A4a vs A4

HoltonScreamer · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:00 am Post subject: A4a vs A4

i've been looking around for a lead piece for a while now and I just have a question. Which do you prefer? An A4a or just an A4 and why???? I have a 6A4a and a 14A4a. After playing n each for a while I settled with the 14A4a but the only problem is that there is way too much resistance when I try to play high. Maybe I'm trying too hard or more likely, I'm just trying to push too much air into that tiny backbore. I've also toiled with the Callet DT-10 (ascoutic model if hat even matters) and I feel like that mpc. is alot more free blowing than the 14A4a. I'm not sure if the backbores are different or not but I'm just wondering if other have had a similar experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Holton T105S Millenium Edition
Bach 5C

-Kamal

Dale Proctor · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:22 am Post subject:

I prefer the A4 over the A4a. You're right - the A4 is more open. It has the standard "c" backbore whereas the A4a has the "a" backbore, the tightest one offered. I have a 13A4a that I opened the throat up one drill size larger. It helped eliminate resistance, but made the intonation a little squirrely! Probably a better idea to just buy a new piece with a more open backbore.
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NMex · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:13 pm Post subject:

Screamer,
I play a 14a4b for just the reason you describe. It works well for lead. I play a standard 14B for legit. I play the Kanstul 2 piece mp system and love them.
Good luck,
NMex
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Brasspire 923 LT
ACB TA-2

badebop · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:20 pm Post subject:

Try backing off on the 4a. I think that's why so many dislike it...they try to pound the same amount of air through it as in a more open bore. Let the mouthpiece do the work for you. You can get just as much sound out of it as a b or c with less effort. MHO.

seaninabox · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:15 am Post subject: Re: A4a vs A4

HoltonScreamer · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:37 am Post subject:

Hey thanks for the input. I try to stay away from the schilkes though. I play like a half step sharp on them. I like the Yamaha mpcs much better. They seem more stable in the intontation department. But I'll look into the 14A4b and the 14A4 sizes. Thanks again everyone if you have any other suggestions feel free to keep posting.
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Holton T105S Millenium Edition
Bach 5C

-Kamal

trickg · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:58 am Post subject:

For a long time my mainstay lead-type mouthpiece was a Schilke 14A4a. There were some aspects about it that I didn't like too:

Squirrely Intonation
VERY edgy, brittle sound
a bit too much resistance

However, I kept with it because it was comfortable and it "worked" better than any other lead type mouthpiece that I tried.

Then on a whim one day while placing an order at wwbw.com for some drum stuff, I tossed a 14A4 on top of the order. Why I hadn't tried a 14A4 prior to 6 months ago I don't know.

The day it came, it was like I found the missing link. The sound had a LOT more core, there was less resistance, it felt the same on my face, and I lost nothing in terms of range and endurance, (if anything, range became easier and I gained endurance) not to mention that my intonation on my Strad was improved.

Then, when I got my Schilke B6, the Schilke 14A4 mouthpiece is a very good match for that trumpet and the intonation is probably better than anything I have used to date.

For me, there is no question, I prefer the 14A4 over the 14A4a by a long shot. The best thing about switching from one to the other for me is that I didn't have a new rim or cup to acclimate to, just a bit of a difference in blow, and that difference was an improvement that I never had a honeymoon phase with.
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Patrick Gleason
- Jupiter 1600i, ACB 3C, Warburton 4SVW/Titmus RT2
- Brasspire Unicorn C
- ACB Doubler

"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP

badebop · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:33 am Post subject:

trickg · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:35 am Post subject:

^^ That's interesting - as far as the cup and the rim are concerned, mine feel virtually identical.

I still think that it's funny that I used that 14A4a for so long (nearly 8 years) without trying the 14A4. It wasn't like those aspects that I didn't like cropped up all of a sudden. They were always there!

_________________
Patrick Gleason
- Jupiter 1600i, ACB 3C, Warburton 4SVW/Titmus RT2
- Brasspire Unicorn C
- ACB Doubler

"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP

trumpetgirl612 · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 9:31 pm Post subject:

i have felt no difference personally, but i do not use either very often at all anyway
in fact when i packed for college i left both home
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half91585 · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:32 pm Post subject:

hm...trumpetgirl, maybe you weren't blowing enough through the horn to realize that the two mouthpieces have a HUGE difference. Anyways, as I feel, the A4a is way too tight but you still need some support up high. If you' have lungs of steel then the 14A4 might work better for you, but I'd suggest going with a Warburton or some other modular mouthpiece system and finding the most comfortable rim and sticking to that rim size and getting one or two tops with a couple backbores. That's what I do - works wonders! Happy hunting
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freelance trumpet

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Greg Black 1 1/2C 26 throat, 8 backbore
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looking to buy a cheap flugel, C, or cornet

trickg · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:00 am Post subject:

I was custom fitted for a Warburton mouthpiece once and it just wasn't for me. I suppose that for some, they are just the ticket, but I never liked the rim on mine at all.
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Patrick Gleason
- Jupiter 1600i, ACB 3C, Warburton 4SVW/Titmus RT2
- Brasspire Unicorn C
- ACB Doubler

"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP

badebop · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject:

Hey, Pat,

I've been able to put in some solid practice time this summer and I thought I should pull out the 4A and give it another try...hey, I like it! It feels good, stays comfortable for the workout, range is the same with a smoother transition to the upper register. I'll see what happens on the 3 hour big band gig this weekend

PMWlead · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:12 pm Post subject: **** that

Hey kamal just get a DT-10 haha

~2joe
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