• FAQ  • Search  • Memberlist  • Usergroups   • Register   • Profile  • Log in to check your private messages  • Log in 

Lotus Mouthpieces


Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3 ... 8, 9, 10 ... 18, 19, 20  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    trumpetherald.com Forum Index -> Mouthpieces
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
bellicapelli
Regular Member


Joined: 04 Feb 2021
Posts: 21

PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jaw04 wrote:
Remember that first youtube ad campaign where Adam was saying your mouthpiece sucks? I wish that was still online. It was walking that edgy line of being not funny but also being kind of obnoxious for no reason.


This is still online...

https://www.facebook.com/100044521505975/posts/247719216722127/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kevin_soda
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 20 Jan 2015
Posts: 558
Location: Seattle

PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jaw04 wrote:
Remember that first youtube ad campaign where Adam was saying your mouthpiece sucks? I wish that was still online. It was walking that edgy line of being not funny but also being kind of obnoxious for no reason.


I think you've described Adam Rapa perfectly.
_________________
Kevin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
acritzer
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 29 Nov 2009
Posts: 827
Location: Cincinnati, OH

PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If anyone cares...I’ve decided to stick with the 3 rims and send back the 2’s. The sizes are all quite close but I’d rather go a smidge smaller from the Monette B3S3 rather than larger.
The nice thing is the Lotus 3M, while having a slightly smaller diameter and a shallower cup still has a huge sound and responds amazing well in the low register. Does not seem to respond like a traditional D cup.

Am still waiting on the 3L and considering I paid for 4 mouthpieces I may opt to try a different cup as wel. Possibly the XL2 or M2.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jay2015trumpet
Regular Member


Joined: 29 May 2015
Posts: 74

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Has anyone else heard anything? I emailed a few days back and haven't received any response or acknowledgement.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jimspeedjae
Veteran Member


Joined: 05 Apr 2013
Posts: 165

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yesterday I heard from them.

I asked for an update and was told that they'd had another batch from the plater...

"We have roughly 1200 mouthpieces on order, and around 200 have already been sent out. We're expecting 200 more before the end of this week, and as long as things keep moving in this way, we'll have all the mouthpieces covered in a few weeks.

We've spent 7 weeks of obsessive work to get this right. Cutting the mouthpieces has been perfect all along, only the finish has proven to be a real challenge. Now we have a solid process for the buffing and plating as well. We have several hundred already cut, and are waiting for them to be silver plated. So unless something drastic happens, we'll have all of them done in a few weeks' time."

I've run into production issues in my work in the past, and it's not fun, so I'll cut them some slack. I still think they missed a trick by not having better comms and PR throughout the problems - regular updates could really help foster a "we're in it together" mentality and increase brand loyalty. Then again, it's easier said than done.

All in all, I'll look forward to getting them whenever they turn up and sincerely hope that they've overcome the difficulties.

One question I've had in my mind throughout this - is the issue of moving from Egger to (presumably) a non-musical instrument engineering shop for production.

It's one for the CNC guys - if I have an accurate .stl file (or whatever 3D geometry is being used), how difficult is it to produce the mouthpiece from it? I understand QA needs to be done, but a qualified CNC operator can surely cut the mouthpiece to spec? Even allowing for the production of any specialist cutting tools?

As for the finishing, I'm surprised that finding a plater was difficult - many high-end platers do work for aerospace and other precision industries.

I know we need precision, but there are many more complex shapes being produced and plated everywhere. A mouthpiece is only a lump of brass with a hole in it at the end of the day. I know I'll get slammed for that last bit - but nowadays, the years of experience required in design and manually cutting a mouthpiece etc can go out of the window if you can tweak your design in a file and have a machine produce a variation to 1000th of an inch. Do you really need to be an experienced mouthpiece maker if you have the technology, the data and the production standards?

