Euphonium Mouthpiece Recommendations

The bulk of the musical talk
Post Reply
kprinz
bugler
bugler
Posts: 76
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:40 am
Location: Brenham, Texas

Euphonium Mouthpiece Recommendations

Post by kprinz »

I have a High School Euphonium Student that came to me recently. He is playing on a Bach 1 1/2 G. My question is for Euphonium players/teachers out there. Is this a reasonable mouthpiece for a Euphonium player to play on. I've always known this mouthpiece as a Bass Trombone MP and to me it doesn't seem like a good fit for Euphonium, but I'm a tuba player what do I know. My standby MP for Euphonium is a Shilke 51D. Do you guys have any suggestions for mouthpieces that this kid should check out.
Kendall Prinz
Tuba, Composition, Music Education
Asst. Director of Bands
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium
Blinn College

Miraphone 186-5U CC
Miraphone Elektra 481-6U Gold Brass F
Elbee
bugler
bugler
Posts: 79
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:34 am

Re: Euphonium Mouthpiece Recommendations

Post by Elbee »

I would think something along the line of a Bach 4G or even a 61/2AL would be more to his liking. How does he do with the 1 1/2 ? That's a mighty big 'piece!
Loren
Loren (4X Rose Parade survivor w a Wurlitzer Sousaphone yet...)
1989 Conn 5J MP changes daily...
Weril H980 Euph Bach 5G clone
1930 Pan American Euph Bach 11C
Bob Kolada
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2632
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:57 pm
Location: Chicago

Re: Euphonium Mouthpiece Recommendations

Post by Bob Kolada »

I don't play either mp anymore and therefore have neither at hand; but how different are the overall cup volumes? A 1.5G isn't exactly a bucket.
That said, unless he has a specific reason for playing the 1.5G (small school and has to cover tuba parts,...) he'd probably be better off with a more tenor sized mp if for no other reason than those annoying high parts euph always seems to get in band. :D
User avatar
Rick F
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1679
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:47 pm
Location: Lake Worth, FL

Re: Euphonium Mouthpiece Recommendations

Post by Rick F »

I think a 1-1/2 G is pretty big for euphonium... unless his main instrument is tuba and he's doubling. I would think that mpc would tend to make his tone sound a bit too 'tubby'. Schilke 51D is good... but if he's been playing on the 1-1/2 for awhile, he might be better off trying a Wick 4AL or SM-4 (or 3) Ultra (Steve Mead). I like Doug Elliott mpcs, but for a HS student that might be too much of an investment.
Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ/RF mpc
YEP-641S (recently sold), DE mpc (102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank)
Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches:
"Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
PMeuph
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1382
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:36 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Euphonium Mouthpiece Recommendations

Post by PMeuph »

kprinz wrote:I have a High School Euphonium Student that came to me recently. He is playing on a Bach 1 1/2 G. My question is for Euphonium players/teachers out there. Is this a reasonable mouthpiece for a Euphonium player to play on. I've always known this mouthpiece as a Bass Trombone MP and to me it doesn't seem like a good fit for Euphonium, but I'm a tuba player what do I know. My standby MP for Euphonium is a Shilke 51D. Do you guys have any suggestions for mouthpieces that this kid should check out.
How does it work for him? Does he have a high range? How is his tone?

If he likes it, sounds good and has a good high range (ie. a high Bb) or is covering Bass-trombone parts in a jazz band then that might be a could mouthpiece for him.

Personally, I played on a Bach 5 for a while, and I really enjoyed the Schilke 52E2. I think a Schilke 51 or a Bach 5 are fine mouthpieces for a High school student.
Yamaha YEP-642s
Boosey & Hawkes 19" Bell Imperial EEb
tclements
TubeNet Sponsor
TubeNet Sponsor
Posts: 1515
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:49 am
Location: Campbell, CA
Contact:

Re: Euphonium Mouthpiece Recommendations

Post by tclements »

The 'standard' that is used pretty universally is the 51D. As a tubist, this feels a bit small for me. One piece of information I would need before making a competent recommendation is, what kind of instrument is he/she playing? This is what I would suggest:

"American" (small or medium shank) euphonium - Bach 6 1/2 AL or equivelent
Yamaha 321 (or similar) - Bach 3, 4 or 5 OR it's Doug Elliott equivelent. 6 1/2 AL for a younger student
B&H/Boosey w/European Shank - Schilke 51D-type, or something slightly larger OR Wick 4L-type
LARGE comp euph - 3G, 4G, 5GS

DISCLAIMER: this is just a rough suggestion. I would need to see & hear the musician to make a better, more comprehensive recommendation. But this is a good place to start.

GENERALLY, the 1 1/2G is WAY to big for most euph players....
User avatar
Teubonium
3 valves
3 valves
Posts: 367
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 3:07 pm
Location: Colorado

Re: Euphonium Mouthpiece Recommendations

Post by Teubonium »

tclements wrote:The 'standard' that is used pretty universally is the 51D. As a tubist, this feels a bit small for me. One piece of information I would need before making a competent recommendation is, what kind of instrument is he/she playing? This is what I would suggest:

"American" (small or medium shank) euphonium - Bach 6 1/2 AL or equivelent
Yamaha 321 (or similar) - Bach 3, 4 or 5 OR it's Doug Elliott equivelent. 6 1/2 AL for a younger student
B&H/Boosey w/European Shank - Schilke 51D-type, or something slightly larger OR Wick 4L-type
LARGE comp euph - 3G, 4G, 5GS

DISCLAIMER: this is just a rough suggestion. I would need to see & hear the musician to make a better, more comprehensive recommendation. But this is a good place to start.

GENERALLY, the 1 1/2G is WAY to big for most euph players....

+1

I used a 6 1/2 AL on my old American bariphonium.

I now use a Bach 4G on my Besson 967.

:)
Bach Strad 36BO Sakbutt
Besson 967 Euph
MW2141 Eb
Kanstul 33s BBb
Post Reply