Kent

I have been using the 3C since my "comeback" for about 18 months now and I have made good strides with my set up, range, tone, etc. I am not certain that another mpc would be helpful at this point but I have been advised by someone i respect that it might be worth considering. His advice was to find the narrowest mpc that works to increase compression. The likely set up would also be with a slightly deeper cup as well.

Having worked my butt off for the past while, I am concerned about setting myself back on a safari to no good purpose. I would like to get my working range up to around a CC (I am about a fifth lower at this point) and keep good tone throughtout. I have worked hard at reducing aperature size, etc but would like to be able to increase endurance in the higher registers a little more. I don't expect to be a screamer but aim to play jazz standards in the small group I am now with as well as some wind ensemble playing.

Any thoughts?

Schwab

I like the Yamaha Hagstrom mouthpiece, it has a smaller rim and a larger cup than a 3C. They aren't expensive and most music stores probably have them in stock for you to try.

bigtiny

Why be obsessed with playing a double c when you are going to pursue small ensemble playing? Unless you want to specialize as a lead or 'scream' trumpet player, you really don't need to spend a lot of time and energy developing this kind of range just for the sake of having it.

If you ARE dead set on developing this kind of range, then I'd make sure it's the mouthpiece that's preventing you from achieving it and consider VERY carefully what other attributes of your playing or your sound that you may lose or corrupt in making the change.

The 3C isn't the end all-be all, but it's a good mouthpiece, used by a LOT of players. If you've a nice sound and decent range with it, then just be careful before changing. Mouthpiece roulette can become a very tedious, expensive game.

bigtiny

Kent

Bigtiny, I have to agree that you need to have a good reason to put the effort into the range work. My thoughts on the double c is mainly to be comfortable below it and doing it for the sake of just doing it is rather pointless. I could be doing lip flexes instead!