What do You Use?

[trumpetmike]

I have been fascinated by the discussions of everyone’s favourite instruments, set-up and wish list, so I thought I would ask similar things in the mouthpiece department.
What mouthpieces have you played on?

What do you play on now?

What prompted you to change (if you ever have)?

What did you look for when you changed mouthpiece?

Have you any “top tips” for other trumpet players looking for mouthpieces?

To kick this off;
I started on a very old mouthpiece that was attached to my first trumpet (practically welded on!). When I got a better instrument, it came with an almost as bad mouthpiece that had 7C on it. I then got into playing above the stave and got my hands on a Bach 7EW, which I loved. I tried a Denis Wick 5X and found that even better so changed. At this time I wasn’t interested in tone (nobody had told me it was important!), but I could go sky high without any problems. I then had lessons with a trumpeter (who was a very fine musician) for the first time and he recommended something a little larger. I found a Bach 5A suited me very well. I still had my range but the tone was slightly fuller, in other words – I had some tone!!
I now play on a Warburton 1D for Bb, 1MD for C, Eb and normal piccolo, 1MC for extreme piccolo (Brandenburg and Michel Haydn). I have also gone to the lengths of having one gold-plated and one silver-plated of each. I am still deciding whether to go all gold.
I changed under a recommendation from my university tutor who took a look at my lips (which are quite large) and said that I should try something a little larger if I wanted to go for a full symphonic sound, which was my aim. I then went to a shop that carried the entire Warburton and Schilke range and spent all afternoon trying out mouthpieces until I found one I was happy with.
I looked for one that I found comfortable (rim shape especially), sounded how I wanted it to, which I could still play my full range on and that enabled me to play in tune on my instrument.
The main tip I have for people if they are considering changing a mouthpiece is not to go for one just because someone else plays on that sort. Players like Maurice Murphy, Bud Herseth or Derek Watkins would sound great if you gave them a 7C and a hosepipe! Go for the mouthpiece that makes you sound good, not someone else. I discourage students going for a mouthpiece as large as the one I play on. More than one teacher has told me that my lips are quite large and that the mouthpiece I use suits them quite well. At present, I have had no students with large lips, so I tend to recommend only as large as a Bach 3C, with maybe a deeper cup. If a student is a specialist cornet player a deep cup is, in my view, essential.

So, let’s hear it then, mouthpieces out, what have we got out there?

[redface]

I currently use a warburton 3MC 10*

I use the 10* backbore because my college teacher recommended that kind of backbore for the classical playing i was doing (it's very hard to tell them apart, so a ballpark backbore size was very welcome). I played a 3D before but found it a bit unversatile when it came to playing jazz/commercial music. Before that I played a Schilke 18, but after trying warburton (which I previously thought too expensive) I just had to spend the money. Before that it was a bach 1.5C, but i wanted something a little bigger, and i found it closed up when I was tired.
I was at a Denis Wick masterclass and he said that a really deep mouthpiece tends to hide things, so I changed from the 3D to the 3MC, and found It showed up my articulation more.

I'm gonna change next week, I have a recital on Monday, but in about 4 week I am starting on a cruise ship, so I am gonna ditch the 10* backbore and probably go for something around a 4SV with KT backbore to get a bit more fizz in the sound. Might try Monette. I currently use the 3MC on my Schilke B1L and my E3L.

When looking for a piece I look for sound first, then ease at varying the articulation, then dynamic response/resistance then comfort. But sound is most important.

[ This Message was edited by: redface on 2003-09-06 14:47 ]

[jhatpro]

I grew up playing an Olds Ambassador and, in recent years, have tried a variety of other horns including the Yamaha 6335, Connstellation 36B, Olds Recording and, most recently, Kanstul ZKT 1504.

I still have all those horns, play them regularly, and like them a lot, but the Kanstul has emerged as the alpha leader because its so responsive and slots so well. At least part of the reason may be that it's my newest horn and has the best valves.

As for mouthpieces, I've tried an embarrassingly large number from Bach, Schilke, Curry, GR, and Monette. These days I mostly play a Monette B4S, which the Monette Website says is like a Mt. Vernon 3C. It's comfortable and I like the sound I get: full with an edge.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[DaveH]

In the order of your questions:

1. Bach 3C.

2. I played for many years on a Bach 1 1/4C - still have one, but it is mostly in storage in the case...The change to a 3C was sort of a "process" rather than an immediate change. I made an embouchure adjustment to a more closed type setting - lips together - which then allowed for the 3C size to work well. Before the embouchure adjustment, a 3C was too small. What seemed to be happening was that the apparently more open embouchure setting was, with the help of the big mouthpiece, allowing my lips to collapse into the cup. So the bigger the cup, the better. With a little help from another player, I made that adjustment, so the 3C is now the better size, and the 1 1/4C seems to be too big. My tone on the 1 1/4C seems too unfocused and lacking in center now.

3. I wanted the brighter and "tighter" sound of the 3C. Cleaner, brighter, tighter, more focused. That's how I would describe it. Also, less movement in the embouchure on a 3C, which is facilitated by lips together. A more even and consistent sound up and down the scale.

