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A number of people play euphonium with a trombone mpc. As long as the shank is the correct size, it should work. BUT... since the euphonium is a larger bore instrument, the tone would sound better with a larger mpc. I use a Doug Elliott mpc which is close to a bass trombone mpc the size of a Wick 4.5AL - but there are some differences. The cup is bigger or deeper.

Everybody is different with different requirements though. Just my 2 cents worth

A trombone has a lot less resistance than a euphonium, due to the bends of the tubing. Think about it in those terms. Esp for doublers, a smaller mpc on bone seems to work a little better (ok, tuba to bone doublers at least). Worst advice I ever got (from the worst trombone teacher I ever studied with) was to get a Bach 1 1/4 GM, extra large throat. Never could get a good sound with that. Went to a 1 G--much better, despite the difference in cup size, the throat made a lot of difference.

eupher61 wrote:A trombone has a lot less resistance than a euphonium,

There is some truth to that.... but... a trombone has something a euph doesn't have. ... a venturi tube.

A visit to Denis Wick's website would be instructive. http://www.deniswick.com/ He markets a line of euphonium mouthpieces co-designed by Stephen Mead, and you can compare dimensions and characteristics with the standard DW mpces originally designed for trombone.

There are a lot of generalities, all of which have exceptions in the real world. A popular solution is to use a similar rim shape and cup diameter, so the mouthpiece feels the same on the face. But a euphonium mouthpiece is frequently deeper, and may have a larger throat and/or backbore. I use a Schilke 52D for euphonium and a 52 for trombone. It works very well, but I also know tbone players who use a 51D, long considered a "classic" euph mouthpiece, on trombone (that was the original design, by the way).

Everyone has their personal favorites, but I've noticed some trends... popular choices:

small bore tenor bone, anything from a 12C to a 6.5AL
med or larger bore with trigger bone, 6.5AL to 51
euph, 6.5AL to a SM3, size 4 seems popular for experienced players
tuba player playing a euph = same size as bass bone
bass bone, bigger than anything else listed but smaller than a tuba

On my euph I use an Arthur Lehman 1M. Kind of looks like a 5/8ths scale Helleberg. I've always figured a euph mp should be more tuba-like in profile (i.e. funnel-shaped) then a trombone mp, which would be more like a large trumpet mp (more cup-shaped).

BAT boy wrote:What differs a euph mouthpiece from a trombone mouthpiece

The fact that it's inserted in either a euphonium on trombone. Really! There are examples of either that respond to very different mouthpieces!

TubaTinker wrote:

eupher61 wrote:A trombone has a lot less resistance than a euphonium,

There is some truth to that.... but... a trombone has something a euph doesn't have. ... a venturi tube.

very true, Dan. But, the added resistance isn't near what the euph offers. And, I've heard of trombone players removing the venturi as well. Can't cut titanium with a venturi in place!

BAT boy wrote:What differs a euph mouthpiece from a trombone mouthpiece?

Let see: One has a hole through it and the other... well, the other one has a hole through it, too. Both are usually metal. But the trombone one is often equipped with a pull-start handle...

Traditionally, from all the low brass players I've been around, a euph player tends towards a little deeper more V cup with a bit wider throat and a bone player uses a mouthpiece a bit more bowl shaped in order to bring out the distinctive tone of each instrument.

The practice of MP-choice for trombone or euph should work the same as with trumpet and flugelhorn:
One is cylindrical (i.e. belongs to the family of trumpets) and usually comes with a cup-shaped MP, when bought. The other is conical (i.e. belongs to the family of horns) and comes with a more or less funnel-shaped MP. That´s because the respective instrument/MP-combinations are considered "appropriate" following "Who-Knows-What" standards.

More often than not, you´ll find instrumentalists doubling on trumpet and flugelhorn, using the identical MP on both. This DOES result in the flgh sounding more trumpet-ish rather than horn-ish.
I should think the same is true for people doubling on F-tuba and F-bass valve trombone (aka. "cimbasso").

Whether or not you follow aforementioned standards depends on
a)possession of both kinds of MP, or lack thereof
b)knowledge about the difference, or lack thereof
c)consciousness of same difference (i.e your/your conductor´s preference, based on musical expertise and taste) or lack thereof.

In case you think c) applies to your choice of MP, please double-check that choice actually isn´t a combination of a) and b).

iiipopes wrote:Traditionally, from all the low brass players I've been around, a euph player tends towards a little deeper more V cup with a bit wider throat and a bone player uses a mouthpiece a bit more bowl shaped in order to bring out the distinctive tone of each instrument.

This was always my understanding as well. Same with trumpet vs. cornet. Traditional cornet mouthpeces are V cuped as opposed to C cups.
one exception being the Schilke 51D4E or whatever that huge bowl shaped mouthpeice is.

I think in more recent years however some euph players are going away from this and just getting into huge bass trombone sized mouthpeices.
ken k

There's also an uncommon size called a Small European Euphonium shank that sometimes shows up. When I bought a Schilke 51D with a small shank for a small-receiver euph several months ago, I was sent a SEE shank by mistake. It wouldn't enter the receiver at all, but it was significantly smaller than the bass-trombone shank size that's common for a lot of euphs nowdays. I had a correct replacement within a couple of days, fortunately.