Why don't ACB mpcs, get no respect?

Irving · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 1886

Well said Delano. Making mouthpieces is incredibly profitable, so you really can't blame the mouthpiece makers, especially because people are willing to pay ridiculous prices for them. Whether or not they are an improvement over your standard Bach, Yamaha or JK is up to each individual to decide.

BudBix · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 3:51 am Post subject:

A mish-mash of thoughts here.

ACB's web site design is a mess. They need to hire a better web designer to clean up the site so that information is more logically organized and presented.

Similarly the mouthpiece line isn't easy to digest because there's a little bit of this and a little bit of that. However I think that's also a strength for people that happen to be looking for something they have. It's like a collection of custom mouthpieces.

Personally I don't like the look of the standard blank.

Thinking outside ACB, it's nice we have so much choice but the stuff from the traditional makes like Bach, Schilke, and Yamaha are still quality mouthpieces at very reasonable prices. A lot of the pros I come into contact with are playing dull normal equipment.

delano · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 4:47 am Post subject:

stuartissimo · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:36 am Post subject:

kehaulani · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 9:00 am Post subject:

For me, the take-away from delano's post is that we should think for ourselves and not be drawn into a me-too mentality.

I usually revolve around a Purviance 5*K4 (Reeves, Bush, etc.) but recently I've been playing a plain ole Bach 6B. Sixty bucks. It's comfortable with a wonderful sound.

Don't know if that will be my go-to mpc. eventually, but it's nice. And inexpensive and I think too many get caught up and are overly impressed by the internet mythology of designer mouthpieces being overall superior.

Riffing off an earlier post of just letting a horn be that horn, if I do go with the Bach*, it will likely be with my Committee and keep using the Purviance with my Benge.

(*or ACB TA-1 CS.)
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Trumpjerele · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 9:38 am Post subject:

I agree with what Delano says, not with what other people say he says!!!!

Back to the topic of ACB mouthpieces, I have not perceived that they have no respect, in general I read more positive comments than negative ones.

Anyway, in any economic sector, building a good reputation takes time, and ACB has been making mouthpieces for a relatively short time, compared to other brands.
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JWG · Veteran Member Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 257

While I like Trent and purchase from Austin Custom Brass, I have one criticism about Trent's mouthpiece system: He uses a Bach-like rim numbering system, but he does not stay true to Bach rim sizes.

I corresponded with his mouthpiece person who kindly sent me a google doc with their mouthpiece specifications.

However, when I asked about 1.5 rim specifications and availability, he indicated that they altered rim specs rather than using Bach rim specifications, especially on sizes that did not sell well, e.g., 1.5 rims. In fact, Trent's Custom Reserve line does not even offer a 1.5 rim size.

That struck me as odd, because Bach 1.5 rims have great popularity among orchestra and wind ensemble players in Southern California where I play.

Thus, Trent's mouthpiece system has the weakness in that it lacks rim uniformity with the Bach system on all sizes. So, a person who purchases one of Trent's mouthpieces online based on what they like in the Bach system may get disappointed by the nonuniform sizing.

Systemic consistency has great importance when going on a mouthpiece "safari," because I believe that most people try to logically keep the mouthpiece specifications and traits that they like and fine tune the traits that they want to improve.

Due to divergences from the Bach system, I would suggest that Trent use a more technical system for describing his mouthpieces (either in millimeters or thousandths of an inch) and then describe each dimension of the mouthpiece similar to how Mark Curry does.
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John Mock · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:02 am Post subject:

Never seen either a Wild Thing trumpet or ACB mouthpieces that I can remember.
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trickg · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:40 am Post subject:

I'm currently playing on an ACB 3C, and I have an assortment to choose from:

Jupiter XO 3C
Bach 3C
Curry 3C
Shires 3C (I think these are made by Pickett maybe?)

Interestingly, they all have different playing characteristics.

The ACB seems to be the best balance of sound and playability for the Shires Model B that I usually play, so that's what I use.

Curry 3C - plays a bit crisper in terms of articulation than the ACB, (and this is just a minor thing) but the sound is brighter with a bit of an edge, but otherwise feels about the same. I suspect that the difference is in sound is due to the backbore. It's noticeably brighter, so even though it plays the best of the bunch by a smidge, the ACB sounds a good bit better.

Jupiter XO 3C - I use this with a National Guard issued Yamaha Xeno when I march. The rim on this is a bit more forgiving and allows for a bit more pressure, but I don't really care for how it plays for any other situation.

Shires/Pickett 3C - this mouthpiece is just a touch on the narrow side, and although it sounds nice - very round, I feel like it closes off in my upper register, which is probably a playing technique/pressure issue. But with that in mind, I find that it marries up well with my C trumpet, so that's the mouthpiece I use for that because it rounds out the sound a bit. I like the ACB too, but in that horn, the Shires 3C seems a bit more centered.

Bach 3C - I'm not sure how I acquired this one, but I dislike it enough that I don't really use it and it sits on the shelf.

So isn't that funny - they are all 3Cs, but they are also all different.

delano · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 5:38 pm Post subject:

For the record: I am not attacking Trent, he is a nice guy and using his business opportunities is of course legitimate.
And of course Irving added to my statement that what I implied, he made it dummy proof which seems to be necessary so now and then.

ericmpena · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:22 pm Post subject:

I’ve loved their Papa Bear and Baby Bear sizes so far.
I also enjoyed the NY1, but it wasn’t as good of a fit for me as the Bear line.

I personally have had much more success with ACB mouthpieces than I ever have with Monette or Bach. But it’s all just a preference thing.

stuartissimo · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:54 pm Post subject:

trickg · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 5:58 am Post subject:

Rapier232 · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 6:22 am Post subject:

My thoughts are, it’s ‘any respect, not, no respect’.

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kehaulani · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 6:36 am Post subject:

puzzleheadedcow · Regular Member Joined: 09 May 2022 Posts: 48

This is a pretty bizarro thread but seems very typical for this forum I have surmised.

All I know is that I love my Custom Reserve piece and am thankful for it.
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trickg · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 10:29 am Post subject:

puzzleheadedcow · Regular Member Joined: 09 May 2022 Posts: 48

krax · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:28 pm Post subject:

Going back to the topic, as others have said the nomenclature and sizing is frustrating. I'd say that they sort of takes it for granted that the presumed buyer has tried lots of mouthpieces of all different kinds and knows the supposed differencies between different Bach mouthpieces of different eras by heart. The word "respect" in the thread title is really appropriate, it's hard to respect something that confusing.

That said, the TA1 was my main mouthpiece for some years but it had a frustrating side-effect, if I played it extensively for some months I couldn't play any other mouthpieces well and that was really bad for me. Later, I moved back to bigger mouthpieces and the ACB 1.5B became my next choice. That was a great mouthpiece for me! Best I had played so far in my life, without doubt, but it felt like luck and nothing but luck that I managed to get one piece in the line-up that really fit me.

Now, when I've moved on it is to another maker whose sizing I get and whose pieces share the same sense to my embouchure regardless of the size.