Cheap mouthpieces

[Jafuentes3]

Hey everyone,
Simple question for y'all;
What's the deal with cheap mouthpieces (particularly the brand Glory)
Are they and OK substitute for beginner trumpet players?
It comes down to this;
If I am completely broke is buying a $10 instead of a $50 mouthpiece acceptable?
Please share your experiences with me.
Thank you

[trumanjazzguy]

Expect 1/5th the quality in playing experience. Expect a cup that is hugely inefficient. Expect a throats size that isn't standardized, nor a standardized backbore size or shape. Expect a very uncomfortable rim.

If any one element, or more of the above ends up not being true, you're lucky.
_________________
TPT: Nova LA
CRN: Getzen 1950’s W/5.5in bell
FL: Jupiter 1100R
‘Pieces:
TPT: 34-throat shallow double-cup, Chet Baker’s Custom Schilke, Bach Corp 3, Bach Mt. Vernon 6C, Ken Titmus BF Custom(s).
CRN: NY Giardinelli 7SV.
FL: Yamaha Bobby Shew

[chapahi]

eBay is a great place to buy good used mouthpieces for 10 dollars. And the TH market place. I once bought a mount Vernon Bach mouthpiece for $10 on eBay.
_________________
Sima, Kanstul 1525 Flugel and Kanstul pocket trumpet. Olds Super

[Dennis78]

Although some mouthpieces feel better than others and I do have my personal favorites, I’ve never come across a bad or unplayable mouthpiece. Even the old chrome plated Herco that started chipping before it got some real hours
I’ve read here and other forums where people have bought and now continue to use the el cheapo pieces
_________________
a few different ones

[TKSop]

I've played lots of unplayable mouthpieces... Some of them unbranded specials, some of them badly modified reputable pieces - in both cases poor intonation leads to manipulation and poor tone.

The other major problem with cheap new ones can be plating - some are nickel plated (which can lead to allergy issues for quite a few players).

If it's got to be cheap, go for unpopular but decent brands on eBay - pieces badged Conn, King, Blessing or Benge (for example) are good pieces that are often much cheap than ones badged "Bach" but similar designs and play just as well.
If it's got to be brand new but cheap, there's a few brands (atleast in Europe, not so sure about the US) that are cheap and yet pretty good - A&S/Stolzel and GEWA for example

[plp]

I'd suggest looking into Kelly mouthpieces, price is right and they will do for a good basic starter mouthpiece. I'd suggest a 5C, knowing nothing about you or how you are built, good middle of the road.
_________________
Since all other motives—fame, money, power, even honor—are thrown out the window the moment I pick up that instrument..... I play because I love doing it, even when the results are disappointing. In short, I do it to do it.” Wayne Booth

[cheiden]

I'd buy a used name brand piece before I'd buy a cheap no-name brand piece. I've known plenty of players who don't hate the Kelly plastic piece.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[S Koons]

[Brad361]

You can find a used Bach 7C (just an example) for 10-15 bucks, why waste money, and much more importantly, practice time, on a paperweight?
They’re on Craigslist or ebay, just take a look.

Brad

[Crazy Finn]

[dr_trumpet]

I've heard dozens of instances where a good quality mouthpiece makes an average instrument play better. I have never heard a cheap mouthpiece make a great horn play better.
_________________
Dr. Albert L. Lilly, III DM
Artist/Clinician for Vincent Bach Trumpets (Conn-Selmer)
Principal Trumpet, Hendricks Symphony (Avon, IN)
Arranger/Composer; Lilly Music

[Lionel]

[operagost]

No need to mess around filling nicks with epoxy. I routinely sell used mouthpieces at about half the price of new or less. The ones that go for half have essentially NOTHING wrong with them. The shanks are perfectly round, there are no nicks on the rim, and all of the plating is still there. That's $30-35 for a Bach like that. For one that has a lot of the plating worn off the shank, but still 100% plating on the place it counts-- the rim-- and still with no nicks, but maybe the shank isn't perfectly round because it was dropped, it's going to be about $20-25 for a Bach (basically 1/3 price). I ship first class in a padded envelope, so it's under $4 no matter where you are in the USA. Some others don't, and that's a drag but I still feel like you should be able to get a good deal on eBay. And if you don't like it, you can turn it around again on eBay and only be out the original shipping.

What I've found with these bogus Indian or Chinese mouthpieces is that despite using Bach-like sizes, those sizes have nothing to do with the actual dimensions whatsoever. I mean, if the backbore and throat was different, that would almost be expected, but I have a "5C" here with a cup diameter wider than my Bach 3C and the cup is about the depth of a Bach A. Giving that to a young student would kill him.

[cheiden]

A small percentage of properly inclined established players might enjoy/benefit from tinkering with DIY mouthpiece customization. I'd never recommend it for a beginning player, especially one who's just trying to save money.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart