How to select an alto trombone mouthpiece?

[PDH]

This may be a stupid question, but what mouthpiece would work with Alto Trombone? I'm currently using Glass Sterling sliver Alto trombone. I've tried a lot of things (Throja, Greg black Alessi, etc.), but I haven't found a suitable mouthpiece yet. So can you give me some tips on choosing a mouthpiece or something?

[harrisonreed]

Doug Elliott XT-A or XT-B. Alto shank with matching number, and rim of choice.

I plan to start making my alto mouthpiece designs, too, if you can wait 5 years for me to switch careers . Over the last three years I created three basic models which I'll make in a few rim shapes, and a selection of cup widths. I have one for classical, "high alto" playing, one for playing in a modern section, and one for playing with a very large sound and not getting backed up (but keeping the octaves in tune).

[brtnats]

I think everyone needs 2 alto mouthpieces (or more), like Harrison alluded to. One is for general playing and one for lighter/brighter playing. I use the same rim and different cups to achieve the effect. You essentially want to be able to steer the sound more towards tenor trombone or more towards trumpet. If you can do that with one mouthpiece, more power to you.

There are really just as many sound concepts and ideas on alto as there are on tenor; we just don’t get to hear them as often as we hear tenor playing. Decide what you want to sound like most of the time and start there. I like a lighter alto sound with a really fat body and a crisp articulation. YMMV.

Some players like to use the same rim as tenor, some don’t (I don’t). To get more towards what you’re looking for, just play some different sizes. You don’t have to shell out for a high-end mouthpiece to find out you like something in the 7C range, or that you like a larger rim on a smaller cup. Use stock options, go to music stores, check for makers in your area, borrow from friends, whatever. Something will get you close to your sound concept, and then you can start tinkering to dial in the specifics. Sound concept must come first, or you’ll be lost.

[hyperbolica]

When I was playing alto, I used a Lindberg 15. It gave a more trumpety alto sound. I wanted to avoid sounding like a small tenor, because it's easier to sound like a small tenor on a small tenor. It all comes back to why you're playing alto and what you want to sound like, as mentioned already.

[Doug Elliott]

I go for a lighter "small tenorish" sound. I let the horn take care of the "lighter" part and use pretty much the same mouthpiece I use on small tenor (C+ cup), with a different backbore I designed for alto to even out the resistance and fix intonation. But some altos play better with my regular small shank #2 backbore.

Last Easter I played alto as the only horn with strings, effectively in a trumpet role, and I used my A cup (pretty shallow) which worked great.

In any case, I use the same rim size as I use on small and large tenor, XT N104. Alto range and endurance is no different than how I normally play on small tenor and I like to keep it comfortable with no transition to a different rim. If you've seen the YouTube video of the Capital Bones with guests, playing Just Friends, I had literally not touched my alto for 6 months and that solo is my first notes on it. No issues.

[Bach5G]

An inexpensive starting point might be the Yamaha 48A, the “A” designating “alto”. This is the mpc Yamaha provides with its alto trombones. The rim is about the size of a 6 and 1/2. $50 or so.

[dukesboneman]

I have 2 that I use. I have a Weril .500 bore Alto TIS.
I had Ken Titmus of KTCustommouthpieces take a Bach 7C Megatone and trim some of the weight off
it`s heavier than a standard Bach but lighter than the Megatone. That works very well in an Orchestral setting
The other is one of the Schilke 4.7 Elliott Chazzanov models. Plays lighter

[WilliamLang]

I've used a skeletonized Shilke 47b, a Bach 19, and an unmarked NY Bach (would be close in size to about a 25 with a very swallow cup.) FWIW, I've always gravitated towards small mouthpieces on alto, which isn't everyone's cup of tea.

[Doldom]

Doug elliott MT or LT or XT series with appropriate rim and B or C cup and appropriate shank (alto shank or 2 shank)
Or use some shallow cup stock mouthpieces (like Bach C cup or shallower). Bach 7C, 11C, 12C, 15C, 15E, or Wick 7CS, 10CS , etc...

[MrHCinDE]

Reading the posts here it‘s clear people have a huge range of preferences so the only general recommendation can be to keep an open mind and try stuff which is sufficiently different to what you‘ve tried already, you might be pleasantly surprised. It might not be a question of minor adjustments, think radical.

FWIW I like the Yamaha 48A, especially if the rest of the section are playing medium to large setups. Sometimes I play a Lindberg 15 for a more direct sound. My Bach 11C is also usable but I didn‘t like any of the other common small tenor mouthpieces on alto.

[harrisonreed]

The problem with small tenor mouthpieces is the backbore and shank dimensions, IMO. They aren't right for alto, and I feel tension in my throat and chest when I use them on alto.

