sistertrumpetdoc

I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about the "Holton MF3" mouthpiece; where to buy one, the cost, what type of music it is best suited for playing, if there is a "story" behind its' name-"MF3," etc. Just any information about this item would be very helpful.

Thanks,
sistertrumpetdoc

screamingmorris

I owned one in the early 1970's.
They are no longer made; they were only made in the early-mid 1970's when they were used by Maynard Ferguson with his Holton ST302 trumpet.
Maynard Ferguson switched to a Jet-Tone version in the late 1970's that had a slightly different cup (I *think* the Jet-Tone version was more convex so that the Jet-Tone version had slightly less cup room than the Holton version).

The Holton MF3 can be found in the Kanstul Comparator at
Kanstul Mouthpiece Comparator

Choose "Holton MF3" from the drop-down menu on the left and then choose another mouthpiece from the drop down menu on the right and then you can use your mouse pointer to drag one on top of the other to compare mouthpieces.

You'll see that the Holton MF3 has about the same diameter as a Bach 20C, but the Holton MF3 has less cup room because its shallow cup is a slightly convex "V" shape rather than a "U" shape.

There was a Holton MF6 in addition to the Holton MF3.
Maynard Ferguson used the one with the #19 throat, while his lead trumpeter Lin Biviano used the one with the #24 throat.
Can anyone verify for me that the MF# was the one with the #19 throat and the MF6 was the one with the #24 throat?

They are very rare since they werte only made a few years in the early -mid 1970's.
I sold my pitted one back in the 1970's.
When I tried to find another used one last year, the only ones I could find were 2 or 3 on eBay that sold for something like $80.
You will still see maybe one per year on eBay, and the prices are especially rising on them since MF died a couple of years ago.

The Jet-Tone version is still made, as long as you realize that it is slightly different from the Holton version.
Jet-Tone used to made different sizes of it, so I think you have to be sure to look for the "Personal" version, which *might* now be the same as the "Vintage" version, although I am not sure.

Most people have much difficulty trying to play the Holton MF mouthpiece because it is such a small diameter and has such little cup room.

I wish I had one again just to look at every day and remember when I saw MF using it in concert in 1973.

Edit:
I forgot to mention that the MF mouthpieces had virtually no inner bite on the rim. Maynard wanted a completely rounded inner rim for maximum flexibility and comfort.
No inner bite makes for a harsh attack, but when you are Maynard Ferguson in the 1970's you are not trying to be subtle

- Morris, a huge MF fan