1.5’s for all around play

[bassbonebuster]

I’m playing my way through the world of 1.5 size pieces after living in the 1+ size for 20 years. I’m not sure what changed, but a random encounter with an unmarked 1 1/2G piece rocked my world and now I’m exploring this size range. What best all around 1.5’s have you all come across and recommend?

[Pezza]

I use a plastic Wedge 1.5.
I use plastic due to allergies. The future will probably see me get a hybrid!
I have a damaged bottom lip, that the wedge takes pressure away from.

[MTbassbone]

Griego 2
DE J cup (my daily driver, but I use a larger rim)
Stork 1.5S (pretty large for 1.5 range but I liked it for a number of years)

[Posaunus]

How about a Doug Elliott setup: J8 Shank, MB J Cup, MB 108 or MB 109 Rim?

Or
• Marcinkiewicz Geo Roberts (or 1½G)
• Schilke 58
• Wedge 108G
• Denis Wick 2AL
• Yamaha 59

They all work - personal preference.

[hyperbolica]

I've recently been on this safari as well. I was into the 1.25 size, and I'm realizing that it's a bit large for me. One of my problems is that I rarely meet a mouthpiece I don't like. So the last one I use is usually my best friend. Right now its the Stork, although my long term buddy in this size has been the Ferguson V.

Ferguson V - nicely focused mouthpiece
Faxx 1.5 - good all around bass bone piece
Stork 1.5 S - latest obsession
DE LB110J9 - this is what I think I'll wind up using

[claf]

Symington 1.5 for classical
Schilke Reichenbach for big band

Both are very slightly larger than a typical 1.5, but hardly.
And I could do everything on the Symington, I just like Bill Reichenbach and find that the Schilke helps me cut through the too-many saxophones in my big band.

[LIBrassCo]

I play the same rim size (27mm), and have a couple of nice options there. The Eon 700 is probably the one I'd suggest.

[elmsandr]

Just a note to say, the original Bach is fun. And different examples are not all the same. This summer had an opportunity to play through a few 1.5s of another forum member…. Really fascinating how similar they all were, but how radically different they all responded to different horns. One I thought was nothing special…. But in the other horn, it just really matched and aligned to that horn. Made me want to just buy the next 10 random Bach pieces I see and play with matching them. (I’m not going to do that, it would drive me insane and I’m all stocked up in the crazy department).

Cheers,
Andy

[Burgerbob]

Yup, a great Bach is still the gold standard.

[Hamby86]

I play the same rim size (27mm), and have a couple of nice options there. The Eon 700 is probably the one I'd suggest.

Which backbore did you go with?

[LIBrassCo]

I play the same rim size (27mm), and have a couple of nice options there. The Eon 700 is probably the one I'd suggest.

Which backbore did you go with?

Depends what you're after. Most popular is the B3.

[sf105]

A second here for the Symington. It's not quite the standard but, then, no Bach ever is.

[bassbonebuster]

I’ve looked for the Symington and have had zero luck finding one.

[Posaunus]

I’ve looked for the Symington and have had zero luck finding one.

Precious few Symington 1.5s (or any other size) available on the used market. Those that have purchased them are probably still playing them.

[sf105]

I’ve looked for the Symington and have had zero luck finding one.

Bill says he's found a new foundry so there should be a new batch sometime.

S

[spencercarran]

I’ve looked for the Symington and have had zero luck finding one.

Precious few Symington 1.5s (or any other size) available on the used market. Those that have purchased them are probably still playing them.

Indeed we are. There's some sort of magic to those Symington pieces. Very easy to maintain a controlled warm sound even at softer dynamics where most bass trombone equipment struggles.