The right backbore will let you just relax and play. It's the same for any instrument.

I second the 15CL and 13CL. The designs are good, but you have to like that rim size.

[brassmedic]

An inexpensive starting point might be the Yamaha 48A, the “A” designating “alto”. This is the mpc Yamaha provides with its alto trombones. The rim is about the size of a 6 and 1/2. $50 or so.

That's what I started on. I tried several other mouthpieces and none were as good as the 48A. So I still use it.

[PDH]

Thank you, everyone.

[JeffBone44]

The Wedge 6.5 "Jazz" model works very well for me. I don't require a large rim on alto like I do on larger horns, so I've been using this model for the past few years.

[dcslideman]

Or use some shallow cup stock mouthpieces (like Bach C cup or shallower). Bach 7C, 11C, 12C, 15C, 15E, or Wick 7CS, 10CS , etc...

In addition to those, Bach also has a 12E. The E cup helps you sound "trumpety" in many cases. YMMV.

For what its worth, I have an inexpensive 15C listed on here.

[MStarke]

Out of curiosity I have got a Lindberg 15CL. It seems to be a good fit to my 35h and also to my Kanstul alto. It could be that the sound is a bit more direct and brighter than the K NY N (11c size) that I usually play on alto. But it doesn't seem too extreme for me. Could be an interesting alternative, but would have to try it outside my practice room.

[jonathanharker]

I don't play a lot of alto, but when I have in the past, I was always a bit disappointed that I couldn't quite get that beautiful ringing almost trumpet-like timbre that I wanted. I think it was either a small-shank 7C or 11C on someone else's alto, I think it was a Bach or Conn; another time, an Egger alto sackbut, also with a 24.5-ish mm rim.

I came up with a theory that alto mouthpieces are all the wrong size. Small tenor mouthpieces like the 7C or 11C are around 24.5 - 25 mm; large bore tenor are 25.5-26 mm (5G, 4G); basses anywhere south of 27 mm (1½G) and usually 28-29 mm (Schilke 58-60). That's all well and good; but C and B♭ trumpets, an octave higher, are 17-18 mm, Flügelhorns are around 19 mm, and an E♭ tenor horn is similar, maybe 20 mm if you're lucky. So, where are all the mouthpieces at for an E♭ alto trombone that are in that intermediate range, seemingly a dead-zone, at around 22-23 mm rim diameter?

Well, it turns out that people much smarter than me had already came to the same conclusion, and you can get a beautiful 22 mm alto mouthpiece from John Cather. I own one, and it sounds absolutely magnificent in a friend's Rath alto. It also turns out that Schilke make some in that range for bass trumpets, all with shallow cups and a 5.95 mm throat: 40B (22.51 mm), 40 (22.53 mm), 42B (23 mm), 42 (23.22 mm), and 43A (23.57 mm). Bach also make a 22, 22C, and 22D in order of increasingly shallow cup depths, with 23.92 mm rims (which I think is still a bit too big) and 5.85 mm throat.

Not going to lie though, if you're doing a lot of doubling then the 22 mm rim will probably be challenging, but persevering pays off in sound. I think using a 12C or even a 15C the rim is just too wide, and compensating with very shallow cup depth just doesn't make the right sound (and maybe affect intonation?)

I have similar but opposite woes switching between bass trombone, bass sackbut and cimbasso; I have to do a lot of work to keep it all in shape between the different mouthpiece sizes (thanks burgerbob!)

[SackbutRoyale]

On my tenor horn, I play with a Laskey 59MD, is the 7C that comes with a lot of alto horns a similar equivalent? What would be the alto equivalent to a Laskey 59MD? HELP!!

[Doug Elliott]

A 59MD is 1.02 inner diameter.
My 102 rim is the same size. The series can be MT, LT, or XT depending on the overall effect you want.
Cup can be A, B, B+, C, or C+, also depending on the overall effect you want. With the appropriate shank.
What kind of sound are you looking for? And what's your alto?

[tbonesullivan]

I've used a skeletonized Shilke 47b, a Bach 19, and an unmarked NY Bach (would be close in size to about a 25 with a very swallow cup.) FWIW, I've always gravitated towards small mouthpieces on alto, which isn't everyone's cup of tea.

I have a Bach 39 Alto, and as they now come with a 12C, I tried that, but didn't quite like it. I'm trying a 7C now, which seems to work, I just wish the slide was a little bit wider. I'm still always torn on whether I should use a smaller rim for alto, or the same size as tenor. This is also slightly complicated by having a rather large neck, so I have to hold the slide nearly parallel with the ground to avoid having the mouthpiece rest at an angle on my face.