Changing mouthpiece sizes

[dkwolfe]

Good Afternoon;

Do you ever change mouthpiece sizes over long periods of time? Meaning, from say a 1C to a 3C, and then back, over the course of a few years?

When I picked my horn back up and started practicing again, in the spring of 2015, I was playing on my old mouthpiece from college (about a 1C or a bit bigger, I'm in my early 40s). I didn't sound that great, so after a few weeks/months of lessons, I switched to a 1.25C. My sound improved greatly. Then, about a year later (fall of 2016), I switched to a 3C, and there was another big improvement. In my lesson today, I played for a few minutes on a 1B, and my instructor (whom I trust immensely when it comes to his opinion of my sound) thought it was the best I sounded.

So, what gives? Is it a case that my embouchure was so weak when I started back up that I needed the smaller mouthpiece, and now its strong enough to go back to the bigger size mouthpiece? Is this just something that happens with folks?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks,
D
_________________
Nullius in Verba.

[JVL]

Hello
Indeed, while building your embouchure, or getting back to trumpet, you may experiment some changes, in your chops or in your sensations, your mpc at one point can feel different on your lips.
It's a natural process that you must accompany : til all it's ok and you can develop yor technic, skills, improve etc., stay with this mpc. When it starts to limit you or feel strange to your lips, then it's time to try another mpc.
Yes, while your chops are weak, they'll respond better to one mpc, that will not necessarily be adapted anymore to your chops when they'll be stronger.

best

[Seymor B Fudd]

[JVL]

Please note that i didn't say a weak embouchure needs a smaller ID compared to a stronger embouchure that would need a larger ID.

[Raggerty]

I began on the Yamaha 11B4 that came with my horn (slightly shallower and slightly rounder rimmed than a 7C I think). I was recommended to move to a larger mouthpiece, a 14D4, by my teacher, stuck with it for a year. I was struggling so tried the shallower 14C4 for six months. I was still struggling. Went back to an 11B4, huge improvement in my playing.

It may be that all the strengthening on the wider pieces paid off for my return to a narrower one. Or it may be I'm just suited to what is sometimes thought of as a beginner's piece.

[Billy B]

Beware of the "honeymoon period".
_________________
Bill Bergren

[dstdenis]

There are lots of info, guidance and stories about mouthpieces in Brian Shook's bio of William Vacchiano. Short version: choose rim diameter to fit the size of your face/lips/embouchure, and then choose cup size and shape for sound. Finally, rim shape, bore and backbore for playability and intonation.

There's another story in this book about when someone (Georges Mager, IIRC) gave Vacchiano a large mouthpiece to try. Vacchiano said he sounded great on it, but it was too big for him, so he hardly ever used it. That seems to explain and mirror your experience with the 1B. Great sound, but it might be too difficult for range and endurance.

On her website for Stork mouthpieces, Phyllis Stork has a fantastic article about how to find the optimal range of mouthpiece inner diameter sizes. I followed her advice (amid conflicting advice from others), and it worked for me. Check it out:
http://storkcustom.com/how-your-lips-dictate-your-mouthpiece-choice/
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Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
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Piccolo Stomvi

[GeorgeB]

[Seymor B Fudd]

[Lionel]

[dkwolfe]

[Rod Haney]

I have just changed a MP and now have a question for those who understand this subject better than me. I went from a 7c I had always played in HS to a very narrow .590 ish but kind of regular cup Callet Buddy x5. I was amazed by the freedom I felt with the mouthpiece, not range just much easier to play so I started to play it exclusively about a year and a half ago. Fore some reason everything is just better everywhere than on the wider piece. Seems like this is a lead piece (in my limited MP databank) in width but more normal in depth. I didn’t notice any difference in range, just clarity and richer tone.

So now I have played 30 months after being off 47 years. 1st 6 months on 7c, next 2 years on Buddy X5, now just gor a Buddy X5 rim quickly blended to the MF V cup. Again an improvement in tone and clarity. No jump in range but seems a bit quicker on up slurs. Now this is a much smaller cup than the Buddy X5 less deep, and without the cup volume.

I am pleased right now with the new piece and it still sounds better than Buddy and they both still sound better than my 7c noticeably, and the 7c now feels like a burden against my lips - uncomfortable. I have also noted that when I start to get a bit tired I can now shift the MP slightly right or left and get a fair amount of good play before I get tired. When I play on the more wide piece now I’m shot so much faster and my mouth is worked so much harder. I have heard so many views that the wider MPs give you a richer tone, that I’m wondering why everything seems to go 180 degrees for me on this.

Just curious, I’m not going to switch or change MP’s cause I wont argue with success (maybe its a honeymoon) but why?
Rod

[JVL]

hello Rod
the most important thing is that your vibrating zone be in adequation with the inner diameter.
If this is way smaller than your vibrating zone, it cuts the vibration, you'll struggle for everything.
If the ID is too big, you'll not "fill" it.

When you've found the right size, tone is bigger, richer, you're playing is easier, and you can develop your musicality.
Once again, like said our Coluche "there are no tall, no short guys, the point is your feet touch the ground"
best

[chuck in ny]

stick with the 3 size. if you can play the 1 with relative ease then it's okay, otherwise be kind to yourself.
your teacher may be a dunce.

[iiipopes]

Ever since high school, I have played a 3C style cup and rim. What has changed over the years is my ability to put air through the horn, so now, after revisiting the 3C I played in high school in the late '70's, and a Yammy Bobby Shew Jazz with a very tight backbore, I now play a 3C/76 backbore to get just a little bit more resistance to match what I can blow.

I have tried a variety of other cup diameters, rims, and depths, but always came back to the 3C sized rim and cup.
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