connloyalist

I was just wondering.... if someone switches to using a shallow and/or tight mouthpiece to do the high stuff more easily, and plays that mouthpiece a lot, will that person become accustomed to the small/tight mouthpiece and eventually require something even smaller to get the same effect up high? Or doesn't it work that way with mouthpieces?

Let me say that I don't belong to the "14a4a" type of crowd, I play a pretty average mouthpiece, size wise. But I was just wondering. I play a cornet mouthpiece with a GR cornet to trumpet adapter, their #43. The #45 (slightly larger bore than the 43) is WAY big for me. Last night I tried a #41 (a bit smaller than a 43), and found it quite comfortable actually, and yes it does help upstairs. It also brightens things up considerably, which can be good or bad depending on the situation of course.

So, I am just curious. I don't plan on changing my equipment, although I might use the 41 occasionally if it is useful.

Regards, Christine

Richard Oliver

Christine,

16.25 - 16.40 mm is the range of my Wick 4 Cornet mpiece, Schilke 9, and Vacchiano 4C.

15 100'ths of a mm.

The Wick cup is funnel-like, deep, large throat.

The Schilke standard C cup.

The Vacchiano a V cup that appears to be of med-depth like a "C" cup.

I do all my practicing on the Cornet and have no probs in Concert Band with the Schilke.

Once in a while, I'll use the Vacchiano and it works fine too. Some notes upstairs speak well.

The Vacch is the "smallest" of the bunch, but not at all small as mpieces go.

In a nutshell, all three are close in diameter, but differ in cup shape and depth.

Tossing out the Wick, the 2 trumpet mpieces "shape" more than depth it seems to me affects sound and range. Yes, some depth difference, but the V v C cup I think accounts for most of the difference in sound and range.

That's my experience. Hope it helps.

Regards,

Richard

Solar Bell

I don't understand your question.

If someone plays a smaller mouthpice and gets accustomed to it there is no reason to switch to something smaller. Why would there be. If you switched and can play the high stuff, what more do you want?

For the record I have played a small mouthpiece for a long time, a Jet Tone Bill Chase, and now the same mouthpiece in a GR. I have no need to switch for higher notes and I can play the bottom of the horn very well.

-cw-

connloyalist

What I mean is this: If you can play (for example) G above staff (above C above staff) using a tight backbore, will after a while that tight backbore not be sufficient anymore to play that high G and you will need to use an even tighter backbore to get that high G?

A bit like caffeine I guess. If you never drink anything caffeinated, a little bit gives you a real buzz. If you are used to drinking 6 cups of strong black coffee a day, you will need to take something a lot stronger to still get that buzz. You have become habituated to taking that much caffeine.

Regards, Christine

Solar Bell

I have not found that to be the case.

-cw-

Vulgano Brother

More likely the opposite -- provided you are practicing. Like fruit, we either ripen or rot. As you gain strength and power through practice, you might find the tighter backbore or smaller diameter hold you back. Have fun ripening!