Small Mouthpiece Big horn

[bbuxx2026]

I’m currently at a honor band festival where i met a friend who let me play on his Denis Wick Heritage 5L, my horn is a jupiter 1110. I played for a couple hours on it and i really like it. I’m used to smaller mouthpieces, i tried a miraphone tu27, Conn 120s and 7b, Schilke helleberg (which is usually my main mp) and the occasional bach. but i really like flat rims with a sharp bite, i loved the way it felt to play but i feel i was using to much are but i was getting lower and higher than before. Since in i’m the market for a new mouthpiece would it be smart to get a 5L or maybe a size or two smaller 4L or 3L?

[Kevbach33]

The Wick 5L is actually the smallest diameter in that line; the smaller the number, the bigger the mouthpiece. The 3L is the Wick version of a Bach 24AW: wide rim, deep cup, massive throat. The 4 is in between.

If you really liked the 5L, get it.

[Mary Ann]

Agree -- sounds like it increased your range both directions, which indicates a good fit. Of course if you're like the rest of us, that could change in a couple of months, but that's tuba life.
I ended up with a 5L on my NStar and was also surprised. Started out with a PT64. I do better with narrower, and it's deep enough to do what I need to do with an Eb tuba.

[Pauvog1]

I played a Wick 5 on a loaner/rental horn on a school trip (over seas) once. It was a not bad at all. I think trying it out against a 4L in a larger space (and maybe in a ensemble setting) might be pretty telling. If it works, then it works! I could see that working well in an Eb or smaller BBb.