Finding the right mouthpiece is as much science as art. Most players suffer their entire career not ever really finding the "perfect" one.
What do you look for? 1. Rim size and comfort - this means it holds your chops in their ultimate position and diameter and allows them to smoothly move in and out of the cup. 2. Cup depth and contour - there are basic designs - Shallow, Med Shallow, bowl, bowl V, V, Under cut, continuous curve, second cup, double cup ... 3. Throat size - generally a 27. But if you try a 26, 25, 28, 23, 21, 19 you will know how much they effect your sound and playability. 4. Backbore - Bach, Warburton, Reeves, Purviance, ... all different with thousands of choices 5. Shape and weight - heavy, skeleton, light, mega, weight at top or middle or bottom. Density of metal, different metals - brass, copper, bronze, plastic.... 6. Sound - the sound should ideally be unique to that mouthpiece and not contrived by you the player. - Bright, compact, dark, Symphonic, Sizzle, Romantic, Military, English, French, Jazz, Concert Band....
Ok you get the idea here. As time passes I am going to fill this page with information you can use about all the above. Give me time. Check often, and have fun.
Never change mouthpieces because someone tells you tp try one - change because you know what you want and how you want to sound, based on your own desire.
Generally 1 or 2 mouthpieces is all most professional players use. However they learn what different cups or back-bores can do to allow them to match sounds with styles or players - IN COMFORT!
This is a list of a few of my favorite Mouthpieces:
Old Vincent Bach NY pieces -I like the ones with the "VINCENT BACH CORP.,NEW YORK" 3, 3C, 7CW, 1.5C, 5B, 6B, 10, 10.5CW, 10.75CW, 11.5EW, 18
My All round daily mouthpiece - a New York Bach 10.5CW with the rim shaped to resemble the Stevens. I use a Dremel Tool. Eventually I will post a UTUBE video of how I do this contour work.
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Roy Stevens Top on Warburton 5 This is my top from 1974 from Roy. I use this as a set up mouthpiece for every day's playing. If I can play the softest middle G and then move up to the stratosphere with super soft sounds (as I describe in detail in the DVD Air-Play) I know I am "in the groove" and ready to practice or play.
P1 Reeves Purviance - the best commercially made rim I have found. Very same lay on my chops as the Roy Stevens top which is no longer made. A real good rim for Air-Play starters.
my gear
My All round daily mouthpiece - a New York Bach 10.5CW with the rim shaped to resemble the Stevens. I use a Dremel Tool. Eventually I will post a UTUBE video of how I do this contour work.
P1 Reeves Purviance - the best commercially made rim I have found. Very same lay on my chops as the Roy Stevens top which is no longer made. A real good rim for Air-Play starters.
