G & W Trombone and Tuba Mouthpiece Test

[Dylan King]

Hello Friends,

I recently got a Yamaha Doug Yeo model bass trombone and have been fooling around with mouthpieces. When it first arrived, I only had a Schilke 60 bass trombone mouthpiece but many different tuba mouthpieces. The Schilke went all the way into the leadpipe, but was playable. It just didn't feel right.

I had never tried it before, but I stuck my Mirafone C4 into the bass trombone. It fit just fine. I knew Tommy Johnson played a tuba mouthpiece on his bass trombone, but had never thought to try it myself. It was way cool. I then tried my Giddings and Webster Bora in the bass trombone. The thing sounded great. I could play it like it was tuba. But I still couldn't reach the Bb above middle C with the Bora. No worries, I had a Churada and a Karif on the way from Ivan.

I tried the Karif first. It felt way better than the Schilke. I guess I've gotten spoiled with my other G&W stainless tuba mouthpieces. It played small in the low register compared to the Bora, but that was to be expected. But the mid and high registers felt great and I wasn't as uncomfortable with the smaller size as I was playing the Schilke. I hit all the high notes as well. No problem. But nothing beat the Churada for me as my number one bass-bone blower.

The Churada is G & W's solo tuba mouthpiece, but I now think that it also may be the best bass trombone mouthpiece as well. I can play solidly down to the pedal Bb on the tuba. Playing this Yamaha, I almost feel like I'm playing a five valve slide tuba. And with the Churada I am able to hit that elusive Bb comfortably. I can play for a longer time than ever before and I have never had a bigger, fuller, more controlled sound.

The Churada solo and Karif bass trombone have been the newest editions to my every growing steel collection. Man these things are red hot!

[Dylan King]

Karif and Churada


Karif with Yamaha YBL-622


Churada with Yamaha YBL-622