A mouthpiece consists of the following parts. A good mouthpiece must have all these elements in the correct proportions.
Playing a brass instrument brings nature and technology into direct contact. As a result, there is an enormous variety in mouthpiece dimensions. Each is determined by specific factors, such as the shape of the lips and the jaw, airflow characteristics and the breathing techniques of the individual player.
A large-bore mouthpiece makes it possible to produce more volume and it raises the high and low registers. If the bore is too large, however, the notes begin to flutter and become thin.
A smaller bore usually produces a purer and more concentrated, but weaker tone; it increases the resistance and shortens the entire register. The result is that high notes get too low and low notes get too high (especially C sharp and D). A mouthpiece with a cylindrical bore about 5 to 10 mm (2"-3.9") long is more likely to maintain the pitch and steadiness of the notes than one with only a taper.
Whether for beginners, soloists or advanced students, whether in a large orchestra or a big band, I recommend the largest cup diameter possible, and a large cup depth. You will not squeeze out any high notes with a large mouthpiece and it will allow a proper embouchure to be formed. As a rule, those who begin with a large mouthpiece make pleasant tones and have a good high register.
A big mouthpiece is more comfortable to play and makes good timbre possible. A mouthpiece with a deep, large?diameter cup has decisive advantages. The player is in a position to produce natural, compact and uniform high, medium and low registers. In addition, flexibility and lip control will consistently improve.
The cup forms of a trumpet mouthpiece, for example, are as follows:
A musician who must switch to another instrument with a different shank size, or who must change shanks quickly, is best served by a threaded mouthpiece. Of all the mouthpieces which I manufacture, more than half have a removable, threaded top. With these mouthpieces, the musician can combine any rim with different mouthpieces. Certain combinations can be musically very advantageous.
As a matter of principle, all mouthpieces which I offer in my catalogue can be made with detachable, threaded tops. In addition, you can order custom mouthpieces, which I will fabricate according to your specifications, and they too can be made with threaded tops. Such custom orders are usually designed to correct special problems:
Almost all the special problems which I have heard about fall into these classes. Usually custom mouthpieces involve unusual combinations of rim and cup, keeping within reasonable ranges, but with non-standard cup, bore, backbore or shank. Such a mouthpiece is not inexpensive, but it represents money well spent.
