Is a Bach Megatone suitable for lead?

EdenChan

Just wondering if any of you happen to play a Bach Megatone in a Big Band or similar. If so, would you recommend it as a suitable lead mouthpiece?

Swapping from a Laskey 65S

LDK-97 · Veteran Member Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 132

Dont play Megatone myself, but Ive seen one Guy plaing a Megatone 3C and one Guy playing a 7D. Both sounded great, but dont think its because of the Megatone...
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JVL · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:22 am Post subject:

hello
what are you looking for by playing lead with a heavy blank mpc?
it'll make things harder...
best

jimspeedjae · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 165

Depends on the mouthipiece model and the player.

I used to use a Curry booster and the Shilke Faddis XL Heavyweight piece is a fair old lump of metal.

I personally don't think mass in a mouthpiece is an inhibitor to range and playing a lead book, as I say I used to like the feel with the booster. But what works for me doesn't work for the guy sat next to me.

Turkle · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:44 am Post subject:

Both Thomas Gansch and Jon Faddis play lead on a gigantic heavy mouthpiece - Gansch on a Bach Megatone 3B(!), Faddis on whatever that gigantic thing is - so I don't think there's anything specifically wrong with it if you can make it work!

I think the heavy mouthpiece, all other things being equal, will increase slotting and resistance while pushing more sound out front, while the lightweight mouthpiece will slot a bit less and play with less resistance and will provide more feedback to the player. Others can chime in with better details.

So I suppose it just depends on what you personally want out of your horn. Good luck!
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JVL · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:54 am Post subject:

You're right about range.
I use a heavy long booster made by Alexis Roiron, and prefer sound and feeling it gives me with my deep opened mpcs.
For my lead piece, adding mass to it and/or the horn doesnt work so well mostly in term of feeling (and then stamina), and in a less important degree in term of sound.

Yes, it's up to you, what you feel, and the results you get.
Best

BGinNJ · Veteran Member Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 380

I would suggest looking at Bach's mouthpiece guide. There's only a limited number that are available as Megatones.

I'm no lead player, but for years I played a 1D Megatone. It's a big mouthpiece, but also on the shallow side. It has a big sound, it's easier to hear yourself when playing with amplified instruments, and it's pretty bright in the upper register. I played that mouthpiece quite a bit until I changed to a more efficient embouchure approach. Now that 1D feels huuuge, and it's hard work.

trumpetman7984 · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 12:36 pm Post subject:

I play on a Yamaha 16C4-GP (equivalent to Bach 1.5C megatone) for lead in jazz and it works fine. I would suggest a stock though to give you a slightly brighter tone than you would achieve on the megatone. Also try different brands and sizes. I have played hundreds of mouthpieces before landing on the Yamaha 16C4-GP that came with my Xeno as my mouthpiece of choice. Good luck in your search and I hope it goes well!
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trickg · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 8:56 am Post subject:

I've personally always liked the feel of lighter weight mouthpieces - I played a Marcinkiewicz for years as a legit mouthpiece, and I currently use a Warburton setup - also lightweight by most standards.

With that said, if it works, it works - everyone is different in their preferences.
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Vin DiBona · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:16 am Post subject:

Everybody is different.
Here is what GR says about blanks.
http://www.grmouthpieces.com/blanks.html
RT

wendym221 · New Member Joined: 29 Oct 2017 Posts: 10

Thomas Gansch was the first player to pop in my head as well. What a player.

JVL · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:43 pm Post subject:

Gansch, Faddis play on heavy mpcs, ok.

Allen Vizzutti : "Playing super heavy weight mouthpieces or trumpets - not necessary – this equipment creates artificial resistance and dead sound."

So, who is right? which advice do you choose?

Do you play indoor, outdoor, with mic, without mic?

Listen to the Great musicians' advices, but make your decisions by yourself.

best

huw.trumpet · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:07 am Post subject:

I used to use a Bach Megatone 1D but now use a regular 1D. I get a nicer sound with the Megatone but it's slightly harder work. If I am on lead and the rest of the trumpet section is solid, it is enough for me to produce a bright sound that sits on top of them, which I find easier with the regular 1D.

Huw