What are your top three "must try" all-around MPs?

[ehammarlund]

I'm a comeback player getting back into it. My 3C/7C MPs seem to work fine, frankly, but how could I possibly know if they approach "ideal" if they are the only ones I have ever tried? (bach 37; classical, some brass quintet, some brass band, no altissimo.)

In any case I occasionally find myself surfing the MP marketplace and wondering "what else is worth trying for an amateur all-rounder?" Lots of MPs out there for the same cost as a single lesson....

I figure that a lot of you have experience with this issue. What are your top three "must-try" mouthpieces that you have successfully recommended to folks? Of course they won't work for everyone, yadda yadda. But beyond the "Bach 3C" and "Bach 7C" world what would you think is worth a shot?

[Steve A]

A certain (smallish?) percentage of people seem to really thrive, and make huge gains with minimal losses when moving to either a big (1-1.5ish) or small (7, or smaller) mouthpiece, but for most people, the difference won't be this dramatic. If you want to experiment, by all means, but IMO the odds are that you'll find that there's a range of mouthpieces that are all fine, that each improvement one offers in one area will be offset by a challenge in another, and that you'll still basically be back at square one - learning to play the thing, and getting more mileage out of lessons than a drawer full of mouthpieces that still sound like you.

[Ed Kennedy]

This is a slippery slope. If it works don't fix it.

I like Reeves, but that is me. I have in the past been a dealer and used:
Reeves
Purviance
Marcinkiewicz
Giardinelli
Jettone
Bach
Stork
Warburton
Curry
Bush
Loud (now Patrick)
Others which I have forgotten.
You have been warned.

[TKSop]

[onlyson]

It has been my experience that with every new horn I buy, I need a new mouthpiece. What may have worked before on one horn is no guarantee
of it's performance on another horn. Just me? Maybe.

I like the Bach Artisan 3C for playing with my pop/rock band (on a Yamaha 8335LA)

I like the Austin Custom Brass MV 3C with my Committee.

And I like the Hammond 4ML with my Bach Strad.

These are my mouthpieces. There are many like them (and believe me I've tried a bunch), but these ones are mine. YMMV.
_________________
Del Quadro Grizzly
Yamaha 9335CH
1951 Martin Committee Deluxe #3 Bore
ACB Coppernicus
Couesnon Flugel
Carol Pocket Trumpet

[USCGRick]

So having just gone down this road. A couple of things I discovered. Like you I was a 3C and 5C guy. When I received my new horn I needed to see what worked best for me in terms of sound (new horn) and what felt best. After trying wide rims, different throats, cups and bores I came back to where I left. I’m back on a 3C with a normal throat and bore. I didn’t see much difference in the wide rim but it was comfortable. I did like the triple cup though and the V cup. But after my safari I satisfied my curiosity and feel my choice is best for me.
However, as I played with different mouthpieces I did find one that really impressed me. The stainless steel Giddings is simply outstanding for feel, comfort, playability etc. I loved it! I mention this as the above choices and recommendations are all good ones. But I think you would be very impressed with the stainless steel. They’re pricey but after trying them they’re worth it.
_________________
USCG Rick

Harrelson Bb VPS Summit One
Harrelson C VPS Summit

[VintageFTW]

I would suggest looking into some Marcinkiewicz mouthpieces. They offer a wide line, are relatively inexpensive, blow well, and have very comfortable rims. There are many, many other options out there though. You could try testing out heavyweight mouthpieces and the like as well.
_________________
1880's Thompson & Odell Boston
1880's L&H "Henry Gunckel" Sole Agent Cornet
1903 L&H "Improved Own Make"
Early 1900's Marceau Cornet *B&F Stencil
1922 Holton-Clarke Cornet
1954 Elkhart built by Buescher 37b
...And many more

[VintageFTW]

You could also look into modular systems such as Warburton, Reeves, Harrelson, ect... but they tend to get really quite expensive.
_________________
1880's Thompson & Odell Boston
1880's L&H "Henry Gunckel" Sole Agent Cornet
1903 L&H "Improved Own Make"
Early 1900's Marceau Cornet *B&F Stencil
1922 Holton-Clarke Cornet
1954 Elkhart built by Buescher 37b
...And many more

[razeontherock]

It might make the most sense to try other mpcs in the same size, trying to find something that simply plays better. Curry furnishes that for many here, and is affordably priced.

[Jerry]

GR
Hammond Design
Monette
Curry
Stork
Bob Reeves

I think these play so much better than Bach mouthpieces.

[Andy Del]

My advice is to do nothing. You are wondering if something different would be better, but better than what? Unless there is a need for change, like a different sound, issue with comfort, endurance, range, etc. which cannot be helped too much by just practicing, it's going to be total guesswork. And cost money.

Once you know what you want from a new mouthpiece, then the search can start.

cheers

andy
_________________
so many horns, so few good notes...

[zaferis]

I like the various answers (lack of direct answers).. The problem is that until you have a solid embuchure, and a consistent point of reference, the search for the best fit can be detrimental and difficult. Additonally, very easy to get onto the slippery slope of never settling-always searching for an answer in the mouthpiece.

Pick one that feels relatively comfortable, mid-sized, C cup (not too shallow, not too deep) and spend your money on lessons, AND spend your time in the "shed"

Bach 7C, 3C, 5C
Yamaha 14B4 - standard or GP
Schilke 13
_________________
Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

[cbtj51]

[CJceltics33]

Many people swear by the Curry 3C or 5C. I urge you not to make changes that aren’t necessary...but experimenting does not hurt. Comfort and ease of play are particular things to pay attention to.

[Bflatman]

Change causes problems.
There had better be a good reason for making a change.

"I am playing well - I need to change this"

Enough said

[giakara]

For me Purviance 9A and 8A.

Regards
_________________
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs

[Rompson]

You can always buy another copy of the 7c/3c/whatever you have and have the throat and/or backbore opened. That way the feel is still similar, and you can make a more objective judgement about what you like and don't like. Worse comes to worse and you don't like the changes, you now have an extra mouthpiece to keep in your car for emergencies.

[kehaulani]

All you want to know are, for your purposes, the top three suggested tries, right? (No lectures and only three?) Then:

Schilke M4C Symphony Series

Silver Monette 6

Bach Megatone 3B
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[jhatpro]

The number of factors that need to be considered when finding the best mouthpiece make me want to sell 'em all and take up the accordion:

Mouthpiece rim size and shape, cup shape and volume, throat and backbore size

Horn bore and bell size and flare

Sound concept

Playing objective

Playing experience

Add such things as your general health, dental issues, whether your team is winning and how much snow you had to shovel to get your car out if the garage and you begin to understand why there are an estimated 750 tons of mouthpieces on the market at any tme.
_________________
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

[theslawdawg]