TromboneChat

I am working with a drum corps, and their show features a trombone soloist playing on a small-bore horn. The student is using their personal mouthpiece, a Denis Wick SMB4, and they are having noticeable issues with centering and maintaining pitch in the high register. The corps will likely not have the budget for anything more than $100-$150. Since the student is playing the rest of the show on a 4-size rim on their marching euphonium, I would rather stay somewhat close to that rim size.

Any recommendations? A Bach 5GS comes to mind, i’m interested in other options as well. Thanks!

if DE is out of the question based on price, Bach 4C

I would focus more on the same rim shape than the same rim size. That’s how my face works atleast. A smaller rim helps my consistency in the high range.

Do you mean SM4, the euphonium mouthpiece? Do they make a small shank version? I never heard of SMB4.

Or maybe it's not a small bore horn?

Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Fri Jun 21, 2024 4:23 pm Do you mean SM4, the euphonium mouthpiece? Do they make a small shank version? I never heard of SMB4.

Or maybe it's not a small bore horn?

I believe the SM4B is the baritone (British style) version of the SM4.

It didn't show up anywhere in a search, but I finally found it on the Wick site. My guess is it would be pretty unbalanced for a small bore trombone. And it would help to know specifically what small bore trombone is being used.

What does the student use with marching euphonium?
I don't know whether the rim shape of SM4B is flat or not, but if it's flat like standard Wick mouthpieces, then 4BS might help. But I think 4BS is still too big(deep) to use with sub 0.508 bore small bore trombone. What model is the trombone?

A small shank Bach 4 (not 4G or C) is a pretty nice mouthpiece.

GabrielRice wrote: ↑Fri Jun 21, 2024 6:45 pm A small shank Bach 4 (not 4G or C) is a pretty nice mouthpiece.

Yeah, I have had good luck with that mouthpiece for at least one student who was playing a horn with a .525 upper slide. I've also used one myself on my small bore with decent success, although it's not my first choice for that use. The Bach 4C actually has a smaller rim size, halfway between the 5G and 4G rims, while the 4 is the same as the 4G. The price is right on the Bachs too, since it's not going to be the student's regular mouthpiece.

Jim Scott

I was going to suggest a Curry 4M (I really like my 3M), but they're a bit out of your price range as of the most recent price increase. Maybe you can find a nice used one? Or maybe someone has new one that's been in their inventory a while that they can sell for the old price?