Brass Mouthpieces
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The mouthpiece is the sole point of contact with the lips and thus has a key impact on both comfort and sound. Some players simply stick with the mouthpiece their instrument is provided with (usually a middle of the road specification suited for the instrument), whereas others continually experiment, never giving up their search for that elusive "perfect" mouthpiece. One thing is clear, mouthpiece preference is a personal choice and what is right for one player may be completely unsuitable for another. |
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The dimensions and shape of a mouthpiece has a direct impact on its feel, playability and sound. We have isolated the various variables below and given a brief explanation of their effects on the mouthpieces characteristics. |
Cup Diameter (Internal Rim) |
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Rim Contour |
Rim Bite |
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Cup Depth |
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Cup Silhouette |
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Some mouthpieces employ a "double cup" design - essentially a combination of the "U" and "V"' shapes - to facilitate playing throughout the instrument's range. |
Shank |
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Weight Some manufactures (notably Vincent Back with their "Mega Tone" range and Denis Wick with the "Heavy Top" models) produce mouthpieces of added mass. These have exactly the same internal dimensions of the standard models but are up to twice the weight due to added mass on the exterior. |
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Alternatively, adding a mouthpiece "booster" can increase the weight of your favourite mouthpiece. |
Model Numbers Explained
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Prefixes SM & RW indicate models developed by Steven Mead and Roger Webster respectively. |
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Other suffixes include:
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Yamaha |
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Choosing the right Mouthpiece |