Warren Deck 3

[jonesbrass]

I've been playing a Loud LM-3 with my Willson 3050 with good results. It helps to open up the low range response and assists me in providing the tone quality I like. I just placed an order for a stainless steel Deck 3 with a polished interior and 33.5mm rim diameter from Houser Mouthpieces. I wasn't sure about the shank to order, but I ordered the standard Euro, since I've been using one with my tuba with good results.
Anybody out there that uses an Deck 3 want to share your thoughts on the mouthpiece? What you like/dislike about it?

[arpthark]

I have a Deck 3F (flat rim) with the 33.2mm diameter.

The good thing about this mouthpiece is that it does exactly what you tell it to.

The bad thing about this mouthpiece is that it does exactly what you tell it to.

I really love the sound I get from it on my 4/4 CC; it's tamed the low register, which has a tendency to get rather lively. The mouthpiece can help produce a large, sonorous sound; doing blind back-to-back comparison with a PT-50, the Deck really opened the horn up from top to bottom. Difficult to get edgy/brassy with. I haven't noticed my high register suffering, which seems to be a common complaint from larger mouthpieces. The Deck is no PT-64, but by no means is it impossible to play on top of or above the staff. Slots in general seem a bit "wider," maybe due to the less resistance from the .9XX" backbore?

Back to my original statement, I find this mouthpiece capable of being a harsh mistress; if you are lazy with your air, you will sound like you are being lazy with your air! If you're being lazy with articulations, you will sound like you are being lazy with articulations.

That being said, I highly recommend it if you are looking for a broader sound, and are also willing to work towards a broader sound. Dave Houser's craftsmanship is superb.

My 2¢. Back to the practice room.

[Michael Bush]

if you are lazy with your air, you will sound like you are being lazy with your air! If you're being lazy with articulations, you will sound like you are being lazy with articulations.

This. And I would add "buzz" in there with air and articulations.

The sound is big if you give it something to work with, but it is demanding. I love it when I'm up to meeting those demands, and when I'm not, I hear the difference right away.

[toobagrowl]

I have an old original Deck 3 mpc that I used briefly years ago in college. I used the thing on my CC AND Eb for a short time Gave a VERY round open powerful sound that I liked OK. Made my M-W 2155R sound almost like a Yorkbrunner and my Eb like a true 4/4 CC. But it didn't quite give the buoyancy or transparancy I wanted (typical of heavy mpcs) in the sound, was very heavy and I thought was hard to control. To me, it played stiff and was not very flexible/acrobatic compared to lighter, smaller mpcs.
That thing can be a potential chop buster if you play aggressively/ loud on it a lot

[jamsav]

this is a big open mouthpiece. If you are up to moving alot of air , this mouthpiece will offer a dark, round , sonorous sound. Not bright or edgy , prolly best suited to orchestral style playing ...imagine that , a Warren Deck model MP for orchestral playing ? It will challenge you to continue to push , if you are there to provide a consistent deep bottom , this could be an enabler...keep the oxygen tank near by....

[jonesbrass]

Thanks, guys. Interesting insights on the mouthpiece, all of which make sense. I'm not a perpetual mouthpiece shopper, this is my first new one in quite a few years. The great thing is, if I don't like it, I can put it away and go back to my Loud LM-3.