Cornet mouthpiece: v-cups & fitment?

luckej · Regular Member Joined: 28 Jun 2019 Posts: 28

Hi!

TLDR:
Are the Denis Wick mouthpiece clones on Amazon etc worth trying?
And should I trim a mouthpiece to help it fit better?

More below, for those who like to read a stranger's ramblings.

I'm getting back into playing after more than 10 years off, playing a few numbers (when I'm not running the board) in a cover band and starting to teach my 8yo son. I learned on trumpet, chose cornet to come back on because of the allegedly "less-brassy" sound.

I've got a copper bell Conn with a Conn 4 mouthpiece and I want to experiment a bit with conical mouthpieces. I've been eyeing the Wick clones (4 & 4B) on Amazon etc because my budget is limited, and last week I got a DeNicola 13c on eBay.

But--it doesn't fit my 1971 Conn (or my son's 1990s Holton) at all well. It wobbles like it's bottomed out, and it seems like notes are harder to hit--that could be my lack of familiarity with a shallow conical mouthpiece, though. I tried to measure the taper, and with the receiver end of two mouthpieces side-by-side and pointing in opposite directions (so they would cancel out of they're the same taper) there's a difference of about .001 inches with my son's Holton mouthpiece and .006-8 inches with my Conn 4, with the DeNicola having the shallower taper in both cases.

So there's some variation in mouthpiece taper, but how much is too much? Of the 3 mouthpieces and 2 cornets I have to try, the Conn 4 is the only one that doesn't wobble at all in either horn. I asked the seller, and they said they hadn't heard of fitment issues with the DeNicola mouthpieces, but they "wouldn't be surprised" as they bought a "bunch of stuff" from Bobby DeNicola's estate and the lettering is double/crooked/etc. Should I try to grind say 1/16" off the mouthpiece, as some have suggested here on TH? Or did I get a dud?

Thanks!

JayKosta · Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2019 2:38 pm Post subject:

First try wrapping a small piece of paper (or tape) around the shank to see if that gives a usable fit.
Trimming metal off the end of the shank should be a last resort.

Jay
_________________
Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

luckej · Regular Member Joined: 28 Jun 2019 Posts: 28

Jay,

Thanks for the advice, I wrapped plumber's teflon tape around the shank to get rid of the wobble and it seemed to help. Then after a few weeks it fell off and I didn't really notice the difference in playing--probably I had gotten used to the mouthpiece by then. So I've been playing that way for a while now (several months? I can't believe I posted this last June!), and I can't tell that the wobble is causing any problems. I was pretty bummed at the time, so thanks for the quick-and-dirty fix to get me back at it! =)
_________________
1971 Yamaconn cornet (my comeback horn)
Reynolds Argenta
Reynolds Professional
Markneukirchen Fürst Pless
…too many others to list...

Dale Proctor · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 4:19 pm Post subject:

I’d say your new mouthpiece isn’t made very well. As for the Wick clones, I’d find a used, genuine Wick on eBay to avoid another disappointment. The Wick 4 is probably way too mellow for the playing you’re doing, though. I’d opt for the 4B, but it will still be a big departure from what you’re used to.
_________________
"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

Crazy Finn · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 4:58 pm Post subject:

luckej · Regular Member Joined: 28 Jun 2019 Posts: 28

Thanks for the responses!

Got a lead on a Bach 7 (no letter), what do you think? What about the Reynolds 5A/5B mouthpieces?

What's "too mellow"? I want to be audible next to the guitars and their amps, but besides that.... =)
_________________
1971 Yamaconn cornet (my comeback horn)
Reynolds Argenta
Reynolds Professional
Markneukirchen Fürst Pless
…too many others to list...

Andy Cooper · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:25 am Post subject:

Kelly mouthpieces is still doing their 50% off sale on some of their mouthpieces. (Not real conservative colors.)
If you want a short shank - they make a 4B Wick clone and a 6V. I purchased a long model cornet 6V - kind of like it - not as deep as a Wick 4. It is around the Bach 6-7 diameter range with a rounded rim. I've had the 4B Kelly - it was ok too.

I tried both a Wick and the Kelly 6V long in a YamaConn American length style cornet and neither shank bottomed out . Both had about the same insertion depth.

I don't care that much for plastic trumpet mouthpieces, but to me, they sound fine on cornet. Nice thing about plastic - you can reshape the rim and cup without worrying about plating.