BPinard

I was wondering if someone could point me in the direction of what the tonal qualities of v-cup mouthpieces are. I've heard that they're different, I'm just interested in what way.

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[tpt: Yamaha Xeno Custom]
[mpc: Monette B6]

mike ansberry

I have two experiences with v cups. The first probably doesn't count, but all the flugel horn mouthpieces I've seen are v cup. The second is a friend of mine, Jim Manley, is a player in St. Louis. Reeves made him a mouthpiece not too long ago. He said it is the smallest, shallowest mouthpiece he's ever made. (Jim is a highnote specialist) Jim found that it gave him too bright of a sound on jazz gigs, so he had Reeves make him one with a v cup. It is much more mellow.

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"Music is a fire in your belly that has to come out of your mouth, so you'd better put a horn in the way before someone gets hurt" (paraphrase of Bleeding Gums Murphy)

camelbrass

My experience pretty much mirrors Mike's comment from Jim Manley.

In fact a guy I play a lot with (musicmatters) uses a GR3MX and I use a GR 3HC* -cup volumes are almost identical but cup shapes are quite different, the HC* being V shaped and the MX bowl shaped. We cross tested them in my Bach 37 and his Schilke B1. The sound was quite different and the difference was consistent across the two trumpets.

The V shaped mouthpiece was much sweeter sounding than the bowl shaped one....not better or worse just more lyrical. The MX had a more solid sound. We both remarked that the 3HC* would make a fantastic soloists piece because of the sound (by the way I use it for everything..solo and section and jazz and big band and....)

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Trevor

Cornet1

As you know the modern family of brass instruments were developed from the' natural trumpet' on the one hand, and what could be called the 'natural horn' on the other.

The natural trumpet gave the best results with a cup mpc as this gave the best brightness and good intonation, the sound wave being fed back to the lips by the closeness of the cup bottom. The horn required a long conical mpc with straight sides to get a mellow and soft tone, although high range and intonation were difficult since there was effectively no bottom to give feed back.

Modern brass instruments need qualities from both camps, to greater or lesser degree. Thus, modern mpc's usually combine features of both types with one or the other being predominant.

Most current 'V' mpcs have a 'recurved' profile more like a sine wave. The best place to see this is on the excellent 'GR Technologies' site where the effects of the sections of profile are disscussed.

Tom_MacNiven

Someone told me once that Clark Terry used a V shaped cup in his tpt mpce. I've no idea if this is true or not but from what you're saying it would certainly account for his beautifully lyrical sound and style.

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Eclipse Artist

Eclipse LS
Eclipse XLR
Bach Strad Flugel Model 183 -
Eclipse Red bell Flugel coming soon

www.eclipsetrumpets.com

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vlstpt

I use a Bach 5V and it has a mellow (not bright) sound, more like Cornet or Flug sound. Nice for ballads. It has 20 TRoat and a #25 BB. I love the sound.

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Bach 3C & Bach 5V mpcs & others.

wiseone2

Nope.
Listen to Clark as he scats or sings WITHOUT the trumpet.
Smooth and lyrical. Style is determined by the heart, not the mouthpiece.
Wilmer

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Be sure Brain is engaged before putting Mouthpiece in gear.
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Tom_MacNiven

Yes you're absolutely right Mr Wise I should perhaps have used different words, I'm simply saying that on a purely technical level, not musical or emotional. Thanks for clarifying what I thought I was saying but wasn't.

__________________
Eclipse Artist

Eclipse LS
Eclipse XLR
Bach Strad Flugel Model 183 -
Eclipse Red bell Flugel coming soon

www.eclipsetrumpets.com

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - www.snjo.co.uk

MrLT

This is an interesting thread - and timely for me. I'm thinking of trying a V cup mpc to get a more lyrical and dark tone - mostly for jazz solo work. I currently play a bach 1 1/2 C - does anyone know of a V cup mpc with equivalent cup diameter (17 mm/0.67") and similar or deeper cup depth?

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"I was minding my own business when something says to me, "you ought to blow trumpet." I have just been trying ever since." - Miles Davis

Eclipse LR/Warburton 3MD
Olds Custom/Warburton 3M
Eclipse Red Flugel/Bach 1 1/2C
B&H "78" cornet/ DW2B

Rick Chartrand

My main mouthpiece is a Heim #2 (10c) which is an incredible V-Cup mouthpiece. For me the V-Cup just sings in the mid and upper regesters, and the low regesters are dark and personal. The control and extended range on my mouthpiece is incredible and it is great for Jazz and ballads

If you wanna hear what a V-Cup can do listen to any Miles Davis, and you'll know! On a pro gig I wouldnt play anything but a V-Cup Ive been playing my Heim since the beginning of this year and it has done wonders for my ongoing development in endurance! When I got the Heim it gave me easily 4 hours of endurance, and now I am up to 5!

Below is a link to the mouthpiece I own along with a review I wrote on it.

http://www.wwbw.com/Holton-Heim-Seri...e-i63592.music

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Those who are my equal may be kindred.
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