Show us your mouthpiece(s)!

Mouthpieces represent our direct connection between flesh and metal. They’re extremely important to getting the right sound for the musical situation, and no two hunks of metal are identical. Show us your mouthpiece collection – I’m sure we’ll all have a thing or two to learn! Why do you use the ones you do?

16 replies

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    • Steve_Brecker
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I've been playing on this Schagerl Apredato Gileno Santana mouthpiece for the last 6 months and I absolutely love it. Prior to that I played on a much smaller Callet Solo mouthpiece for many years but after a lip injury due to swelling and scar tissue I needed to go to a larger diameter piece. I'm interested to hear from other players using Schagerl mouthpieces. 

      • Dmitry
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       I tried one at a shop (I think it was J Morrison silver) and I liked it a lot. It slots well into a pitch and the tone was fuller throughout the range. Was a bit expensive for me and I went for Yamaha Bobby Shew Jazz, but it is firmly on my wishlist. 

      I was wondering if replacing water is a big hassle?

      • Steve_Brecker
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      to replace the water it's no big deal. You just unscrew the top spill out the water and then refill it from the tap. I put a little bit of Vaseline on the threads each time. I do it maybe once every month or so.

      • Steve_Brecker
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       I agree that the mouthpiece slots very well and produces a darker fuller tone throughout my entire range. It's a very open blow but just the right amount of resistance for me.

    • Eric
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I played a 1.5C through high school and college at the direction of my teacher.  Then switched to a GR67L when my trusty 1.5C "disappeared" during a concert and thought I'd try the newest coolest thing (they were expensive back then, but not the insane pricing they're at now).  I played that for a few a while, then recently had some endurance issues to work through.  I tried switching back to a 1.5C Megatone, and actually preferred it to the GR67L - I found it easier to play for me, but I was still struggling with making it through a long performance.

     

    I had a Marcinkiewicz 3/5C sitting in my case that I had picked up on someone's recommendation years ago, and decided to give it another go.  I prefer the tone I get off the 1.5C still, but with the Marcinkiewicz I can get through my shows again so I've stayed on it.  An interesting comparison - the finish on the Marcinkiewicz looks like garbage after 20+ years, while the finish on the GR looks flawless after the same time and more use.  I might look for more SS pieces in the future.

     

    Next problem....  I switched horns from a Yamaha 6345S to a Bach LT1901B in June.... and now I'm having intonation problems.  Now that I'm through the honeymoon period with that horn I'm finding that to play it in tune I need the tuning slide all the way in, and then I still need to lip it just a little.  I can lip it all the way up, but it's obvious I'm not in the harmonic slot of the horn.  Part of it is the Yamaha/Bach difference I know and I'm still learning the characteristics of this horn, but at a baseline I'm struggling to tune it.

     

    Rather than get the horn modified or spend more money on yet another horn, I'm on the look for a new piece that might help.  I'm told maybe a shallower cup and/or tighter backbore might bring it up a little, though I'm hesitant to go shallower than the 3/5C since it's already affecting my tone.  Possibly I've just got a mismatch between hardware, or possibly I'm just a garbage player.  Unfortunately I don't live in an area I can just try out mouthpieces, so I'm dragging my feet making a decision on what to order.  With my flugel I notice that changing the mouthpiece significantly changes the tuning, so I have hope, though that difference is likely more to do with the couesnon taper than anything else.

     

    On my flugel I play a Stork VF2-FL-C-1S (vacchiano #2 very deep, couesnon taper), and on my cornet I play a Curry 1.5DC (deep cup).  The cornet piece is an easy transition for me to double with and I don't perform on the cornet so it's not a huge deal other than being easy to transition.  The flugel stork piece is the only mouthpiece I've found that I can get my 1924 couesnon to play in tune (or as in tune as a 100 year old flugel can get anyway), though the tuning slide is all the way in even with it.  I also tried a Curry 600 80FLD on my flugel, and it plays so flat that I can't get it in tune.

      • Trumpet Lead
      • Ethan
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Hey Eric, thanks for your detailed answer. If you're looking to try out more mouthpieces, I'd try out something like Mouthpiece Express, a website where you can order mouthpieces and return them for just a 10% restocking fee. A nice way to try things out for super cheap, though obviously it's ideal to take a trip to a city with a music store that offers a wide selection. As for gear playing really flat, that's often from a lack of support (both air and corners). Gear won't make or break our playing, but it gives us that extra little boost. See my advice to Nick below!

      • Eric
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       True I haven't ruled me out yet as the problem.  I'm hoping it's an equipment issue though, as I have no issues with any of my Yamahas or my Olds Special or my York.  This is the only Bach I've ever played though, and it certainly is more challenging in intonation.  Wish I was closer to ACB so I could just visit.  They're just far enough away that I can't justify a trip just for this, and I have had zero luck convincing the family that KC is a better vacation destination than a national park.

