Clocking The Mouthpiece

RL · Veteran Member Joined: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 162

Good thread.....I've done this as well some time ago and marked my mouthpiece so that it's always in the right position. Didn't discussed this with others because I thought that they wouldn't take me serious.....good to read that more trumpeters are doing the same....

Next step is doing a valve allignment...

american boy · Veteran Member Joined: 22 Sep 2012 Posts: 344 Location: ny

I wanted to clock a conductor once..Took a long deep breath instead

ALaschiver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 639

The shop that does my restorations, clocks the mouthpipes on certain appropriate horns. He does work for major symphony players so this must have merit.

TKSop · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:40 am Post subject:

I would guess this would be minimal on higher quality modern pieces...
Then again, if a player thinks it makes a difference then the psychological benefit may be valuable in its own right.

It would be interesting to see whether players with "clocked" pieces would clock the same spot under blind tested conditions.

I can't say I've bothered beyond the ocd-ish compulsion to have the brand centered upwards.
When I've accidentally not done so, I can't say I've noticed any difference, but that's rarely happened.

_Daff · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 1431

There are actually (at least) three components in play, the mouthpiece, the receiver, and the leadpipe. In theory, these components should all align perfectly on a common, central axis. In addition to manufacturing tolerances (imperfections), consider the compounded effects when the receiver is minutely askew of the leadpipe and the mouthpiece is minutely askew of the receiver.

I swear by the positive effects of mp clocking. It's akin to fine-tuning a station an old analog radio dial.

homebilly · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 9:05 am Post subject:

i prefer to clock my horn instead

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John Mohan · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 9:10 am Post subject:

Another legitimate reason to clock a mouthpiece is to prevent a colleague from seeing what size mouthpiece you're playing.

Odneal's Inferno · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 10:25 am Post subject:

I was taught this practice by Dick Schaffer of the Houston Symphony. He played in the symphony over 30 years was one of my teachers. He was a fine jazz player and a fan of Maynard as were a lot of the brass section was, especially the bass trombonist.

I have been doing this for years. I use the backbore number on my Warburton mouthpiece and I can hear and fell a difference when I play.
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mm55 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 1412

Andy Del · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 12:10 pm Post subject:

I was introduced to the concept by my first trumpet teacher back in the 1970's. He clocked all his mouthpieces and then set a small glass jewel to make the upright spot. He also only used 1 Bb at a time...

I tend to work out the best sot on each horn and mouthpiece, and keep them that way. It may help the trumpet play better, or help me play the trumpet better.

Now knows, but it's something to do!

Cheers

Andy
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stumac · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 4:52 pm Post subject:

My Wedge mouthpiece only plays at 2 positions 180 degrees apart.

I have an Armstrong mouthpiece in which the cup and backbore are misaligned by half the throat diameter, it does not play well at any position.

Regards, Stuart.

Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

I've seen clocking demonstrated in front of a trumpet playing audience twice by Yamaha technician, Wayne Tanabe. I didn't believe it and now I do.

TrumpetDan79 · Veteran Member Joined: 27 Jan 2015 Posts: 157

When I met Bob and Wayne some years ago, I had never heard of this either. I was very skeptical at first, but I certainly believe in it. We do this every time I change a mouthpiece, and get my horns adjusted by them.

I find a "12-o'clock" position, then turn it clockwise at quarter turns until I find the sound I'm looking for along with a balanced resistance. Then if I need, I can further experiment with "10, 20, 25, 35, etc....on the clock."

Older mouthpieces that were cut by hand really respond to this adjustment, and etc-etc explained it great! And I agree as mentioned about modern CNC mouthpieces. Sometimes, they are less prone to the effects of clocking, but clocking in itself does not make the big drastic differences in adjusting. It's just one part.

The cup and rim are important when discussing this, however I would submit the backbore and shank are just as if not more so when talking about clocking.

Check out the end of the shank on your mouthpiece. Is it slightly out of round? If it is, don't round it. Just clock it. You'll notice where more resistance is vs. less.

Trust me, that is the just the BEGINNING of the rabbit hole of trumpet adjusting. Stuff I ain't talkin' about, haha. But I can assure you this and other adjustments are very real.

Happy New Year!!

D
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etc-etc · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 6187

MrOlds · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 9:23 am Post subject:

With some pieces I sense there is an ideal orientation. But the amount of magic I get from finding the best orientation is minimal. I place my mouthpiece in the same orientation each time to eliminate one (minor) variable.

There is far more variability day to day with all the stuff on the organic side the mouthpiece.

Paladin53 · Regular Member Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Posts: 34

Ok, what about a mouthpiece cut for Reeves Sleeves?
Does the sleeve have to find its special place on the mouthpiece too?

Just what test does one do to determine the best position of the mouthpiece.
Is it just the sound, slotting, intonation, are all affected?

I would like to see a top notch pro do a blind test and see if he-she could repeat the best position.

trumanjazzguy · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 3:14 pm Post subject:

I "clock" a number of my favorite mouthpieces. I clock them for comfort purposes only. The most modern piece I play is from the early 90's before CNC was common. I find certain areas of the bite are softer or sharper. I always put the softest discernible spot of the rim bite to my top lip, which, for me, takes the majority of the pressure and needs to be softer.

I play a Burbank 90's era Marcinkiewics E8 R Baptist and a 60's era Holton 66 mouthpiece. I find putting the softest spot of the rim to the middle of my top lip gives me much better endurance. Whatever plays easier will ultimately sound better...
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