backbores that open up only at the very end with a chamfer. These are "conventional", well known models, too.

[Posaunus]

If you like the Wedge as a concept, but you want something bigger, try a 108 with the larger bore.

Funny that you should mention the smaller Wedge bass mouthpiece. I stumbled upon a Wedge 108G which works beautifully for me (a mere doubler) with my Yamaha YBL-421G single-valve bass trombone. For that instrument, it's a contest between the Wedge 108G, a Marcinkiewicz "Geo Roberts", and a Doug Elliott setup (J8 shank/MB J cup/MB 108 rim) - all about the same (wimpy) size as a Bach 1½G - but all much better for me.

[hyperbolica]

I'm using a Curry 2D...

Take good care of it. Mark Curry shut down back in February 2025.
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/vie ... p?t=166448

He's been selling out his remaining inventory and there's still some stock available from various dealers, but, after more than a year, it's getting pretty sparse.

Yeah, that's unfortunate. The Stork mouthpieces I've used, in particular the 1.5s played very similar to the Curry. And with all of the mouthpiece wisdom Stork puts out, I wouldn't feel bad about using one of their pieces. The Stork BT 1.5s on their comparison chart (https://storkcustom.com/mouthpieces/comparison-charts/) is equivalent to the Yamaha 59, and yet it plays both bigger (in the low range) and smaller (in the upper range). Big fan of the V cup profile right now.

The first performance where I had a setup I felt good about on bass was Rutter Gloria playing a Duo Gravis with the Curry. I could play high or low, and the sound did the right thing.

[WGWTR180]

Take good care of it. Mark Curry shut down back in February 2025.
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/vie ... p?t=166448

He's been selling out his remaining inventory and there's still some stock available from various dealers, but, after more than a year, it's getting pretty sparse.

Yeah, that's unfortunate. The Stork mouthpieces I've used, in particular the 1.5s played very similar to the Curry. And with all of the mouthpiece wisdom Stork puts out, I wouldn't feel bad about using one of their pieces. The Stork BT 1.5s on their comparison chart (https://storkcustom.com/mouthpieces/comparison-charts/) is equivalent to the Yamaha 59, and yet it plays both bigger (in the low range) and smaller (in the upper range). Big fan of the V cup profile right now.

The first performance where I had a setup I felt good about on bass was Rutter Gloria playing a Duo Gravis with the Curry. I could play high or low, and the sound did the right thing.

Years ago when I owned my SS Duo Gravis I tried a Curry owned by the person who sold me the DG. Killer combo!!!!

[tim]

If you can find one , the Marcinkewicz Richenbach model is a great mouthpiece. I've used the "soup bowls". (Love that description) and came back to the Marc. Slightly larger than s 1 1/2g but has a great all around sound. More of a V cup but it's kind of a combination of cup shapes. I'm not a m''pce expert but it's been working incredibly well for me. Bill gave me one and I really like it. I think it's sold as a EBT1 or EBT2 Not sure of the model now.

[JohnL]

Years ago when I owned my SS Duo Gravis I tried a Curry owned by the person who sold me the DG. Killer combo!!!!

Hmm.
I wonder if there's something about the Curry design that's particularly well-suited for the King-style 2-piece (i.e., trumpet-style) leadpipe.

[DanZ]

Thanks to everyone for thoughtful replies. I was not really looking to experiment before it was suggested to me, and there does seem to be a ‘bigger is better’ feeling around.

I am currently sticking with my Yamaha 58, as I certainly favour good tone and flexibility across the range rather than big pedals, though there is no doubt a big pedal tone is impressive. Past experience has shown me that while some different mouthpieces can have a bit of a Wow factor, things soon seem to come back to baseline and its only longer term work that really leads to development.

When I play my tenor I use a Yamaha 48, though when i was playing bass on tenor I did use a Wick 4BS for some parts when bigger low notes were demanded. But generally I much prefer the 48.

The wedge concept makes sense in theory, and, after a bit of experimentation to find the right angle, it did feel quite good. But playing it a bit longer the benefits seemed less obvious. Though I do not want to criticise the Wedge on the basis of my limited experience.

It certainly makes sense to have a lesson before making any further changes and I will look to do that.

Danz

[hyperbolica]

Years ago when I owned my SS Duo Gravis I tried a Curry owned by the person who sold me the DG. Killer combo!!!!

Hmm.
I wonder if there's something about the Curry design that's particularly well-suited for the King-style 2-piece (i.e., trumpet-style) leadpipe.

I don't think it's so much the 2pc leapipe as the overal better focus of the instrument complements the focus of the Curry design (commercial sound/feel). It's a bit antithetical to the main thrust of bass design the last couple of decades (clearly symphonic sound)

And to the op, I think your approach is going to lead you in the right direction. The only real direction from a Yamaha 58 is up, so bigger is better probably applies, but only to a certain extent. Remember Yamaha and Schilke numbers aren't exactly the same (Yamaha 59 ~= Schilke 58).

[musicofnote]

The wedge concept makes sense in theory, and, after a bit of experimentation to find the right angle, it did feel quite good. But playing it a bit longer the benefits seemed less obvious. Though I do not want to criticise the Wedge on the basis of my limited experience.

The proper angle is not what many think it is. It's with the dots at 12:00 and 6:00 o'clock.

[Vegasbound]

It sounds to me like you need a lesson more than a mouthpiece.
Playing doesn't have to be that hard.

This^^^^^ have a lesson with Doug, save your self time being frustrated !

[Savio]

In the end, learning one of them is the shortest way. And cheapest!