Description
Denis Wick has revolutionized the cornet playing world with his careful attention to sound and design. As a result of his work, Wick cornet mouthpieces create a rich, creamy tone unmatched by any other manufacturer.
| Weight | 0.09 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5 × 5 × 11 cm |
| Size | 2C, 2, 2B, 2BW, 3, 3B, 3C, 4, 4.5, 4B, 4BW, 4C, 4W, 5, 5B, S |
‘Worth it’s Weight in Gold’
5 Star review from 4barsrest *****
The original Denis Wick cornet mouthpiece range went from numbers 2-7, but over the years certain models have become almost ubiquitous – especially the 4B. It sits right bang in the middle of the range offering something for every player to build their technique on – the ‘classic’ design that comes in both gold plate and silver.
It’s the workhorse – although a thoroughbred one at that – the cup diameter is not as wide as the heavy duty, deep, open backbore numbers 2 or 3, or equally popular number 4. Its rim width is smaller than the number 5. And whilst it shares the same V-type backbore design as the ‘B’ and ‘BW’ models and the carefully incremental design variations offer players a myriad of different choices to satisfy their needs, the 4B has proven itself capable of meeting them all.
The 4B is heavy in the hand (iron pyrite counterfeit rip-offs seem to be made out of baked bean can metal) with high quality materials and precision engineering making each mouthpiece an identical clone of consistency. Backed by a solid technique it helps produce the hallmark Denis Wick rich, darkly hued tone – the lower the number in the range the darker and fuller it becomes.
‘it is hard to beat the all-round capabilities of the 4B’
However, the shallower cup and narrower V-type bore (the No 3 for instance has a cup diameter of 16.75mm and open bore of 4.6mm) gives it an extra flexibility in the middle and higher register that brightens and projects with slightly more focus than the No 4. In addition, the clever way in which Denis Wick has calibrated the cornet mouthpiece designs throughout the range also means that a player doesn’t have to try and search for a ‘magic’ solution to their problem amid literally hundreds from other rival makers.
If you need something to help produce a clearer, more powerfully focused sound then the ‘Ultra’ range (wider cups, smaller bores, V-type backbore) can be used, whilst the ‘Heritage’ series, although heavier in weight, gives a lighter, more sensitive sound palette. It means that whatever you may go on to choose as your playing develops, as a stanchion point it is hard to beat the all-round capabilities of the 4B as your cornet mouthpiece model of choice.
No wonder thousands of players have found that it has been worth its weight in gold.
Iwan Fox