Those minute variations are important for a lot of people who want a custom design, but my point isn't about knowing how to create the design, nor the value of the knowledge or experience in creating the design - it's about the production if you have the design files loaded in the machine. After all, many mouthpiece makers are very proud of their copies/replicas of other mouthpieces, many of which rely on laser scans or moulds of someone else's design.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ERoscio
Regular Member


Joined: 24 Feb 2021
Posts: 21

PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's so funny how things are unwrapping now, I just read this message from jimspeedjae. His emails says they have 200 on the way, which is the very same thing they have been saying for about 3 months. Nothing new here I think.
Oddly enough just yesterday one fellow Lotus-waiter got an email which states exactly the opposite, and that's a fun one!

Charles Wagner is explaining this customer how mouthpiece making works: their struggle is that they have 32 different cup and rim combinations for trumpet and 12 for flugelhorn. I wonder how is it possible for the rest of the community to stay in business with hundreds if not thousands of combinations that many of the other companies offer.
Charles goes on explaing how each one of them needs a different program and changing tools for different models takes a lot of time. Which is exactly what real mouthpiece making companies do every single day, and they certainly don't struggle: mouthpiece companies do that all the time.
But here we are talking about NASA grade non mouthpiece making companies, which Adam Rapa is teaching how to make mouthpieces, apparently.

The other half of the email is even funnier: after explaining how hard it is to make mouthpieces Charlie says they have all of them perfectly cut since a long time already (???) but they are fighting with buffing and plating companies.
These NASA grade plating companies don't know how to plate mouthpieces and, again, Adam Rapa is teaching them how to do it (yeah... because he is a skilled plater).
Unfortunately these companies have a very steep learning curve, meaning the guys who plate for a living can't learn fast enough how to plate a mouthpiece, not even with the help of master plater Adam Rapa.

The email ends with "I cannot guarantee a delivery date until the process if finally set".

So no delivery date, they don't have 200 more coming, they don't know if they will finally succeed teaching these companies how to do their job and, most importantly, the 5-8 weeks delivery time stated on their website is yet another "we hope we can fix our problems in about double that time".
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
acritzer
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 29 Nov 2009
Posts: 827
Location: Cincinnati, OH

PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 2:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I’m really not sure on the details and the messaging. But my 3L is on its way.
I’m keeping the 3M and will probably get a 3M2 as well.

I sent the 2L and 2M back to them.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jicetp
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 30 Mar 2004
Posts: 987

PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got one to sell in the MP
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
SMrtn
Veteran Member


Joined: 29 Oct 2014
Posts: 367
Location: Spain

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 5:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've had one on order since late February. No responses to any inquiry emails from Lotus either. In fact, their occasional updates suggest it's a matter of don't call us we'll call you. So, it's a matter of fingers crossed that I simply didn't give Lotus a charitable donation, and waiting.

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to an extraordinary degree, but this is getting silly. If I can finally snag the mpc I ordered from them, I will not be getting another. I mean, the Curry 7C I ordered two weeks ago arrived two days ago already.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
acritzer
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 29 Nov 2009
Posts: 827
Location: Cincinnati, OH

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SMrtn wrote:
I've had one on order since late February. No responses to any inquiry emails from Lotus either. In fact, their occasional updates suggest it's a matter of don't call us we'll call you. So, it's a matter of fingers crossed that I simply didn't give Lotus a charitable donation, and waiting.

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to an extraordinary degree, but this is getting silly. If I can finally snag the mpc I ordered from them, I will not be getting another. I mean, the Curry 7C I ordered two weeks ago arrived two days ago already.


Did you try the email I listed a while back for Charley? He responds to that fairly well. Just for context I think I ordered mine in Jan?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
SMrtn
Veteran Member


Joined: 29 Oct 2014
Posts: 367
Location: Spain

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

@acritzer

Okay, I'll dig out the email address you're referring to and give it a shot. Thanks.

It's poor form on Lotus' part that a customer having paid for a product, has to to do it that way though. Shouldn't a company that takes orders for its product be responsive to inquiries? I shouldn't have to have an inside lead such as yours to get a response from them.

