Cheechoo

Exactly what mouthpiece characteristics do you associate with better articulation, better attacks, better endurance, better tone, etc.

As the mouthpiece is a compromise, what features do you sacrifice to obtain your best piece?

Tootsall

Cheechoo wrote "As the mouthpiece is a compromise, what features do you sacrifice to obtain your best piece?"

None. I bought a GR after a short consult with Bruce!

jamesfrmphilly

shouldn't this be in the mouthpiece forum?

Nonsense Eliminator

Charlie --

There is some good stuff in the Bach mouthpiece guide:

http://www.selmer.com/products/acces.../bachmouth.pdf

And on the Schilke Loyalist page:

http://www.dallasmusic.org/schilke/H...outhpiece.html

Here is my rough'n'ready guide to the advantages of different parameters:

Rim:

Wider: better endurance
Narrower: better flexibility
Sharper: better attacks
Rounder: better endurance

Cup:

Deeper: richer sound
Shallower: less effort to play
Wider: broader sound
Narrower: less effort to play
More V-shaped: mellower sound
More cup-shaped: more focussed sound, more security

Throat/Backbore:

Larger: thicker sound, freer blowing
Smaller: less effort to play

BIG FAT "BUTS":

If you play a mouthpiece that is too big, your sound will be crappy because you will be fighting the mouthpiece.
If you play a mouthpiece that is too small, you may actually lose range because you are fighting the sound.
If you play a rim that is too round, you may hurt your endurance because the sound loses its immediacy and consequently you have to work harder to start the sound.

MPM

One of the best things I 've ever read in regards to mouthpieces is a publication availbe from Stork Custom Mouthpieces entitled "Unsterstanding The Mouthpiece".