First Blush- My Custom "Signature" Mouthpiece

[stanton]

There are lots of threads lately that I could have responded to, but thought it was easier just to start another topic. This might help address the questions of "which rim should I get" or "smaller mouthpieces for orchestral work" or possibly "too deep from comeback player".

I received my custom MP top from Kanstul yesterday. For those who don't want to read the anecdote, it is a Schilke Symphonic M3 rim on top of a MV 1.5C underpart with screw-in backbore.

The approach of developing the MP is not dissimilar to how John Hagstrom's signature mouthpiece came into being with separate components combined into one mouthpiece. I really liked the sound and blow of Kanstul's BMV 1 1/2C top with a #7 backbore, but felt my chops weren't as efficient as I'd like and working too hard. OTOH, I liked the rim of the Schilke Symphonic M3 as well as it's general feel, but always felt the sound was a little thin and not as round as the sound I had in my head.

At first blush, I was pleased that this MP combination is quite close to what I imagined it could be. Its always a crap shoot when you do stuff like this. The M3 rim gives me just enough lip "purchase". The deeper cup (1.5C) provides a roundness that was missing in the Schilke M3. Rim and cup seem to work well together.

At this time I am still experimenting with backbores. I currently own a Kanstul 7, 10, and Warburton 8*, 9 and 9*. As of this moment I have tested all but the Warburton 9. I seem to like the K7 and W8* the best so far.

It is interesting that I am finding that although the backbore does change the blow somewhat, the changes in timbre are most profound. I am going back and forth between the W8* and the K#7 and will get to test the W9 by the end of the day. The K#10 seems to give a little bit of a hard sound and the least open of my favorite backbores.With this MP design, the W9* was just mush.

The MP came in the mail just as I was leaving for rehearsal so the first time I played it was when I got there. Warmups were easy and smooth. Smoother than I expected. Range was not a problem. Eb over high C was easy and F wasn't a lot harder either though. Pitches abover the staff were in tune. I got to play an E over high C during one piece. It was solid, but not screaming and seemed well in tune. No one complained, anyway.

One important thing to note is that I had to consciously back off the pressure and the effort that I had been used to putting in with my other mouthpieces.The results were there with much less effort, yet the sound was as large as I was looking for. I had to be careful not to let it get out of control as this MP plays bigger than the rim size would suggest.

Would I used this mouthpiece in orchestra? Absolutely! When I switched back to my BMV 1.5C I noticed the same roundness as with my custom piece, but also noticed a little less fine control with the bigger rim. Also my "signature" piece not only retained the roundness of the lower overtones, it also had a touch of added brilliance.

I'll get to play this in rehearsal tomorrow night where the group is *much* tighter than last night's. It will be easier to identify the oddities of the MP tomorrow. Of course I will probably experience the 14 day crash-and-burn syndrome that I go thru every time I change mouthpieces. But I know to work thru it.

Sorry for the long post. Hope it was worth reading.
Best regards,
Stanton
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Schilke B1, Bach 37, 1969 Getzen Severinsen Eterna
Bach C 229 w Charlie Melk custom work
Getzen Eterna Cornet, Benge #5 Fluegel
Kanstul Besson Prototype A/Bb Pic
Crappy old Yamaha 3valve Eb
Stanton Kramer "Signature" Mouthpiece

[crzytptman]

When I was playing 1-1/2C size, I used a Kanstul BMV 1-1/2C. I started with their R2 bbore which worked quite well. I later went to a Warb 9, but that was too bright and not warm. The B7 sounded dull on me. I ended up on Kanstul's 87 bbore. That was my go to piece until I started playing the slightly larger Mt. Vernon 3C size rim.
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Crazy Nate aka Jive-a-licious
www.themodernancients.com
www.flipoakes.com
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