Pickett Mouthpieces

jaysonr · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 8:41 am Post subject:

It's been about 4 weeks now, and no sign of the honeymoon wearing off.
I did end up selling the 1.5C/#10-2/25. It just wasn't right for me -- I'm not sure if it was the cup, the backbore, or a combination, but I just didn't like the way it blew.

The 1.5SO/#1/25, on the other hand, just continues to get better and better the more I play it. I initially didn't like it on the Bb, but as I've gotten used to it, its great. I also ended up replacing the springs in my Bb's valves, and I also put in metal guides (figured I'd try them while I was replacing the springs), and I think that helped add some additional resonance to the Bb which works well with the SO cup.

I still couldn't be happier. Pickett mouthpieces are the real deal, and as I and others have said, the customer service is top notch. No matter what style of mouthpiece you need, I'm confident that Peter Pickett can fix you up with something that will work great for you!
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Isaiah 40:8
3 John 2

TKSop · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 12:47 pm Post subject:

Little bit of thread revival on my part... but why not?

Have to agree, the service is superb and the order updates are reassuring.

I decided a few weeks ago that I'd revisit the Pickett 1.5C (I like my modular version), but this time as a one-piece with a slightly larger throat - so, ordered a 1.5C cornet, #1 (large) BB and #25 throat.
Arrived a couple of days ago, and although I knew I'd like it, I've been really surprised just how much of a difference the 25 throat (and Pickett's backbore as a onepiece, rather than screwing in a Warburton 10 or 12) made - the blow is spot on where I want it and the high register just leaps out, yet with a tone which is a little more adaptable than my Patrick 1.5c (the current reigning champion

). I'm still not completely convinced that the rm is as comfortable as the Patrick is, for me, but it's not unsatisfactory in any way, shape or form.

Time will tell if this is a honeymoon or simply a good match - hopefully I can match Jason and go honeymoon-free, as this is really getting me excited.

jaysonr · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:01 pm Post subject:

They are awesome.

I did end up selling the 1.5C/10-2/25 as it didn't blow right for me. The Pickett SO cup is a bit too deep for all around playing for me.

There never was a honeymoon with the Pickett though -- the 1.5SO played great the first day, and still plays great. Looking back though, I should have bought the 1.5B or 1.5BC (in place of the C)...and I may still, yet.
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Isaiah 40:8
3 John 2

TKSop · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:12 pm Post subject:

Fingers crossed, I won't be surprised if there is a honeymoon crash, but we'll see..

Agreed, it does sound like you might've preferred the 1.5B or BC... or maybe the 1.5C with a different backbore, maybe a standard series?

jaysonr · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:17 pm Post subject:

Gottfried Reiche · Veteran Member Joined: 27 Nov 2013 Posts: 184

jaysonr · Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 4:09 pm Post subject:

Gottfried Reiche · Veteran Member Joined: 27 Nov 2013 Posts: 184

jaysonr · Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 4:21 pm Post subject:

TKSop · Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 4:43 pm Post subject:

So what are you looking for that's different?

Something in the rim profile, the bite you perceive or purely the sound you're getting at the end of it?

jaysonr · Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 5:13 pm Post subject:

loudog · Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 3:56 am Post subject:

Jayson,

If I may be so bold, I think you may be overthinking all of this. I think you need to get to a place (like Dillon's) where you can sit down and try 100 mouthpieces and just find one that works.

I always remember Mark Curry's quote (which probably slightly differs from what I write here, but you get the jist) "Any mouthpiece, even at it's very best, is still a compromise."

I think it's too easy to get wrapped up in alpha angles, rim contours, cup shapes, etc. I also think folks get wrapped up too much in how a mouthpiece feels, rather than what's being produced out of the other end of the horn (you're not in this camp, from what you've written). I heard Scott Laskey one time say that it may just not feel good sometimes, and that's ok. Not sure I agree with that 100%, but there's some truth in that statement.

I'm not advocating you switch back to the "old tried and true" Bach setup (I'm not a Bach mouthpiece player...I play Pickett actually), but you might sit down and spend some serious time with some of those really conventional setups. I bet you'll find something that will work, and it may help to guide you a little bit more in your safari. I often advise this with many adult students and comeback players that have studied with me, and it's usually pretty effective.

