Yamaha 622 Bass mouthpieces

[NorthernEuph]

I'm finding the Yeo mouthpiece to be a little to big for me. Does anybody have suggestions for other models that work well with this instrument?

[Matt K]

Interestingly enough, there was a thread very recently where a few people mentioned they thought that model and a few other Yamaha basses didn’t work well with “smaller” pieces. I’ve personally not found that to be the case but the yeo definitely isn’t for everyone for sure. I played a 622 in college with an Elliott euph104n with a k/k8 which did have a deep ish cup but a “small” rim for basses (104=1.04”) or roughly Bach 3G ID.

I’d probably suggest figuring out what rim size you’d be comfortable with and getting something with that but maybe a deeper cup. Doug’s pieces make that super easy of course.

That said, there are obviously some quintessential designs you can get your hands on for not very much usually that might fit the bill. I’d probably give Bach 1.5G and a Schilke 59 a try, personally. When I had students I used to keep both of those on hand as well as a handful of others for students to try.

[Rusty]

I used to have an 822, and found 1.5g sizes worked okay. Used it for doubling in theatre shows. A Doug Elliot setup of MB 108 J* cup and J8 is a hair bigger than most 1.5s, and I even prefer the more compact sound of the I cup with a 107 or 108 rim.

[gbedinger]

I used either a DE 113 LBL or a Monette BT-1S in my 822 and was able to swap them interchangeably.

[kch11743]

I have an 822 and also found the Yeo wasn’t ideal for every situation. It’s great when I have to play a lot in the low pedal range, but it makes it a real chore to get any brilliance in the mid and high ranges.

My current favorite piece is the Denis Wick Heritage 0AL. It’s still on the large side, but it’s a lot easier for me to work with. (Some people hate the Heritage models, which have thin walls and move the mass down to the bottom of the cup, but I prefer them to the classic DW design—they seem to have quicker response and more flexibility in tone for me.) For pieces in the 1.5 range, I have a DW 1AL and the Yamaha 59L, and I occasionally pull them out when I’m playing all mid-range or higher, but I find the 0AL gives me the most flexibility throughout the full range. Someone gave me a Yamaha 58L when I first started doubling, but it was way too small for me and was too easy to overdrive.

I do keep the Yeo around for situations where I want a very dark tone or endless pedal range.

[Jbeckett]

Mine worked well with rims ranging from an LB112-LB116. Anything smaller, and noticeable position adjustments needed to be made to have proper intonation with the horn. Mine was a mid-90’s 622.

[Burgerbob]

622 is much less picky than the 822 IMO.

[MTbassbone]

I have an 830, and have been experimenting with mouthpieces for a while. DE LB 112-114 with a J cup or L cup seems to work well. Others I have liked are: Griego 2 (feel a lot bigger than a 1 1/2G), Griego 1.25, Greg Black 1 1/4G .312 #2. I would like to try the GS version of the GB.

[Burgerbob]

I have an 830, and have been experimenting with mouthpieces for a while. DE LB 112-114 with a J cup or L cup seems to work well. Others I have liked are: Griego 2 (feel a lot bigger than a 1 1/2G), Griego 1.25, Greg Black 1 1/4G .312 #2. I would like to try the GS version of the GB.

830 is totally different than the 622.

[tbonesullivan]

622 is much less picky than the 822 IMO.

That's actually pretty interesting. I wonder what they changed besides the bell and wrap.

Did they change much about the slide? The leadpipe is the same on both horns. The only real difference I can see is that they changed the brace material from nickel silver to yellow brass, which Yamaha has said changes the feel.

[Matt K]

I'm guessing a change was made to the tuning slide taper. But that's purely speculative. The 622 is incidentally the bass I started out on and do remember it being pretty flexible. I have almost no experience with the 822.