TS 6 Slap – small bore trombone
The TS 6 Slap is close in size to a Bach 6 ½ AL, Schilke 50, or Wick 6BS. The TS 6
Slap plays more open than the Bach without losing focus. The Slap technology makes
the “slot” for each note wider and easier to target. This helps make flexibility more agile, accurate, and secure with a solid tone. Intonation is quite even across the entire range, and the projection is amazing. The tone is easy to control, from smooth to gutsy with no problem. Hopefully Dave will apply the Slap technology to all of the other low brass mouthpiece models soon.
TT 4 L LT – large bore trombone
The TT 4 L LT is the lightweight model of the TT 4 with a large throat. The lightweight model has a quicker response for me on trombone and is not as heavy. The larger throat blows smoother and more freely for me than the regular throat. Range and volume extremes are easier to control and more consistent. Intonation is very even across the entire range, and the projection is amazing. It has a wonderfully full symphonic tone. The TT 4 L LT is close in size to a Bach 4G, Schilke 52E2, or Wick 4AL.
BT 1 L – bass trombone
The BT 1 L is a very open bass trombone mouthpiece, larger than a Bach 1G, close to a Schilke 60 in size. It has great projection and focus for such a large mouthpiece. The large throat makes it easier to play for me. Often such a big mouthpiece will be great in the low range, but suffer in the high range. The BT 1 L plays surprisingly well in the high range and stays clear and focused without going flat. Intonation is quite even across the entire range.
BT 2 L – euphonium
The BT 2 L is close to a Bach 1 ½ G, Schilke 58, or Wick SM 2 in size. It works very well on euphonium, keeping a full tone throughout the range. At first I felt it might be too big, especially in the high range, but it is easier to play than a smaller mouthpiece. The large throat improves the upper range and is great in the lower register. It is quite flexible as well, with amazing projection. The intonation is very even across the entire range of the horn. Sometimes trombone mouthpieces on euphonium just won’t have the right character of tone, but the BT 2 L sounds glorious.
Tuba 98 – tuba
The Tuba 98 is close in size to a Bach 7 but with a much deeper cup, more like a Mirafone 33 or Perantucci 88. It makes a great all around tuba mouthpiece. The low range is quite responsive and open, yet the high range remains crisp and clear. The 98 has a fantastic balance of full, rich tone with very clean articulation. The intonation is quite even across the entire range, and the projection is amazing. It is an exceptionally versatile mouthpiece, easily comfortable for a variety of musical situations.
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Monette Low Brass Mouthpieces
“Monette mouthpieces are the most amazing mouthpieces I have ever encountered. Like anything truly original, there is some skepticism about them. My experience is that they
absolutely deliver everything they claim in a big way!
The extensive acclimation guide often makes players apprehensive about trying Monette mouthpieces. I tried applying them with my Bach Megatone mouthpieces and they were tremendously helpful. Even if you never use a Monette mouthpiece, try the acclimation guide! I have found it to be very sound brass pedagogy.
The mouthpieces themselves play like no other mouthpieces you are likely to play.
Their projection is unbelievable. Unbelievable! You won’t notice this as much in a
small practice room. You’ll hear the focus, but compared to your current mouthpiece you
may feel there’s about the same or less sound on the Monette. Go into a bigger rehearsal room, bandroom, or auditorium, and that will change by about a factor of 10!
What many players don’t realize about projection is that the concept is for the sound to
be where the listener is, not where the player is. When you don’t project, the sound stays around you like a booth, so you feel like there is lots of sound because you are surrounded by it. That is because it is going nowhere. To a listener, it sounds distant because it is where you are, not where they are.
When you do project, it sounds distant to you, like you are behind the sound. This makes many players uncomfortable at first, because they feel they hear themselves less than before. This is because the sound is now reaching the listeners from the player. They hear it as if it is where they are. When you hear yourself on the opposite side of the room, you are projecting. Monette mouthpieces magnify this to the max!
Their response is precise and very even across the entire range. When played properly
(acclimation!), they are less fatiguing to play than conventional mouthpieces. If you happen to experience the opposite, try the acclimation. The 24K gold plate is very comfortable as well. I never cared for gold plated mouthpieces until I played these.
They also stay just as responsive over the broad spectrum of dynamics. Delicately light
to hard and hammered, they respond exceptionally well.
The intonation on Monette mouthpieces is quite true. The pitch remains extremely even
across the entire range and the dynamic spectrum, making it much easier to adjust the
pitch where you need it without losing focus and accuracy. This evenness particularly helps in the extreme ranges, as the conventional problem tendencies are improved. This reduces fatigue and increases reliability.
Monette mouthpieces have a clear, open tone that is very flexible, so you can easily
make it your own. Projection, response, and intonation have so much to do with tone that it is hard to separate them. I’ve always looked for these aspects more in an instrument than in a mouthpiece. The Monettes improve these aspects in an instrument more than any conventional mouthpiece I’ve used. They are the first mouthpieces I’ve ever liked as much as an instrument.
Yes, they do cost more than most mouthpieces. How much did you spend on your instrument? $2000? $4000? $6000? $8000? $10,000? If you’re really serious about
playing well, is another $300 too much? They are worth the investment! I have even found them to be corrective. Yes, very corrective. I really can’t imagine playing on any other mouthpieces now, and there are so many fantastic choices available today.
Do be careful of mouthpieces that are just heavy. I don’t actually know why Monettes are so heavy, and I bet Dave won’t tell me, but there is much more to them than their weight. Just because a mouthpiece is heavy doesn’t make it like a Monette. There is only one Monette!”
Norlan Bewley plays these Monette low brass mouthpiece models:
TS 6 Slap – small bore trombone, TT 4 L LT – large bore trombone,
BT 1 L – bass trombone, BT 2 L – euphonium, Tuba 98 – tuba.
For more info, see - http://www.monette.net/newsite/mouthpieces_intro.htm
Also see:
http://www.monette.net/newsite/mouthpieces_trombone.htm
http://www.monette.net/newsite/mouthpieces_tuba.htm
More Tips, Music & Band Resources |
TROMBONE PERFORMANCE MUSIC RESOURCES
slide position charts, tips, warm-ups, sheet music
TUBA PERFORMANCE & MUSIC RESOURCES
slide position charts, tips, warm-ups, sheet music
EUPHONIUM PERFORMANCE & MUSIC RESOURCES
slide position charts, tips, warm-ups, sheet music
SHEET MUSIC and SOUND SAMPLES
OTHER MUSIC and INFORMATION LINKS
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