Bach Artisan 1HBC mouthpiece

mvbach37 · Regular Member Joined: 04 Jul 2019 Posts: 20

I bought an Artisan 1HBC trumpet mouthpiece but cannot find any information about the specs or what the difference is between the 1HC and the 1HBC. I do know that a 1HC is the modern 1-1/2 C but don't know anything about the B part on this mouthpiece. I can find nothing on the web about it either. It's too big for me to play and I cannot tell what the difference is between a standard Bach 1-1/2 C mouthpiece. Anyone have any info on this one? I loaned it to my band director so I don't have it in possession right now. I'm waiting to see what he thinks of it as he uses a general 1-1/2C Bach. There is a difference between an Artisan 3C and a standard 3C, the bite is better on the Artisan and my endurance goes up and better tone and I like it better than the standard 3C.

Tpt_Guy · Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 1:28 am Post subject:

This is confusing.

As you seem to know, when Selmer prints the sizes on the boxes, they abbreviate the half sizes with an H, so 1HC is really 1-1/2C.

There is a 1-1/2B in the Artisan lineup, or a 1HB as would be printed on the box.

But there are no "BC" designated cups listed on the Conn-Selmer website.

https://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/instruments/accessories/bach-mouthpieces/bach-artisan-series-mouthpiece

There is confusion afoot...
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Highmarques · Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 4:16 am Post subject:

Hello mvbach37,

So was this an online order? If so this might be one of the newer designs that is not yet on the Bach/seller website.

As I too have been going through some mouthpiece purchases I did speak with someone who mentioned Bach would be releasing a select few BC models. They could be totally off but what I was lead to understand is this was an older C trumpet design that used a C rim on a B cup. He said it was designed for Chicago C trumpets.

After reading your post, you say it’s too big to play. If by that you mean cup volume you might actually have the B cup/C rim combo. If you find the rim too big to play then either try a 1.5HC (the standard 351 series as the cup is wider and has more inner bite) or maybe drop down a size

Good luck

(I myself am looking for something with the same rim feel and cup volume as a Bach block letter 5C but with a larger diameter, so I know how crazy finding the right mouthpiece can be)

mvbach37 · Regular Member Joined: 04 Jul 2019 Posts: 20

I ordered the mouthpiece quite a while ago, maybe 9 months or so from Woodwind/Brasswind. I played on a 1.5C regular mouthpiece over 30 years ago in college and it was too big, couldn't get the high stuff well. I gave the 1hbc bach to my college band director about 3 weeks ago who I see about once or twice a year. He was my instructor about 35 years ago and he played a regular 1.5C so I thought I would try one. I haven't heard anything from him so far on it. After graduation I went to a Bach 5A, really liked it for about 25 years, and have since gotten an Artisan 3C about 9 months ago and prefer that much better now. I was looking for a much brighter tone and this Artisan 3C spoke to me. It has a different bite and my endurance has gone up and I have a good tone and can play it better on high stuff than the regular Bach 3C.

As I said, I can find nothing anywhere about this mouthpiece. It was well over a year ago that I saw this 1HBC on Woodwind/Brasswind so thought I would try it. From what I remember comparing the 1.5C and the 1HBC I didn't find a whole lot different from what I remember of playing on it.

Pauvog11 · Regular Member Joined: 19 Jul 2019 Posts: 13

C rim, B cup maybe?

mvbach37 · Regular Member Joined: 04 Jul 2019 Posts: 20

Possibly. Won't know until I get the mouthpiece back for sure. Told him he could buy it from me if he wishes. Am curious about what he reports about the thing to me.

Vin DiBona · Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:39 pm Post subject:

My guess?
It is likely copy of Herseth's mouthpiece.
22 throat, 24 backbore, B cup and his rim.
I would think it will definitely require a very strong, well-trained player seeking a true symphonic sound.
R. Tomasek

jmtrumpet · Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 8:20 pm Post subject:

I think 1HBC might actually be the "product number" for the Bach Artisan 1 1/2B. Bach generally uses a similar code for their mouthpieces, which can often time be confusing as it doesn't always line up with the size the abbreviations might suggest.
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mvbach37 · Regular Member Joined: 04 Jul 2019 Posts: 20

If you order from the woodwind/brasswind it does list a 1hbc and the 1hc. WWBW is the only place that I saw the 1hbc so that is how I found out about it so was curious enough to order it. So, maybe it may very well be a 1-1/2B like was stated. I also thought it may have something to do with a special backbore but seems more logical that it may be a C rim with a B cup, though I'll never know until I get the mouthpiece back or have opportunity to see a 1hbc beside a 1hc in the Artisan series.

John Mohan · Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 11:02 am Post subject:

It's an Artisan 1-1/2B.

cgaiii · Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 12:50 pm Post subject:

Somewhat off-topic, but what is the difference between a Bach Artisan mouthpiece and a Bach standard mouthpiece of the same number? I looked through the Bach catalog and still am not sure. The Symphony series comes with clearly delineated different characteristics, but I cannot find the same for the Artisan ones, other than that they are modeled on earlier mouthpieces.
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mvbach37 · Regular Member Joined: 04 Jul 2019 Posts: 20

That's all the info I could find on the Internet too.

Vin DiBona · Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:19 am Post subject:

Thanks, John.
My guess was incorrect.
R. Tomasek

mvbach37 · Regular Member Joined: 04 Jul 2019 Posts: 20

I just heard from my college band director after having loaned the mouthpiece to him and his reply seems to confirm our suspicion of it being a 1-1/2C rim but a B cup with it having the same feel as the 1-1/2C but a darker sound.. A friend and I are going to Omaha in a couple weeks and Thompson Music said they have an Artisan 1-1/2C so will be able to directly compare the 1Hc and the 1HBC side by side and maybe we could try the standard 1-1/2C all side by side.