4. Look for the mouthpiece that makes you sound the best. Also, it must fit your face. Find the best combination of sound and feel. Then, stop looking and get busy practicing. Get off the equipment "merry -go-round." Realize that no mouthpiece is perfect and that all will offer some sort of compromise. Take Renold Schilke's word as true when he said that constant searching for the perfect mouthpiece will only produce frustration...

[trumpetchops]

For years I would play only Bach. I played on a 1B at the end of my Bach career. I played on a Zetola (sp?) for lead work size? (I don't remember)
One night at a band rehearsal another trumpet player asked if I had ever played on a Monette. When I said no he gave me his to play for the night. I was hooked.
Soon after changing to Monette mouth pc. I bought a horn. About a month or so after I received the trumpet Mr. Monette introduced the Pranna. I called and complained and they sent me a Pranna for free.
Now I play on a Prana B15M and a regular B15LD for lead work.
I am not sure if the Prana is for me. Its been about a year but I think it is too deep. The same size as the regular m.p. but it is deeper. I haven't changed back to the old one yet because everyone tells me that I sound better on the Prana.

[Martin]

I am playing a Bach 3C now, and I am going to stick with it.

For years, I have been trying out a LOT of different horns and mouthpieces, not because I was looking for something to make me play better, but for the sheer FUN of it.
Now, with two kids, I no longer have enough time (and money!) to enjoy fooling around with equipment. And finally, my interests have shifted from experimenting with gear to actually playing music.

All the years, I kept coming back to the 3C - I never got rid of it because I always loved its sound. Somehow I was convinced it was too big for me, but recently I decided to stick with it, and it has become really easy to play (most of the time, anyway ).

Same thing with my horn - I settled for a 1970 Bach Strad 37 and an 1953 Olds Ambassador, both in raw brass. These combination let me get exactly the sound I want.
_________________
All the best

Martin
_____________________________________________________________________
"I have found that it is enough when a single note is beautifully played." - Arvo Pärt

[samlg]

i used to play only cornet and so i used a denis wick 3 later a 3b. they have always felt small to me, so when it came to round one f college auditions i borrowed by teachers 1 1/4C which was a nice size but, did not feel quite right. when i finaly bought a trumpet i got a 0.8 stomvi MP kit which is about 17.00mm (bach 1 1/4 size for you imperial folk!).

i used to find that great untill my emboucher sliped slightly (have to keep an eye on this you see) now i moved the position of the MP more towards the middle of my lips. now i feel that it is perhaps a little too small for me. i have always liked a big MP, 3C's seem way too small, i might go out and buy a Bach 1. with the stomvi i use the bigest trumpet cup A size (dont know how it compares to Bach) i think it is the right size but i could go a little deeper. i dont have overly fleshy lips but bigger MP's have always been more comfey.

i might also get one of these fancy new schilke MP's then i can play with rims, cups and backbores.

i think my perfect MP or as close as i think i need at the mo is around 17.00mm with a deep cup. the rim is difficult. i like the feel of the wick and i think that the stomvi maybe too round so ill have a look at a semiround cup. backbores im not to clear on, but by the looks of my post i think it may be large! anything thats suggested for symphonic work.

i strive to sound like a german trumpet!

have fun, sam

[tromba mann]

What do you play on now? 1 1/4 C (as of a month ago)

What prompted you to change (if you ever have)?
My 3C was feeling too small as I was returning to form (I started coming back 18 months ago). For me, as I played more and more each day I began to feel pinched and trapped with the 3C on both my Bb and C. On my C, I was unable to get as full or as projecting a sounds as I wanted. I took the plunge and got the 1 1/4 C last month. I noticed right away that my C sound was much closer to the ideal sound I have in my head. I also noticed I was more able to control the instrument (both Bb and C): shading colors, cleaner articulations, much more resonant low register. I also noticed a strange thing: my endurance was much better on the 1 1/4 C almost right away (not range but overall endurance). It seems odd as I was expecting a 3-6 month lag as my emb. muscles developed to the bigger rim. But as it turns out, I'm not fighting the small size (and perhaps the resistance) of the 3C and playing is much easier even though I have to use more air with the bigger piece. My chops are not as red or sore after playing (in fact they don't hurt at all anymore). Maybe by having more lip involved in the buzzing, it spreads out the work-out, so to speak - who knows?

The only downside was a loss of range, which was expected. Only this last week as I've put away the 3C altogether have I noticed range returning. At first I could barely play a clean high C (D on by Bb). Now I can sustain one after an hour of playing and can play up to high E (F# on the Bb) during the first 30 minutes or so. It should only get better.

Everyone's different physically, stylistically, etc. so one size doesn't fit all, but for me...it was like putting on a tailored suit. I'm happier with my setup now than I've been since coming back and I think the temporary range set-back will be worth it in the end.

[OldKid]

At this point in time I am switching from a 1.5C to a 1C. I play purely for my own pleasure so I have the freedom to play around with my chops.

