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Claude1949 Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2018 Posts: 188 Location: maryland
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Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 9:19 am Post subject: Going with bigger mouthpiece now |
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After many years of playing smallish (9/10-1/2, etc) mouthpieces, I now find that my sound and execution is better with a #1-1/2 type mouthpiece. I re-visited a Curry 1.5 I had in my 200+ mouthpiece bin & am surprised how well I can play it as opposed to the smaller ones witch lately seemed to be backing up & working against me. Anyone else share this? _________________ Claudio |
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fredo Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2011 Posts: 589 Location: France
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 2:46 am Post subject: |
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Yes, i'm 60 yo, and played 3C ish pieces.
Since a few months, i feel restricted in the low range.(bad vibration, small sound)
I was thinking i can't play bigger mpcs because of fast tiring in the upper register.
I played a CG3, then Silver 6, then DONAT 168 (short shank and 22 bore a great mpc but probably too small diameter for me now) then pick up again my Silver 6 who feel a little more open than the Donat.
But that was not sufficient, so i tried (expensive try ... i will probably sell it ) a B6S1 Resonance Prana : better sound in lower register and great ease upper with a powerful cutting sound, but too diffused sound in the middle register an tire me quickly if tension appear : better at home, relaxed, than in rehearsals or on stage .. i think i'm a too bad player for it...
So i tried a Silver 4 (big 3C or small 1 1/2 C ??) and all is fine ... (i still prefer the sound of the Prana above G at top of the staff)
I practice much more than a few years ago, it can explain that also. _________________ Frederic FELTZ
Yamaha XENO 2 8335 S
Lotus 3L brass |
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Dave CCM/SSO Veteran Member
Joined: 21 Jan 2015 Posts: 145 Location: Cincinnati
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:44 am Post subject: |
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Hello,
For most of my career, I played Bach 1.5C type mouthpieces. A couple of years ago, I switched to mouthpieces more in the 1.25C - 1C range. My endurance actually increased. My teeth line up with my lips in such a way that using the larger diameter mouthpiece allows me to get more top lip in the mouthpiece. This has helped tremendously.
I know that my change was not as significant as the change to which you are referring, but I think the idea is similar. Conventional wisdom suggests that smaller equipment is always easier, but I don't think that is always the case. Some people have facial structures that benefit from larger equipment. The style of music that is being played can also have an effect, I believe. I'm primarily a classical player, and it is just easier for me to get the sound that I desire on the larger gear. I actually find that I manipulate in an unhealthy manner attempting to get my desired sound on smaller stuff.
This is just my experience, I know others will differ.
Have fun out there!!
Dave _________________ Dave
Springfield Symphony Orchestra (OH)
- www.springfieldsym.org
Seven Hills Brass
- http://www.facebook.com/sevenhillsbrass |
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fredo Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2011 Posts: 589 Location: France
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 9:10 am Post subject: |
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Dave said : I'm primarily a classical player, and it is just easier for me to get the sound that I desire on the larger gear. I actually find that I manipulate in an unhealthy manner attempting to get my desired sound on smaller stuff.
I began classical music (amateur symphonic orchestra, classical and film music) a year and a half ago, after 59 years of jazz since i was in the belly of my mother ...
Perhaps it's one of the reasons i switched to a bigger mpc.
it's funny because i play second in our Jazz Big Band and the work began easier also with this bigger mpc, and not only for the solos.
Perhaps the instrument has his responsibility also, the 8335 is sold with a 1/2 C ish mpc (16C4) and perhaps work better with this kind of mpc. _________________ Frederic FELTZ
Yamaha XENO 2 8335 S
Lotus 3L brass |
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Claude1949 Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2018 Posts: 188 Location: maryland
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I agree w/both of you. The "smaller is better" as to mouthpieces is a myth....Arban and other great cornetist of the early 1900s said that one should play a larger mouthpiece and develop one's embouchure......I miss much less notes and my tone is far better w/a bigger piece. I'm NOT going back to the small (specialized) mouthpieces....... _________________ Claudio |
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J-Walk Veteran Member
Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Posts: 259 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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Mouthpiece size and shape is so personal. It is all about the right tool for the right job, and how a mouthpiece blows on a given horn and fits the facial structure of a given player. Bigger is not better, smaller is not worse... the right size for you to achieve the desired result is what it is important. That means bigger is better for some, and smaller will be better for others. I’m glad for those that have shared their enthusiasm for their success in this thread. It is exciting when equipment changes help us make music better. _________________ Jason Rahn
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Burbank Benge MLP 3X+
Adams A5
Larson Brasswerks “Reese” Model C
Schilke P5-4 picc
Courtois 154 flugel
A few mouthpieces that fit my face and horns |
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Claude1949 Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2018 Posts: 188 Location: maryland
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 4:34 am Post subject: |
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J-Walk wrote: | Mouthpiece size and shape is so personal. It is all about the right tool for the right job, and how a mouthpiece blows on a given horn and fits the facial structure of a given player. Bigger is not better, smaller is not worse... the right size for you to achieve the desired result is what it is important. That means bigger is better for some, and smaller will be better for others. I’m glad for those that have shared their enthusiasm for their success in this thread. It is exciting when equipment changes help us make music better. |
You have said it best! Exactly right!!!!!! _________________ Claudio |
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cary_phil New Member
Joined: 09 Apr 2019 Posts: 5 Location: Cary, NC
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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My go to mouthpiece all these years has been a Bach 1 1/4 C, with the shank bored out. |
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fredo Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2011 Posts: 589 Location: France
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:49 am Post subject: |
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and four posts later a picc to sell in the marketplace !!!
simple _________________ Frederic FELTZ
Yamaha XENO 2 8335 S
Lotus 3L brass |
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Claude1949 Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2018 Posts: 188 Location: maryland
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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 6:24 am Post subject: |
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cary_phil wrote: | My go to mouthpiece all these years has been a Bach 1 1/4 C, with the shank bored out. |
How did you bore out the shank? A drill bit? What advantage does it give? More air? _________________ Claudio |
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chapahi Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 1467 Location: Stuttgart, Germany
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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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Last summer I played my old bigs after playing the smaller stuff for 10 years or so and for a while I really liked the improved accuracy and big sound. I'm back to the SC3 (i.D. bach 10) again as the ease of projection and compact sound and simply getting the job done win the day. _________________ Sima, Kanstul 1525 Flugel and Kanstul pocket trumpet. Olds Super |
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Brodydog New Member
Joined: 28 Apr 2019 Posts: 6
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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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I used Bach mouthpieces for years 3C 1C 2C 1-1/2 C 1-1/4C 1B 0 Finally stumbled on to a Laskey 84D and Laskey 84DB (for cornet). Plays like a Bach but much easier to focus. |
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kjt New Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 5 Location: St. Paul, MN
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:46 am Post subject: |
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J-Walk wrote: | Mouthpiece size and shape is so personal. ... bigger is better for some, and smaller will be better for others. |
This is the important key here (and is precisely why I hate seeing endorsed mouthpieces or signature models). What works great for one person should be of little significance to someone else choosing a mouthpiece.
I spent the majority of my life playing larger diameters. When I started investigating smaller (medium-smaller, not tiny) diameters, it's as if someone just turned on the lights that had been off all those years. I got by fine on the larger diameters and had a great deal of success with them, but everything for me improved (sound, articulation, intonation, endurance, etc.) when I went to smaller diameters. So, it's not a matter of bigger being better or smaller being better, but simply the right size for you being better. Don't worry about what is right for someone else. |
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Claude1949 Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2018 Posts: 188 Location: maryland
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:08 am Post subject: |
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kjt wrote: | J-Walk wrote: | Mouthpiece size and shape is so personal. ... bigger is better for some, and smaller will be better for others. |
This is the important key here (and is precisely why I hate seeing endorsed mouthpieces or signature models). What works great for one person should be of little significance to someone else choosing a mouthpiece.
I spent the majority of my life playing larger diameters. When I started investigating smaller (medium-smaller, not tiny) diameters, it's as if someone just turned on the lights that had been off all those years. I got by fine on the larger diameters and had a great deal of success with them, but everything for me improved (sound, articulation, intonation, endurance, etc.) when I went to smaller diameters. So, it's not a matter of bigger being better or smaller being better, but simply the right size for you being better. Don't worry about what is right for someone else. |
EXACTLY! _________________ Claudio |
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deleted_user_02066fd New Member
Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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I've always preferred a larger diameter mouthpiece. I have very thin lips but have never felt comfortable on a smaller diameter.
I tried two mouthpieces from Jerry Callet but just couldn't adjust. I don't really play much these days but my current piece is a Yamaha 14B4. The cup is not too deep but it's diameter is somewhere in the 2 or 3C size. When I am in shape I can play a reliable G over high C.
The one smaller piece I played well on was a Zotolla 64B. I bought it from Frank Zotolla around 1976. I was studying with Bob Zotolla at the time and he suggested I go see his dad. |
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