Louie
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Dr. Louie Eckhardt, trumpeter
http://www.LouieEckhardt.com
Associate Professor of Music
Hastings College

jaysonr · Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 4:44 am Post subject:

Louie,
You're probably right to a point, and also perhaps read a bit further into what I wrote than I intended. I was going to let the thread lie, but since TKSop asked I decided to give an answer as to why they didn't work and let Mr. Reiche know why he won

I really don't get hung up on any of that other than that I know based on how my chops work that a lower alpha angle (steeper undercut, or whatever you want to call it) works best for me. If it's too high my articulations get fluffy and if I get the slightest bit of swelling going on my initial attacks get creepy.

For the Pickett pieces, I know that if I could go up to their shop and especially focus on trying backbores, I could get what I want. I'm pretty sure that the backbore was the issue that was causing the tuning issues on my C. Those issues, as well as what I was hearing on recordings and being told I sounded like, were what made me give up on the pieces because I was so conscious of them and I was working harder than normal physically to overcome them. I had a lesson after playing the Pickett piece a month and it was the worst I'd played in a year. I knew right then it was time to just admit that they weren't going to work.

This all started because I thought my teeth were crooked and causing an abrasion. I first tried a Hickman piece, and then decided I needed a smaller piece, and it was all downhill from there, hahaha.

As I mentioned in the previous reply, I'm playing a Laskey 80C w/ a 25 throat and stock backbore right now that is very, very close. I think I'd either like it better w/ his 75 backbore, or an 80MD with a 24/75 setup. Perhaps the 80C/25 can be my Bb piece and I'll get an MD 24/75 for C. In any event, I'm ready for the safari to be over; I'm tired

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Isaiah 40:8
3 John 2

jaysonr · Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 8:15 am Post subject:

Just to finish this thread off, I just heard back from Mark Curry about a 1.5B w/ a 24 throat in his Hitman blank. I'm excited to give that a try. His "B" cup is my favorite cup and has worked better for me than any other cup I've tried recently. I tried it in the 1 and it was just too big. I don't like his 1.25 rim, so we'll see how the 1.5 goes. I'm hopeful for this piece as it should cross-over between my C and Bb for me well also.

I'll update back if anyone is interested.
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Isaiah 40:8
3 John 2

rc0809 · Regular Member Joined: 30 Jun 2015 Posts: 17

I've recently switched from a Pickett (1.25 BC 24, #1) back to my Parke (650-285-24) for same reasons you stated, Jayson. The C, both middle and lower were very sharp on my Pickett on my C trumpet. I think it may be a gap issue. I'm using a Bach Philly with a melk 525EB leadpipe. The Pickett goes in about cm or so less than the Parke. I don't know too much about all of it but after wanting to like it for a month I put the Parke back in and now I'm making progress again, pitch center is much more secure. Just my experience.

jaysonr · Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 1:25 pm Post subject:

oxleyk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 4180

Pickett will cut mouthpieces for sleeves as part of the ordering process. No need to wonder about those gap questions.

Kent

royjohn · Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 4:14 pm Post subject:

jaysonr,

A couple of months ago, after a day or two of playing, according to you the Pickett mpcs were great. After two months they weren't working for you. The same thing happened with the Hickman last year. The mpcs, horn, etc., did not change, so the issue is you.

You can call it the placebo effect, nocebo effect, whatever, but it's a common issue for players to find a new mpc to work great for a while and then no longer. Since the mpcs you are trying are similar, in the nature of fine tuning, they should all play similarly, without great differences. It's an embouchure/technique problem.
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royjohn
Trumpets: 1928 Holton Llewellyn Model, 1957 Holton 51LB, 2010 Custom C by Bill Jones, 2011 Custom D/Eb by Bill Jones
Flugels: 1975 Olds Superstar, 1970's Elkhardt, 1970's Getzen 4 valve
Cornet: 1970's Yamaha YCR-233S . . . and others . . .

jaysonr · Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 6:38 pm Post subject:

TKSop · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:59 am Post subject: