You need to be VERY careful about drilling out your mouthpiece. It can create pitch (flat in the upper register) and endurance problems, as well as making soft playing more difficult. Please remember that any mouthpiece you have "reamed" out, is forever destroyed, insofar as the original specs. are concerned! This procedure must not be taken lightly.
You see, Vaughn, or anyone else for that matter, was likely NOT talking about orchestral musicians. Rather, he was talking about making a rather small, shallow, mouthpiece able to to play very loudly, in the stratosphere! (Above and beyond "high C"), for lead and "commercial" playing.
No orchestral conductor would tolerate that kind of "sound" in a symphony orchestra. My Bach 1 orchestral mouthpiece already has a #23 (quite large) throat. Smaller mouthpieces often have throats in the neighborhood of #27 or even 28.
When I was playing a LOT of bigband "lead" I used a fairly small , shallow mouthpiece with a #20 throat. At any rate , I would NEVER open a throat more than one drill size at a time.
All the best!
Clyde Hunt
Dear Mr. xxxxx,
One's range is a result of the player's ability to "buzz", or vibrate, at a
given frequency. A mouthpiece is an inanimate object - it is neither: good nor
bad, in-tune, out-of tune, nor does it possess any range, as it sits there on
the shelf.
The above information, if taken seriously, can save you piles of cash, and
many hours of lost practice time!! (grin!)
Disclaimer - this does NOT mean that there is not a mthpc. which is "best",
for you. This is precisely why there are so many choices available.
"Find a mouthpiece which feels comfortable on your chops, allows good
"tonguability" in the low register, and "sounds" the way YOU want to sound -
then learn to play it".
Keep'Em Flying!
Clyde
Hi, Cheryl!
It depends upon the "genre" in which I'm playing. My Largest mthpc. is an old Bach 1. The smallest is a Schilke 13a4a. Neither one would be appropriate when the other is required!
My range is NOT mouthpiece dependent, in the way many might suspect. Moving to
another mthpc. will make some difference, but this is because the muscles need
time to adjust to the new mouthpiece configuration.
But when all is said and done - the range remains the same, because range is
dependent upon YOU.
I consider my range to be: that which I can produce, musically, in a live
performance (at ALL volume levels - not just "loud as #%**") - and that which I am able to achieve "within a single blow" (phrase), and that which I have a 95% reliability of "making", in concert!
Bottom line = Pedal C to C4.
The oft heard,"what note can you hit, man?", is quite irrelevant to reality. I
won't bother to post that.(grin)
Keep 'Em Flying!
Clyde
Many "wannabe's" are pre-occupied with equipment - that is one of the reasons they are "wannabe's"!!
This perhaps seems cold, and no doubt it is NOT what you want to hear. But I offer it to you with the greatest sincerity!
Clyde Hunt
(Q): am I limiting myself sticking with the Schilke, or should I go to the 3C or maybe lower and "learn to play it"?
(A): I would choose the mthpc. which allows the least "pain" while allowing the kind of "sound" I need. Eg., I use a Schilke 13A4A for my "Jazz" pyrotechnics. I would NEVER struggle with my faithful Bach 1, "up there". It would seem to me that that the 12a4 might be a good mthpc. FOR THE PURPOSES which you have described to me - if it is "comfortable" for you??
If you were going to be playing in a symphony orchestra, or as a "legit" soloist, you
would never "get-away" with using that 12a4. On the other hand, I would NEVER
use my Bach 1 for a jazz-rock gig such as you describe. The sound, while "big as a
house" is devoid of a brilliant, lazer edge. And I do not need the superior flexibility,
dynamic range, and "tongue-ability" , which is afforded me by the Bach 1.
To keep this from being simply a "me too" post, I'd like to add a quote
from my beloved teacher, William Best :
"If 'e 'ad spent as much time practising, as he has "trying"
mouthpieces, 'e'd already be a good player!" end quote.
If there is any "magic" involved, I'd say its the "psychological
comfort" which results from knowing oneself as intimately as possible -
ie, me + my mouthpiece + my trumpet. In this manner, we are less likely
to wonder "what the H--- is going to come out"?, when we pick up our
trumpet. (To paraphrase Donovan : >) )))
I guess my greatest concern with all of this, is that students may be
distracted from the "truth" - the "real" secret lies with "a greater
expectation of oneself, and the 'will' to see-it-through"! "Keep your
hand on the throttle and your eye upon the rail."
