Stork A+ vs Wick 2 cornet mouthpieces

trumpet56 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 623

Yesterday I received a Stork 1A+D underpart with Bach threads which I matched to a 1C rim. I have always played a Wick 2 in brass bands as I am conscious of not sounding like a trumpet player playing cornet. I started off in brass bands half a century ago, switching to the trumpet at the age of 18 and pursuing a professional orchestral career for the last 30.

At present I play on a Kanstul short model shepherds crook cornet.

The Wick 2 produces the darkest sound of the two but the compromise is the lack of focus especially above high C. The Stork A+ also has a very dark sound quality but is more agile and slots better. I feel the Stork requires less effort while the sound is more flexible.

I am interested in your feedback if you have compared these 2 excellent cornet mouthpieces?

Richard III · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 5:57 am Post subject:

trumpet56 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 623

I have tried many mouthpiece brands, sizes etc and never found any to match the sound of the Wick 2. Playability has always come second. I believe this mouthpiece to be the best of both worlds. I guess I have found the response of the Stork for me anyway feels more like the trumpet mouthpieces I use. Maybe its the rim? I believe its worth a try.

BTW Richard 111 the York Eminence is my favorite brass band cornet. They are getting harder to find unfortunately.

hankcaruso · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject:

I play in a brass band and was playing a Wick 4 but then I tried the Stork 3A+ and I'll never go back. My flexibility improved and the slotting was much better. Granted, it doesn't have that "foggy" Wick sound. I was concerned because the rest of the section plays Wicks. But after my first rehearsal with the Stork, the conductor came over and said he heard the 1st Cornets much more clearly and that he liked the sound. That was enough for me.
_________________
Live each day as if it's your last because one day you'll surely be right. - Breaker Morant
And don't call me Shirley. - Frank Drebin

trumpet56 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 623

Welcome to trumpet herald 'hankcauso'.

The Stork produces a large core of sound with more definition than the Wick, combined with some extra sparkle.

wiemelen · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 10:56 pm Post subject:

I have used the Wick 3B, Stork A+ cup, GR cup 6 and Curry BBC mouthpieces on my cornet.
My conclusions are :
- Wick B cup : It has the darkest sound beneath the staff (although more "foggy" like described earlier). I really hate the uncomfortable rim and above the staff my sound really looses core and becomes thin and weak. Besides that, it is a whole lot of work to play above the staff. You sure need strong chops to pull that off.
- Stork A+ cup: Nice sound, not as dark as the Wick. Better rim, although not yet perfect. Even sound throughout the register. Easier above the staff than the Wick.
- GR 6 cup : It matches the size of my GR trumpet mouthpiece. Really love this mouthpiece. Powerfull sound, even throughout the register, easy upper register. Only downside is that using my cornet and chops, it sounds just a bit too bright and trumpetty. So I only use this one for music than doesn't need the "BBB" alike sound. Blends with the section.
Curry BBC : Is somehow a mix of all the above pieces. Nice sound, very close to the Wick. But the Curry has an even sound throughout the register. Easy to play, also above the staff. I like the rim. Blends with the section (more easily than the GR).

So my personal conclusion : I use the GR when I need some more power (playing outside, solo, when suited the music). And I use the Curry as my main mouthpiece for cornet.
_________________
Trumpet : Yamaha YTR-9335CHS + Yamaha YTR-6335H
Trumpet mouthpieces : Lotus 2L (main) + Lotus 2L2
Flugelhorn : Kanstul 1525 with Curry 1,5FL
Cornet : Conn 80a (1919) with Curry 1,5 BBC + Curry 1,5 VC + GR L66,9 #6

Richard III · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 5:31 am Post subject:

Adding to the list is a Yamaha E. Sound between Wick no letter and B with more core and less sparkle than the B but more secure in the upper range. Definitely doesn't play like a Wick. Maybe better.
_________________
Richard

Conn 22B Trumpet
York Eminence Model 4028 Cornet
1903 Conn The Wonder Cornet

ConnArtist · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 7:46 am Post subject:

Richard III · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 12:53 pm Post subject:

razeontherock · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 2:20 pm Post subject:

For someone with a naturally bright sound (me) and "bull chops" (me a month ago but not so much right now) a Wick 2 on flugel is heavenly lush. Not so fond of the rim. I should look into Stork! What is the A+ cup as compared to the A+D?

And comparison of Yamaha E cup to Stork? (cornet)

Oh, and maybe this should be in the cornet / flugel forum

GordonH · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 12:56 am Post subject:

The Wick 2 can also be very bright sounding when you push it, if it's in the right instrument. I don't think it works terribly well in large bore instruments - it was designed at the time when medium bore was standard.

My flugel has a cornet receiver so I sometimes use the 2 cornet in the flugel and it works not bad - very helpful in the upper register compared to the 2F.

Also - to note - the newer Wick 2 has a more defined transition from the cup to the backbore like the 2RW had, making it respond better on some instruments.
Also Wick has better quality control now they are made in house on CNC lathes and they fit the correct distance into the receiver. So if you have not tried one for a few years you might find the current version workable where the old one wasn't.
_________________
Bb - Scherzer 8218W, Schilke S22, Bach 43, Selmer 19A Balanced
Pic - Weril
Flugel - Courtois 154
Cornet - Geneva Heritage, Conn 28A
Mouthpieces - Monette 1-5 rims and similar.

Licensed Radio Amateur - GM4SVM