Doug Elliott Mouthpiece Review - a New Contender Emerges

Doug Elliot was kind enough to send me this wonderful mouthpiece and set of rims. Here we are putting it through it's paces against my daily driver mouthpiece (an original run Laskey 59D) and the new Laskey-Alessi 55SYMPHN that I have been using for some orchestral work. If you want to skip to the music please read below!
Specs:
Rim: XT 104 (also included were a 103 and 102)
Cup: XT G *
Shank: G8
Timings:
2:23 Preliminary Test on DE
2:43 High to low demos (Laskey, DE)
3:35 Extreme Registers (Laskey)
4:01Extreme Registers (Alessi)
4:25 Extreme Regisers (DE)
4:46 Comparing Pedal Cs (DE, Laskey, DE)
5:40 Bach 1st Cello Suite (Laskey)
6:20 Bach 1st Cello Suite (Alessi)
6:56 Bach 1st Cello Suite (DE)
7:43 Bach 1st Cello Suite (DE 102 Rim)
8:29 Bach 1st Cello Suite (DE 103 Rim)
9:39 Bolero (DE 104) (comparison video here: • Bolero on 8 different ... )
11:06 Saint-Saens 3 (DE) (comparison video here: • 8 Signature Principal ... )
12:48 Fratres (Laskey)
13:11 Fratres (Alessi)
13:39 Fratres (DE)
14:14 Fratres (DE 102 Rim)
15:07 David (Laskey)
15:43 David (Alessi)
16:28 David (DE 104 Rim)

[@davidtatro7457]

Doug is the man! Not only a genius level embouchure expert and mouthpiece maker, but a world class player and an extremely nice and down to earth guy as well. Sadly, l cannot get my best sound on Doug's cups (although many do), but l will use his rims until they are pried from my cold, dead hands. (I have cups of my choice custom threaded to take his rims.) Nobody has made a rim comparable to his. It's a testament to how good his designs are that he is a small, one man operation and cannot afford to pay the Alessis of the world big bucks to play his equipment, but many top players in all genres do play his equipment because it's the best for them. P.S. next time you talk to Doug, ask him to send you a narrow XT 105 or 106 rim to try. You might not ever go back to the 104.

[@WilliamLang]

thanks! i'll have to try those rims someday

[@WilliamLang]

Timings: Preliminary Test on DE 2:23 High to low demos (Laskey, DE): 2:43 Extreme Registers (Laskey): 3:35 Extreme Registers (Alessi): 4:01 Extreme Regisers (DE): 4:25 Comparing Pedal Cs (DE, Laskey, DE): 4:46 Bach 1st Cello Suite (Laskey): 5:40 Bach 1st Cello Suite (Alessi): 6:20 Bach 1st Cello Suite (DE): 6:56 Bach 1st Cello Suite (DE 102 Rim): 7:43 Bach 1st Cello Suite (DE 103 Rim): 8:29 Bolero (DE 104): 9:39 Saint-Saens 3 (DE): 11:06 Fratres (Laskey): 12:48 Fratres (Alessi): 13:11 Fratres (DE): 13:39 Fratres (DE 102 Rim): 14:14 David (Laskey): 15:07 David (Alessi): 15:43 David (DE 104 Rim): 16:28

[@evanling7570]

A lot more upper overtones on the Laskey:)

[@WilliamLang]

it's interesting how it records that way! the Elliot turns out to be a touch clearer for me in person, but overtones are a tricky thing to isolate due to the mic deciding what you end up hearing almost as much as the equipment

[@tomnormannnilsen2770]

Thank you for interesting review. You also play on an interesting horn. Is it his Bach Mt Vernon style model? May you share with us the spesifications?

[@WilliamLang]

Hi there! It's a Stephens Horns Trombone based on Steve's design with a french bead on the rim, a Caidex rotary valve, and an annealed valve cap. I keep mine unlacquered, which although it's barely a year old probably gives it that vintage Mt. Vernon look.

[@tomnormannnilsen2770]

@@WilliamLang Thank you! Is it a one piece bell? All yellow brass? Wide slide? It sounds very good. I consider order a horn from him myself.

[@WilliamLang]

I believe I have a 2 piece bell in rose brass, with a wider bach-style slide. A Yellow/Gold bell is also available www.stephenshorns.com/trombones

[@harrychong2284]

Where am I able to purchase these mouthpieces?

[@WilliamLang]

Everything you would need should be on Doug's website - www.dougelliottmouthpieces.com/contents.html

[@norbie2008]

Now see what happens with a SYM 104.

[@WilliamLang]

i'll keep my eyes open for one