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Bear · 10-31-2005, 02:07 PM

Hello Good folxs of the TM community.

Recently Felix has been generous and gracious enough to allow me to try out the Stage 1 Mouthpiece. Though I am not sure if this is a "lead specific" piece or not it works well in that category. A little background first: I am a lead player in a college jazz band. Outside of school I am also in a church orchestra and several rock/jazz groups and double on bone. My equipment include the Zeus line of horns and for mpcs I use Monette B4 line, a Bach 3C, a W46. Below are my thoughts/opinions of the piece. Felix may chime in and answer any specifics if I leave something out or just plain don't know.

Design: I am impressed with the overall look of the piece. "Futuristic" comes to mind. I'm not sure if it's a "heavy" peice but it is more dense then a stock peice.

Rim: Although the rim seems a little narrower than I am accustomed too it "feels" good. I am able to have clean, concise attacks. Endurance has never really been a problem for me so I cannot speak on that behalf.

Cup: A "double cup" design. Very open and free as the second cup seems to be more v shaped funneling the air away from the chops. It's not so shallow that I bottom out and it's not so deep that I feel like I'm swimming. I would hesistate to use this peice on an orch gig, but I'm sure it could be done. As for lead... oh yeah baby, bring it, lol.

Throat/Backbore: I'm not a mpc designer and don't claim to know anything about teh science of phyics/acoustics/sound production but I like an open, easy blowing, small resistenance piece. This mpc delivers for me.

Sound: I realize this is a vague concept since so much of ones sound depends on their inner ear and what they want. All I'm going to say is that this piece is very versatile in the sense that I can play a ballad with a dark tone or an uptempo swing with a bright tone all on the same piece. Coloring/manipulating the sound on this piece is a nonissue for me. On oher pieces I have struggled with that.

Conclusion: I strongly suggest you try this piece if you are looking for something new. If anyone would like to add anything in then please feel free. Clarence, I believe you were able to try the piece? Just keep in mind, these are my opinions and thoughts. Different strokes for different folxs. Felix, great job dude.

10-31-2005, 02:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bear Mezzo Forte User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: CO Posts: 799	The Stage 1 mouthpiece Hello Good folxs of the TM community. Recently Felix has been generous and gracious enough to allow me to try out the Stage 1 Mouthpiece. Though I am not sure if this is a "lead specific" piece or not it works well in that category. A little background first: I am a lead player in a college jazz band. Outside of school I am also in a church orchestra and several rock/jazz groups and double on bone. My equipment include the Zeus line of horns and for mpcs I use Monette B4 line, a Bach 3C, a W46. Below are my thoughts/opinions of the piece. Felix may chime in and answer any specifics if I leave something out or just plain don't know. Design: I am impressed with the overall look of the piece. "Futuristic" comes to mind. I'm not sure if it's a "heavy" peice but it is more dense then a stock peice. Rim: Although the rim seems a little narrower than I am accustomed too it "feels" good. I am able to have clean, concise attacks. Endurance has never really been a problem for me so I cannot speak on that behalf. Cup: A "double cup" design. Very open and free as the second cup seems to be more v shaped funneling the air away from the chops. It's not so shallow that I bottom out and it's not so deep that I feel like I'm swimming. I would hesistate to use this peice on an orch gig, but I'm sure it could be done. As for lead... oh yeah baby, bring it, lol. Throat/Backbore: I'm not a mpc designer and don't claim to know anything about teh science of phyics/acoustics/sound production but I like an open, easy blowing, small resistenance piece. This mpc delivers for me. Sound: I realize this is a vague concept since so much of ones sound depends on their inner ear and what they want. All I'm going to say is that this piece is very versatile in the sense that I can play a ballad with a dark tone or an uptempo swing with a bright tone all on the same piece. Coloring/manipulating the sound on this piece is a nonissue for me. On oher pieces I have struggled with that. Conclusion: I strongly suggest you try this piece if you are looking for something new. If anyone would like to add anything in then please feel free. Clarence, I believe you were able to try the piece? Just keep in mind, these are my opinions and thoughts. Different strokes for different folxs. Felix, great job dude.