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Hey euph players with the Yamaha 842 I just got a nice new one and wondering what mouthpiece people out there were playing on, and what they thought about it. I am playing on a SM3 and have for many years, on a different axe but am considering changing to a BB1. So whats everyone playing on and what do they think about it. Thanks!

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm curious...

Have you tried the 53H that came with the horn? How does it compair size and sound wise to your SM3? Do you like or dislike the 53H in comparison to your SM3? Do you have any other mouthpieces, how do they compair, what do you like/dislike about them?

I've gone through several (many) pieces on my 842 in the three+ years that I've had it, and I think I might have actually found the right piece for me on it. I reccently got one of Ivan's G&W E-1 mouthpieces and it is working very well for me. You can PM me if you want the run-down on all the stuff I've tried. Good luck!

As a highschool student, I obviously havent had the time/experience/outright stupidity to go around trying many many mouthpieces. I dont notice the huge differences as a professional player may, though I must say I do enjoy my Schilke 51D better than the 53HL for its tone quality..........and prefered my Schilke to the gold plated SM4. I did like the SM4 over the SM3 because i thought the SM3 was huge, And i dont have anything else to say.......so just ignore me cuz .....i feel like im pointlessly typing..goodnight

I played an 842 for a little over a year and I consistently stay with, or come back to, the Wick 3Al or SM3, which are roughly the right diameter piece for my chops. Plus, and this is the real clincher -- I just have not liked my sound on anything other than the Wicks.

Doug Elliott speaks of rim size a lot on trombone boards -- i.e., matching rim size to the face. I think he is right, even though he has a vested interested, because of his designs, in pushing the argument.

Rim size is the variable often overlooked by players. If you have played the SM3 for years, going to the much smaller diameter BB1 might be wrong for you. Or might be right, if the SM3 has been too wide all along. I personally can't play on a BB1 because it is too narrow for me.

The 53H (also called the SH special) which comes with the horn is roughly equivalent to the SM4 in size. It is a very good design, developed for the Japanese virtuoso Shoichiro Hokazona, who had a lot of input into the 842 itself. If the 53H rim does not seem to small for you, that might be an indication the BB1 could also work.

Lately, I have tried the LOUD LM-25 and the LM-20. The 25 is a good piece, and might be an option if you want something a little larger than an SM4 but smaller than an SM3. The 20, a tiny bit larger than the SM3 is also good, although it does not sing for me in the upper register. The LOUD are heavyweight designs and have the advantages and disadvantages of all heavyweights.

I've looked at the E1, which Cale is using, but wondered if the narrower throat, more common with trombone mouthpieces than euph pieces, might be a negative. Looks like it might not be, based on Cale's positive report.

That said, the SM3 is proven, and works very well for many players. It might be good just to stick with it, especially if the sound you get from the piece is a good, singing euphonium sound you are satisfied with.

John

I have to say, I really like the 53H that came with the 842. When I originally got the 842, I thought that the stock mouthpice can not be that good, well about 3 years later, I was in Victoria, BC and didn't have my regular mouthpiece with me, so I played a demo 842 on the 53H and was like wow...what was I missing. Something because I got out my 53H when I got home. Luckily I did not have any concerts for about 2 weeks, but check it out for sure.