[Trombone-l] Mouthopieces

[Steve Gamble]

I'd like to comment on "new mouthpiece syndrome."  Having experienced it
over and over, and having heard similar stories from many people, I'm
pretty sure I can explain it.  The problem stems from "learning" the new
mouthpiece.  The thing that made it good to begin with was that it
wasn't familiar and the player had only his musical experience with
which to judge the new mouthpiece.  Not being encumbered with
"knowledge" of the mp offered the chance to just play without
compensating for perceived quirks.  Most players seem to think that
getting used to a piece of equipment means learning its idiosyncrasies.
The more of them you learn, the farther you get from pure musical
thought, and the lousier the piece of equipment becomes.  Of course,
it's not really the equipment that's bad, it's the approach.  Song and
wind, my friends.

Steve Gamble, Librarian
Tucson Symphony Orchestra
2175 N. 6th Ave.
Tucson, AZ  85705
520-792-9155 x118 office
520-792-9314 fax
520-991-7056 cell
sgamble at tucsonsymphony.org
www.tucsonsymphony.org


-----Original Message-----
From: trombone-l-bounces at maillists.samford.edu
[mailto:trombone-l-bounces at maillists.samford.edu] On Behalf Of Ray
Horton
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 6:06 PM
To: Jeff Albert
Cc: trombone-l at server5.samford.edu; privtbnkr at aol.com
Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Mouthopieces

If you go to Doug Elliott for a mouthpiece, he always asks you something

like "What are you trying to accomplish?"


It seemed to me George has it accomplished already, but just wants to 
see if he is missing something everybody else is getting, talking about 
the 61/2 AL. 


I'll mention that there is often a "new mouthpiece syndrome" - a new 
mouthpiece feels great, sounds great, the world is brighter... for a few

days.  Then everything is the same again, and your having the same 
problems you had before on your new (often bigger) mouthpiece.  One has 
to concentrate on the positive improvement to make it last, if, indeed, 
the mouthpiece is really a better choice. 


Now that Jeff mentioned the $40 price - I am big on the $20 Faxx 
mouthpieces for some of my students.  Here is what Hornguys.com says 
about Faxx:


-----------
These mouthpieces are faithful copies of Mt. Vernon Bachs, made by the 
maker of Superslick, the recently departed Chuck Slinkard. I found this 
out when I noticed the 5G size in his catalog, and asked about these 
"student" mouthpieces. He was adamant that these are made on a CNC 
machine he owns and are based on Mt. Vernon Bach mouthpieces he received

when he helped to move the Bach factory to its current location. With 
very consistent in machining and plating, they are a great deal. Many 
players like these Faxx mouthpieces better than the Bach mouthpieces 
they were using before. I don't know why they cost so little, except 
that they are made in large volume for several manufacturers. Several 
people have asked me if Faxx mouthpieces come in other sizes than those 
listed below. They don't. For other sizes not listed below, like 11C, 
4G, just order the Bach 
<http://www.hornguys.com/tbnmps.htm#Bach%20Trombone%20Mouthpieces> model

listed above. Faxx mouthpieces include a black plastic pouch. All sizes 
cost $20. Part number FAXXTB.* *
-----------


Note that the Faxx sizes (small shank 12C, 7C, 61/2AL; large shank 6 
1/2AL, 5G, 1 1/2G) - include all the ones we have been discussing except

the small shank 5G.


I learned of the inconsistency of Bach sizes while in high school - I 
once had three 2Gs from different years at one time to compare and they

were very different from each other.  The oldest, probably from the mid 
to late 50s, was huge. 


The 6 1/2AL and the other sizes go back farther than Glenn Dodson, but I

can't find any pamphlets or Internet sources on that now.  Some very 
interesting players were behind the design of these mouthpieces.  Maybe 
somebody here has that info.



RBH



---------------

Jeff Albert wrote:
> On Dec 3, 2007 6:07 PM, Daniel Pliskin <daniel_pliskin at hotmail.com>
wrote:
>
>   
>> I think the more interesting question is how can it be that you don't
know the answer to your question?  How can it be that you, a serious
adult trombonist, haven't tried a bunch of mouthpieces, just for kicks?
How knows?  You might find that you totally LOVE another mouthpiece and
all you have to do is try a few.
>>
>> DanP
>>     
>
>
> or , to play devil's advocate, you could be perfectly happy with this
> one, and if you start messing around, you could completely fry your
> brain on the possibilities.
>
> I'm all for changing gear when I feel the need.  My new Shires bass
> just arrived today, but I ordered it because I felt I could improve
> upon what I had before, not just because I was curious.  Granted I'd
> be much more likely to be curious with a $40 mouthpiece than a
> *%*&^$*% dollar bass trombone.  Really that's not a great example, I
> just had to drop a line about the new bass.
>
> jeff
>
>   
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