Included in this bundle
- JP274s Euphonium
- Choice of DW Steven Mead or DW Steven Mead Ultra Mouthpiece
- Choice of DW Black Aluminum Practice or DW Red Aluminum Travel Mute
- ABS strong plastic hard case
- Ultra-Pure professional valve oil 50ml 1.7oz
- Extra replacement valve guides (set of 4)
- Red instrument covering
- Free 12 month Unlimited Membership
Matonizz Quick Review of Denis Wick Mouthpiece Series
Denis Wick SM Classical has an open back bore with a funnel shaped cup. It’s great for articulation and tone clarity. Lesser back pressure allows for higher endurance and better response time, particularly in low and middle registers. Clearer tone on Classical Series is a great help for intonation.
Denis Wick SM Ultra has a slightly different cup shape and more mass to the outer part of the mouthpiece. Slightly increased back pressure allows for better centering, particularly noticeable in high register. Also, it helps with sound projection, specifically in the middle and high registers.
To conclude, if you are primarily play in chamber or band setting, I would recommend Classical Series. It will help you with your intonation, clarity and make it easier to blend with other instruments. For those who are mostly interested in solo playing, I would recommend the Ultra Series. Most of euphonium repertoire is very technically challenging. Therefore, having a slight edge in range and accuracy, particularly in louder dynamics, is a great asset to have.
Matonizz Quick Review Of Denis Wick Mutes
Denis Wick Practice Mute will diminish the sound volume without overly changing the sensation of back pressure and centering. It’s fantastic accessory to have if you practice in a controlled noise environment, such as: very late hours, apartments, backstage etc. It is also a tool that I use regularly in my practice to reduce the auditory sensation while enhancing awareness of physical aspects such as tension and air control.
Denis Wick Travel Mute has been a crucial tool for me when traveling. The size and shape of it makes it so it doesn’t stick out above the bell, allowing you to carry the mute in any case or gig bag. Although, the backpressure and centering are much less stable in comparison to playing without mute, it will reduce the volume levels greatly. I’ve been using this mute to practice in hotels, airports or warming up backstage before concerts.
To conclude, it all comes down to your traveling habits. If your main concern is reducing volume and larger size is not an inconvenience, the more natural playing sensation of Denis Wick Practice Mute will give you better practice results. However, if you are someone like me, who air travels a lot or simply prefers always having a practice mute in a gig bag with you, Denis Wick Travel Mute will be hard to beat.