Oh well...what're you gonna do.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jimspeedjae
Veteran Member


Joined: 05 Apr 2013
Posts: 165

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 10:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Follow up email from Charley yesterday (16th Apr):

"We are very anxious to get your mouthpiece in your horn and you will 100% receive yours. The shipping team has gotten around 250 mouthpieces this week with another 180 or so coming early next week and they send out everything immediately as it arrives. They have finally been able to send out around 200 orders so we are making progress. There is no question that the long delay for you is ridiculous and we cannot say enough times "THANK YOU FOR WAITING". The good news is that the reviews coming in are even better for the new v 2.0 models than came in for the old v 1.0 models. We can't wait for you to get yours and send us a review."

Based on that it sounds like they have the production line moving and ties in with the other message that it will be a few weeks to catch up.

I've been communicating using mouthpieces@lotustrumpets.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
evolution
Veteran Member


Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 217
Location: Germany

PostPosted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 10:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

By accident I got today a LOTUS 2M of the new series. Used but of course in new condition. With a little discount as well. Lucky me! So I got a "used" one before the last new ones are sent out. I didn't dig the commercial touch of most Rapa-videos but the Egger-mpcs were good. I was curious and I can encourage you to look forward to your new Lotus-mouthpieces even if it has very much delay. These are good!
Mine is very well made, fits perfect in all my receivers, looks beautiful, perfect silverplate and plays great. I found the old rims to be a bit to comfy. The new series feels quite similar but a bit more defined which I enjoy. The sound is a bit crisper and the attacks and the feeling all around is a bit more direct. The slotting in the upper register is very easy.
I must say: if I could have said what to change to the old Lotus-mouthpieces it would be exact like the new one is now.
I have now the new 2M and old 3M N+, 2L+, 2L+ (marked with "NEW", but Egger-made).
The new 2M is my immediate favourite. The sound of the 2L+ is a bit richer but more diffuse as well.
If I should choose one for all purposes it would be the new one. I dig the 2L+ but used conventional 3C-style mpcs for commercial work. The 2M doesn't need this replacement anymore.

I hope you all get your pieces soon and have fun like me.

Stay safe!
_________________
Enjoy music!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
gemovia
New Member


Joined: 17 Apr 2021
Posts: 2
Location: Texas, US

PostPosted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 4:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Has anyone in the US that purchased a bronze alloy mouthpiece received theirs yet? I ordered mine on February 1st and still waiting
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
John27
New Member


Joined: 18 Oct 2011
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 5:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

gemovia wrote:
Has anyone in the US that purchased a bronze alloy mouthpiece received theirs yet? I ordered mine on February 1st and still waiting


I ordered a 3L bronze on Jan 5 and haven’t received it yet. No tracking either. A friend of mine who lives 15 minutes away (Chicago) got his brass mouthpiece 2L 2 about two to three weeks ago now. I did see one person got a bronze mouthpiece delivered on Instagram but no idea what country he was from.
_________________
John Moore Jr.
Warburton/Lotus/Reeves
Bach 72*
Bach 43* w/Calicchio 1S bell and 10 lead pipe
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cgooding
Veteran Member


Joined: 15 Nov 2001
Posts: 191
Location: Tallahassee, FL

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I ordered a bronze 3L in January. Haven't heard anything about shipping since that first video where Adam was headed to Italy to "take care of everything".
_________________
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Winghorn
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 2156
Location: Olympia, Washington

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I ordered my bronze 2L on December 31, 2000.

Still waiting patiently...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kevin_soda
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 20 Jan 2015
Posts: 558
Location: Seattle

PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 12:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Winghorn wrote:
I ordered my bronze 2L on December 31, 2000.

Still waiting patiently...


I hope you mean to say 2020...
_________________
Kevin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Winghorn
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 2156
Location: Olympia, Washington

PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, I did.

Thanks for the catch, kind sir.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bryant Jordan
Veteran Member


Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 410
Location: Utah, USA

PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kevin_soda wrote:
Winghorn wrote:
I ordered my bronze 2L on December 31, 2000.

Still waiting patiently...


I hope you mean to say 2020...


I was like...this guy has completely mastered the art of patience.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    trumpetherald.com Forum Index -> Mouthpieces All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3 ... 8, 9, 10 ... 18, 19, 20  Next
Page 9 of 20

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group