Anyone use/like Bach 5B?

Still Trying · Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:30 am Post subject:

I'm glad someone started this thread, since I have just encountered the 5B for the first time in my playing career. About 2-3 months ago my grandson decided he wants to join the band and play trumpet. He is eleven years old. Since his parents are not brass players (my daughter played piano), they turned to me to give the lad some guidance. I recommended as a starter horn that they locate him an Olds Ambassador, which they did. We since have had it completely refurbished. That old horn plays great. Then I started my grandson on lessons.

Soon after he started lessons, I had him try a selection of mouthpieces. He had started out on a Bach 3C that came with the horn. After trying quite a few, he tried a Bach 6C. Immediately his notes became more centered, his tone improved 100%, and his range increased. So I switched him to the 6C. He has been practicing at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week all summer now. I'm surprised at the improvement in his playing, especially for a rank beginner.

Well, the first day he showed up for band and without the teacher taking time to listen to him play, the teacher took one look at his mouthpiece and told him he disapproved of the 6C. Donovan would have to get a 5B.

I have not been able to get the teacher on the phone, but I wrote him an e-mail explaining how Donovan came to be playing the 6C. I explained I am instructing Donovan privately and asked if he would allow me to help Donovan select his equipment. So far the teacher has not responded, but I wrote him on a Friday afternoon so there is a good chance he hasn't seen my e-mail.

Frankly, I have never played a 5B. I really don't want my grandson to switch mouthpieces right now, because he is in such a good practice routine and is developing so well, I don't want to throw a road block in his way like making him switch to a mouthoiece that is more difficult for him to play or is more uncomfortable than the piece he is on. And frankly, I don't see anything wrong with learning to play on the 6C.

But I also don't want to cause Donovan any trouble with his band director, if the man refuses to budge. So I am encouraged by all the good things you folks have to say about the 5B. If the band director won't work with me, at least it looks like he is being intelligent in the mouthpiece he is insisting on. If Donovan has to switch, I'm going to buy a 5B for myself so I can acquire some experience with that piece. But I really am hoping the band director is a little bit flexible.
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Tom K. · Veteran Member Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 483

6C is a perfectly good mouthpiece. No need to switch.
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Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

The band director is probably a drummer. The 6C is an excellent mouthpiece and much more comfortable than the 7C or 5B IMO. The 6BM is also a pretty nice piece. It was the stock mouthpiece provided with Bach/Selmer/Bundy/Buescher mellophones. I think it comes with a larger backbore.

Tell the band director that the 5 rim hits a sharp spot on the kid's teeth and he can't use it. Or... tell him he's nuts. Didn't Conrad Gozzo play a 6C?

gbdeamer · Heavyweight Member Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 2306

Still Trying · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject:

I looked this teacher up on the internet and it seems this guy is a trumpet player and apparently is a very fine band director. But he hasn't answered my e-mail, nor returned my phone messages. However, he hasn't said anything else to my grandson about swapping mouthpieces again, so until he does, I don't want to make an issue out of it. I agree with the poster above, I don't think it would be a catastrophe if he switched to a 5C. It just kind of irritates me some that a teacher would just look at a 6C mouthpiuece and announce that it won't do for a beginner. If I had started Donovan on an extremely small mouthpiece or an extremely large one, I could understand.
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What do we have that we did not receive, and if we received it, why do we glory, as if we received it not?

intrepidpooch · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:15 pm Post subject:

Sorry for resurrecting this ancient thread but I just played the ACB 5B mouthpiece this morning and it has an even better tone than the Bach 5B I used to play and love but with a much more comfortable bite to the rim. In fact it is hands down one of the most comfortable mouthpieces I've had the chance to play. Just thought I'd mention this to anyone who was looking for a 5B with a more comfortable bite to the rim, the ACB 5B is a definitely winner!
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CDFhorn · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:06 pm Post subject:

IMHO, the Benge 5B has just as good of a sound, and a much better rim than the Bach 5B, for an alternative under $30...

gerardo1000 · Regular Member Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 70

+1 on the Benge 5B !

cornet74 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 504

I played the same VB 5C from 17 - about 46 until the mpc literally wore out. I thn tried other people version of the 5C. Along the way I got interested in the 5B. I tried and bought many versions of the 5B including a VB and even had a custom one made.

For whatever reason, they all swelled my chops. But I never had problems with Curry's 5BC or the Curry's 5TF or TC.

Recently, I have found that a smaller diameter is to my advantage: the VB 10.5 world.

Thank you,
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trumplyr · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 7:29 pm Post subject:

I use the Wedge 5B with my C trumpet. It's deeper then the 3C I use on my Bb, but dia. is almost exactly the same. Nice tone on the C.
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trumpetera · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:14 am Post subject:

Resurrecting an ancient thread!

I recently found a very old-like just after Mt Vernon- 5B.

Much more comfortable, a bit flatter, rim.

My main piece now!
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jondrowjf@gmail.com · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jul 2016 Posts: 687

Delete
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jondrowjf@gmail.com · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jul 2016 Posts: 687

Happy to see your child has started playing .My primary instrument at this time is the cornet. In the past I did use Bach 5 B,5 C and the Bach Megatone 5 B trumpet mouthpieces. I was very happy with the Bach and Denis Wick mouthpieces.
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Jupiter 520 M shepherds
Denis Wick 4 W classic gold short shank mouthpiece
Getzen 4B short shank mouthpiece
Jupiter 9e short shank mouthpiece

Rhondo · Veteran Member Joined: 22 Oct 2021 Posts: 240

Anyone play both a 5C and 5B, or are they too different? Are the rims different?

Shark01 · Veteran Member Joined: 10 Jun 2017 Posts: 286

jondrowjf@gmail.com · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jul 2016 Posts: 687

Wonder how the trumpet journey was for the 24 year old? Got to love these old threads.
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Jupiter 520 M shepherds
Denis Wick 4 W classic gold short shank mouthpiece
Getzen 4B short shank mouthpiece
Jupiter 9e short shank mouthpiece