TromboneChat

I currently play on a Wedge 98C on my Olds Super. Should I consider going larger on a .508 bore trombone?

Only if you want to. No problem playing a 0.508" bore trombone with a Wedge 98C (about equivalent in size to a Bach 11C, I believe).

A .508 horn is a very versatile instrument in that it usually works well with both smaller (7c, 11c etc) and larger (6.5AL, 5GS etc) mouthpieces. I like using 11c sized pieces for lead and power horn section playing, and 6.5 sized pieces for all round playing. If I could pick one mouthpiece that is right in the goldilocks zone on a .508 horn it’s a Bach 6.5A, I have a MV version that works really well. See if you can get your hands on a few different sizes to try out!

I live in the 6-3/4 to 7 space but it really depends on a lot of things, including your face. I've ended up on a Marcinkiewicz 7G-S (for now) but this is too odd, and specific, and expensive to recommend generally.

Definitely borrow a 6-1/2 sized mouthpiece to compare - it's an important enough reference point to justify buying something cheap like the Faxx, imo - but keep in mind that for many of us 6-1/2 etc. ends up being a bit too much for what we are trying to get away with! Bigger is better, until it isn't.

And ... you won't really know until you commit to a new 'piece for a run of rehearsals and performances. And then you still won't know, because everything changes over time! There isn't a right answer here.

I’ve got a Wycliffe Master made by Pickett Mouthpieces that’s the mouthpiece Wycliffe Gordon uses with his leadpipe in the 891. If you like larger rims (maybe a touch under a 5G), it’s really excellent. I also played a Yamaha Nils Landgren on the 891 that worked well, but not as well as the Wycliffe.

I have stuck with the Wedge mouthpiece for now. I tried a Bach 7c and the Yamaha 45c2 that came with it.

The Bach is fine but a bit brighter than the Wedge.

The yamaha did not work for me. It felt too small and I couldn't get a focused sound on it.

I am tempted to try the Wycliffe Master. I use the NY Pipe in the 891z and that might work better with it than what I use now.

891 is not picky at all.

I use a Bach 5 equivalent mouthpiece on my .508 small bore. Works for me. Play what works for you, even if out of the box.

Andy Martin, who helped design it, and who still plays it most of the time, uses a Kanstul CL 45 which is not very different than your 98C. I'd put the CL 45 as having the same diameter and depth as a 98C.

Every player is different, but the point it the 98C will work just fine.

If you want to have something close to Andy Martin's CL45 contact me. The MST STUDIO M N or MSE N are what you might like. But as others stated there are plenty other pieces that can work here.

I’ll likely always play mine with a Wick 10CS or a Bach 6.5AL mouthpiece. I might be the most boring person when it comes to mouthpieces. I have tried many different ones but haven’t gone the route of interchangeable rims and cups.

As an update, I switched to a Bach Corp. 11c. After shortening the shank slightly, it fits perfectly.