[bkmdano]

I play Warburton 4 series tops (mc & m). I switched to Warburton at the recommendation of the local music store trumpet guy. The mouthpieces are as comfortable as any I've played. The intonation is also 2nd to none. I like the M & MC because of the flexibility in different situations. I use the KT, 7* & 8* backbores. the 7* is my favorite. I've compared the Warburtons to Monette, GR, Laskey, Schilke, ect. I go back to the Warburtons because of the comfort, intonation and flexibility. I can always change the set up for the situation.
_________________
Dan
Schilke B7Lgp
Schilke S33HDLg
Lawler TL6r1a
Schilke 1040 flugelhorn

[DaveH]

As I posted above, I believe the 3C is just about the right mouthpiece for me. And I do prefer the tone quality it allows me to achieve. I'll not doubt continue to call it my main mouthpiece.

With that said, however, I do think the 1 1/4C has many fine characteristics and I probably won't say that I'll never use it again - I probably will at times.

I also have a CKB 1 1/2C, which I like more and more as I experiment with it. There's what I would call an increased "feeling of security" on that mouthpiece, as it is an extra mass mouthpiece. It comes from the former UMI company.

I have a similar situation to one of the above posts - at this time, I play only for my own amusement, and therefore, have freedom to experiment. I do not depend on the trumpet for my income, so there is nothing to lose by trying out different things here and there.

[Johann24]

I'm currently using a gold rim Bach 5C.

I have used both a 7C and 3C before, but I can get the best tone on the 5C. Interesting enough, I get better range on the 5C than on the 7C. Maybe the 7C doesn't let enough air through?
_________________
V~Raptor Bb, Standard Weight
Conn 80A Victor Cornet

University of Rochester, Class of 2010

[fuzzyjon79]

Warburton 2M with a 6 backbore on my Schilke X3. I like the Warburton mouthpiece system and the 2 series was perfect for me! I was used to playing on a Bach 1-1/4C, but I think I out grew it a little bit. Bach didn't have anything with a wider rim diameter than 17.00 mm so I checked into Warburton and the 2 series was a 17.25mm and put that with a medium cup depth and I was all set!
_________________
J. Fowler
"It takes a big ole' sack of flour, to make a big ole' pan of biscuits!"

[LeeC]

I look for the mouthpiece that cuts the gig the best. What good is a full symphonic tone if it gives you a whole bunch of cracked notes at the end of the gig when fatigued?

I use the Marcinkiewicz 2sb for all around playing and the Marcinkiewicz 7pd for most lead jazz. If all else fails I may stick my extremely rare Al Cass 3X4 in the horn for notes consistently above high C. Like a Stan Kenton type chart.

Generally I try to play a little louder than my peers. Not obnoxiously loud, but make sure that they hear me. So I tend toward the larger bore trumpets I use the French Besson .464 and love it. Has reverse Najoom leadpipe. Maybe someday I'll experiment with the Holton .470 for more vloume, but so far I don't need it.

[trumpetmike]

Leesbrass, couldn’t agree more with your first statement. The reason I used the “full symphonic tone” in my description was that before moving to the Warburton mouthpieces, I had what I (and my tutor) considered to be rather a thin sound. I have never found endurance a problem (on any mouthpiece), so it was the sound that I was looking for.
Thanks everybody for these insights, it is making fascinating reading. Keep ‘em coming!!

[giakara]

I use Warburton system for ten years my rim is #2 and i use all the cups , my favorite Bb is the M whith 80 series kt* perfect for comercial works , for my cornet i play XD top whith 80 series kt * bbore for picc. i use 2SV/3* and for my flugel 2FL.
I thing Warburton mpc's have the perfect rim and many solutions for every gig.
Yiannis

[big brian]

...

[Trptbenge]

I used to use a Schilke 14 and then switched to a Bach 3C. When GR Technology mpcs came out I tried a 66m, then a Paul Butcher model, and then a 66*** (which is great feeling a playing mpc). However, I took a lesson from Charley Davis and we compared the 66*** to a 3C. We found that my sound lost something in the lower register on the GR vs the 3C. I went back to a 3C.

A couple of months ago I heard that Parke was now making the Bergeron model in a variety of sizes. I bought one that is close to a Bach 3C. My sound and range have both improved since I have been playing the Bergeron model with a Warburton 7 bachbore. I keep my 3C close - just in case.

Mike

[ This Message was edited by: Trptbenge on 2003-09-07 09:05 ]

[asemaster]

I've used a Giardinelli since '74. A 1C with a 1 backbore on the Bb, a 3 backbore on the C, D, &Eb, all with a 22 throat, & a 1S with a 3 backbore & a 19 throat on the picc. I'm considering going smaller since I'm only playing 6-7 hours per week, but haven't gotten around to trying any yet.
_________________
Bill
Atlanta Swing Orchestra
Alpha Brass
Anyone with $$

[softcase]

for most things (Bb, C, D, Eb), i use a bach 1-1/2C.
I use a Sparx 2B for cornet.
Bach 7D for piccolo.

I've been thinking of trying a 1-1/4C to replace my 1-1/2, just haven't gotten around to trying.