Bits n Pieces
Saw Batman Begins last night. Absolutely awesome movie, not to mention one of the best superhero movies of all time. I loved what Nolan did with this film, from an origin point of view. Also, it looks like this will be the beginning of a trilogy...or more. I won't spoil it for you! Props to Mr. Bale for doing a great job as Bruce Wayne/Batman.
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Glad you responded, for this is why I refer to you as the Trombone Zen Master. I was very confused on what to do, and your info helped me out. I really have no one to talk shop with either, other than the sales people who didn't know much about the pieces.
I am still playing on the 42BO, with a 6 1/2 mouthpiece. The reason I was thinking about change was twofold: 1) the finish is coming off my mouthpiece and I've tried everything to fix it, but the silver is coming off and it's making it more difficult to play (possible metal splinters), and 2) to see if it would make my sound a little better. I went to look at the 6 1/2A as a replacement, and the 5G and 5GS were the exact same price, so I thought maybe I could upgrade for the same price. Plus, the sales person told me the most people in the industry us the 5G, which kind of sold me on a change.
HOWEVER, you bring up an excellent point, why change if things are fine. It is tough playing 3 hour shows, mostly in the high register. The lips, even though I practice, get a work out and a half and I figured maybe one of those would help. You also bring up another point about blending with the other brass in the band. Now that the other trombone is gone, it's just me and the trumpet. There are sometimes I would like to play some lower end stuff to fill out the void, but most of my stuff will remain in the mid to high register. So, perhaps I should look at the 5GS, which you said would be a brighter sound and would cut through, especially when I'm the only horn playing. Knowing all that, do you think I should just stay with the 6 1/2A?
I was going to bring my bone up to the store, after this weekend to try each piece. It sounds like either staying witht he 6 1/2 A would work or, if I were to change, going with the 5S more so than the 5G. Quite a big decision aint it? Thanks for all your help, let me know what you think after this incoherent ramble!
werd.
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I'm glad to help out. Remember, first and foremost, that you're the one in control of what kind of sound is coming out of your horn. The mouthpiece won't make your tone brighter or cut through better. The different mouthpieces will make it easier for you to do that, however. For instance, I can get the same sound out of a Bach 5G as I get out of a Schilke 51C4, but I have to change what I'm doing a little bit to do that. The idea, finally, is to use a mouthpiece that allows you to do the playing that you need to do most easily.
Don't listen to the sales reps unless they are professional trombonists who are playing regular gigs. Just b/c a lot of people use the 5G doesn't mean it's going to be the piece for you. For jazz-type playing, the sound you want is more difficult to get from a 5G. In fact, a lot of jazz musicians play on a 7C, but they're also playing on a smaller bore trombone than you are. The piece has to fit the horn, and I'd say a 6 1/2 is as small a mouthpiece as you want to go on your big-bore horn. My point is, you can get the same sound out of all of those mouthpieces, but with varying degrees of difficulty.
To be honest, if what you are using works, and you're happy with how you play with it, and you blend well with the trumpet in PBM, I'd say get another piece like what you've been using. Any move to a larger mouthpiece will have a bit of an adjustment period. The big piece will give you a meatier (fuller) sound, but your large-bore horn already does that. Also, since a lot of your playing is mid to high register, the smaller piece will help with your endurance. Of course, another help for endurance is to practice about 10-15 minutes of lip-slurs every day. :-)
My final advice...definitely take your horn in with you to try these mouthpieces out. Your mouthpiece is about 85-90% whether you're happy with your sound, but if you're testing pieces out on their horns, you're dealing with 100% new equipment and it's hard to isolate what you like and don't like. With your horn, you know how it behaves and you know its idiosyncracies. Also, if a piece is difficult at first, don't worry, because there is an adjustment period where your lips will get used to it (even one of the exact same size) and that can take a while. Take your time in the shop and don't leave until you're happy with what you get.
And, if all else fails, call Wendy! :-)
Later! :-)
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