INSTRUMENT AND EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATION LIST
If you are wishing to upgrade your equipment, whether that be instrument, mouthpiece, etc... Here is a list of recommended items. It is best and most cost effective to start out by upgrading your mouthpiece first. Prices of new instruments have gone up over the years, so looking for a used version of the listed models of instruments, can definitely be beneficial.
FLUTE
Instrument- Gemeinhardt 3S or better (get as much sterling silver as possible)
CLARINET
Mouthpiece- Vandoren B45*
Reeds- Vandoren #3, #3.5 for advanced players
Ligature- Rovner Ligature, Base Model
Instrument- Buffet R13 (top of the line)
Buffet E12 (intermediate model)
Leblanc LX2000 (professional model)
Leblanc Esprit or Sonata (intermediate models)
Leblanc VSP (excellent for the price)
OBOE & BASSOON
Consult your private teacher.
SAXOPHONE
Mouthpiece- Caravan Medium Chamber (alto), Caravan (Tenor)
Reeds- Vandoren #3, or #3.5 for advanced players
Ligature- Rovner Ligature, Base Model
Instrument- Yamaha 62 or 875 custom (professional model)
Yamaha 480, 580AL, 300AD (intermediate)
TRUMPET
Mouthpiece- Bach 5C, Bach 3C for advanced players
Instrument- Bach Stradivarius 37 (professional top of the line standard)
Getzen 590S-S Capri (intermediate level)
Getzen 900S Eterna Classic Series Silver (professional level)
Instruments should have 1st and 3rd valve slides.
FRENCH HORN
Mouthpiece- Schilke 27, Shilke 30, or Farkas MC (medium cup)
Instrument- Holton 179 (professional level)
Conn 8D (professional level)
Yamaha YHR 567 (intermediate level)
TROMBONE
Mouthpiece- Bach 61/2 AL or Bach 5 G
Instrument- Bach Stradivarius 36 or 42BO (the standard)
Yamaha 646 or 648R (equivalent to the Bach Strad)
Conn 88H (top of the line)
Instruments should be .547 bore with “F” attachment.
EUPHONIUM
Mouthpiece- Bach 61/2 AL or Bach 5G
Instrument- Yamaha 321 (excellent, professional level 4 valve instrument)
TUBA
Mouthpiece- Conn or Schilke Helleberg
Instrument- Yamaha 321 (or other professional, full size instrument)
PERCUSSION
Concert Percussion
Timpani Mallets- Vic Firth American Custom Timpani T1 General
Concert Snare Sticks- Vic Firth SD1 or SD2 General American Custom
Marimba Mallets- Innovative Percussion IP200 Soloist Series (recommended 2 pairs, total of 4 mallets)
Vibe Mallets- Innovative Percussion Sandi Rennick Series Vibraphone
Xylophone Mallets- Vic Firth Orchestral Series Keyboard- Medium Rubber
Innovative Percussion James Ross Glock and Xylo
Marching Percussion
Snare Sticks- Vic Firth Ralph Hardiman
Tenor Sticks- Vic Firth Corpsmaster
Bass Drum- Vic Firth Corpsmaster
FLUTE
Instrument- Gemeinhardt 3S or better (get as much sterling silver as possible)
CLARINET
Mouthpiece- Vandoren B45*
Reeds- Vandoren #3, #3.5 for advanced players
Ligature- Rovner Ligature, Base Model
Instrument- Buffet R13 (top of the line)
Buffet E12 (intermediate model)
Leblanc LX2000 (professional model)
Leblanc Esprit or Sonata (intermediate models)
Leblanc VSP (excellent for the price)
OBOE & BASSOON
Consult your private teacher.
SAXOPHONE
Mouthpiece- Caravan Medium Chamber (alto), Caravan (Tenor)
Reeds- Vandoren #3, or #3.5 for advanced players
Ligature- Rovner Ligature, Base Model
Instrument- Yamaha 62 or 875 custom (professional model)
Yamaha 480, 580AL, 300AD (intermediate)
TRUMPET
Mouthpiece- Bach 5C, Bach 3C for advanced players
Instrument- Bach Stradivarius 37 (professional top of the line standard)
Getzen 590S-S Capri (intermediate level)
Getzen 900S Eterna Classic Series Silver (professional level)
Instruments should have 1st and 3rd valve slides.
FRENCH HORN
Mouthpiece- Schilke 27, Shilke 30, or Farkas MC (medium cup)
Instrument- Holton 179 (professional level)
Conn 8D (professional level)
Yamaha YHR 567 (intermediate level)
TROMBONE
Mouthpiece- Bach 61/2 AL or Bach 5 G
Instrument- Bach Stradivarius 36 or 42BO (the standard)
Yamaha 646 or 648R (equivalent to the Bach Strad)
Conn 88H (top of the line)
Instruments should be .547 bore with “F” attachment.
EUPHONIUM
Mouthpiece- Bach 61/2 AL or Bach 5G
Instrument- Yamaha 321 (excellent, professional level 4 valve instrument)
TUBA
Mouthpiece- Conn or Schilke Helleberg
Instrument- Yamaha 321 (or other professional, full size instrument)
PERCUSSION
Concert Percussion
Timpani Mallets- Vic Firth American Custom Timpani T1 General
Concert Snare Sticks- Vic Firth SD1 or SD2 General American Custom
Marimba Mallets- Innovative Percussion IP200 Soloist Series (recommended 2 pairs, total of 4 mallets)
Vibe Mallets- Innovative Percussion Sandi Rennick Series Vibraphone
Xylophone Mallets- Vic Firth Orchestral Series Keyboard- Medium Rubber
Innovative Percussion James Ross Glock and Xylo
Marching Percussion
Snare Sticks- Vic Firth Ralph Hardiman
Tenor Sticks- Vic Firth Corpsmaster
Bass Drum- Vic Firth Corpsmaster