    • Trumpet Lead
    • Ethan
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    For me these days it's a Bob Reeves 42d69, something shallow with about a 3c rim. Helps me cut through playing 2nd in a big band and I find I can get a nice round sound on it doing small group stuff too. I used to play a 3c for everything, and while I love the texture in the low register, it was not the most efficient in a big band setting. 
    I'm actually in the middle of hunting for something new, since I don't play in big bands as much. 

    • Nick
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I am an amateur player who is now in my 40s.  I have been playing a Bach 3C forever and could probably use an upgrade.  Any advice on how to get started on looking for a better mouthpiece?  I figure most people just try out a bunch of different mouthpieces but I don't want to buy a bunch of mouthpieces I won't use.  Thanks y'all!

      • Trumpet Lead
      • Ethan
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Hey Nick! How does the Bach 3C feel for you in terms of sound, comfort, etc.? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Metal does wear down over time and lose its resonance, so you might consider a newer 3c (every 3c feels microscopically different anyway). But unless you have a specific objective you're looking for in a piece of gear, I wouldn't advise making a change. Start by thinking about what you'd like in a piece of gear, based on what sorts of music you play. If that runs counter to what you have, then explore some other options.

      There are certainly more efficient mouthpieces out there, and our bodies change a lot as we grow, so I'm sure there's something that will work better for you, but it requires some experimentation. Look for events/gatherings/festivals/conventions in your area that might feature some manufacturers, or find a large enough music store that has some options in stock. If you at least know what direction you want to go, any store owner can help you. 

      When trying a new mouthpiece in person, bring a trumpet buddy with you, OR at the very least play the same exact thing on a dozen mouthpieces and record each one. More expensive does not mean better. You're looking for some kind of immediate improvement in resonance or stability or comfort, but the extreme upper/lower registers might not be there immediately, so don't expect anything crazy there. 

      There are sites out there that let you return mouthpieces after testing them out. Mouthpiece Express is the one I've used before. They charge just a 10% restocking fee but you can audition as many mouthpieces from them that you want.  Some places don't offer returns, so just be careful. 
      I am working currently to produce a more exhaustive Mouthpieces course - stay tuned for that early next year! 

      • Dmitry
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       I was in very similar position recently, except I was playing a standard student Yamaha MP, I think it was 11B4. My reason to start considering alternatives was air flow issues as my range expanded above A2. So first I needed to explore the mouthpiece physics. Really looking forward to that course,  but also trumpet herald forum and the likes proved very helpful to me. It turned out that student mouthpieces are designed to provide a better support to a developing embouchure and it's logical that they may feel stuffed as you progress. Next I just explored reviews online, and also there are various MP charts like this one from Yamaha for example that help you understand the options. With that I had a pretty good idea what MPs I'd like to try at a store. I knew I was looking for freer air flow, particularly in the higher register. But also, amateur player or not (I am 😉), you WILL notice the difference in the tone or how well it slots or how evenly it performs in different registers. So you will like some MPs more than the others. 

      Obviously it's impossible to fully adjust to a new MP in a few minutes, so one thing I'd keep in mind during your test-drive is to focus on driving the air through the horn (which we should do anyway) and let the MP to respond naturally. That should tell you what you need to know to make a choice.

      My background is pretty limited here, I am just sharing my (recent) experience. Hope it helps.

      • Nick
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Thanks for the Feedback!  My 3C seems to be fine but I don't have much frame of reference.  I did play a 1-1/2C for a while but it seemed to give me endurance issues.  Thanks for the advice though.  I will check out Mouthpiece Express for sure or find a new 3C.

       

      By the way, lots of gold options.  Does gold sound better?

      • Nick
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      You are right. Lots of good info on the internet like that Yamaha mouthpiece table. I also found this for Bach. https://www.mouthpieceexpress.com/media/bach/bachmouth.pdf

      • Trumpet Lead
      • Ethan
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       I'm not sure about gold! Never used it. But remember that with "sound better"... one mouthpiece won't have the same effect on everybody. Gold is a lot denser than brass or silver so that will likely make it feel heavier. 

    • Stevebanko
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I've been through a number of mouthpieces but have mainly played my Bb with a NY Bach 10 1/2C cut to fit a Giardinelli 6 rim.  Seems to have the sound I wanted with a nice feel and resistance.  Been using this one for most of the last 25 yrs.  

    • Richard_Edelman
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    My Bach Trumpet 3 and Olds cornet 3 mouthpieces. 

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