AMEN - And now let's turn to page 226 - "you'll find your books on the
back of your seats........."
Keep 'Em Flying!
Clyde Hunt
How does the mouthpiece "Throat Size" affect my playing?
How do you feel opening up the throat affects intonation?
Is it not better to have a mouthpiece designed to be more open?
(A)My mouthpiece throat sizes are stock, except for the BACH 1E, which is about a 23.
BTW, this mouthpiece was given to me by an acquaintance because he had had it
"drilled-out" , and now declared it to be "ruined". (range and intonation problems)
Also, my "old" BACH 1, has a #23, I believe.
"Is it not better to have a mouthpiece designed to be more open?
NOT NECESSARILY! (NO) - It MAY adversly affect soft playing (lack of resistance).
And yes, intonation may become a problem - at first. But as always, that can be overcome as we "re-learn" to play the mothpiece. Intonation is, firstly, the players problem - people who head off to the local music emporium and begin "trying" mouthpieces, and forthwith begin making pronouncements re. intonation, must not be
taken seriously.
I believe there is often a problem when "week-end warriors", and people who may practice for 3 - 4 hours a week, try to use equipment utilized by those who are SERIOUS about playing the trumpet. I SUSPECT that the majority of playing difficulties are directly attributable to "insufficient practice".
I agree that a deeper cup certainly helps to eliminate that very metallic sound we often hear (a very distorted sound). ALSO, for me it is much easier to articulate cleanly on a deep mouthpiece. Here is a response which I wrote previously, regarding my equipment.
(1) I use a BACH #1 for "legit". I started using it when I was about 23 (1960 - still use same
one), because maestro Louis Lane had complained that my sound was too "bright/loud/whatever". I had been using a 1-1/4C in the orchestra, prior to that.
(2) For my Yamaha Custom Picc I usually use a Yamaha 14A4A or Bach 1E, depending upon the sound quality I'm seeking.
(3) For big band lead/soloist I usually use the Yamaha 14a4a. If the
band is really "potent" (loud, let's face it) I may use my Yamaha YTR
739 big bore trumpet (well, at least it was in 1979).
(4) with my silver Getzen Capri Shephard's Crook Cornet, I recorded the H.L.Clarke Characteristic Studies. HOWEVER, I did record a couple of those with the BACH #1). I
really can't tell!!! (or remember). The ARBAN 14 Characteristic Studies - first 9, on the Getzen
cornet, using an Olds 7s mouthpiece(deep and conical).
(5) With my sextet, Swing's The Thing, I used a Shilke 13a4a.
However, on As Time Goes By, I used a turn-of-the-century Carl Fischer
"cookie cutter" mthpc., DEEP "V" cup with an enormous throat!
There are mouthpieces which facilitate brilliance and
intensity of sound. These mouthpieces, sometimes labeled high velocity,
are more "V" shaped as opposed to bowl shaped. Sometimes, usually at
the music store when we are trying mouthpieces, almost any mouthpiece
appears to be superior to the one we are now playing - hence the answer to
all our prayers. But pitch is determined by frequency of vibration of your
lip. If you can play a C4 on a Schilke 5a4a, you can also do so on a
Bach #1. Don't get into the drawer full of mouthpieces syndrome.
Choose a rim that is comfortable and learn to play it. I am convinced that
a larger cup diameter and a more open throat, which permits a larger
airstream, actually facilitates the development of the high register. Hello, Greg!
The best advice I have for you is: find a mouthpiece which is (A) comfortable (B) has a
sound (when YOU play it) that is appropriate for the music, and (C) learn to play
it!!!!!!!
I'm certain that you are correct - a 1B is NOT going to have enough "zing" for playing
lead.
Finally, remember that constantly "fooling around" with lots of mouthpiece is often
counter-productive. You will not gain any PSYCHOLOGICAL SECURITY while
constantly changing mouthpieces. Mr. Best always used to say, "If he'd spent as much
time practicing, as he did trying mouthpieces - he'd already be a good player!!
WANNA-BE's spend lots of time with the above - hence they remain so! Don't be
duped re. the role of the mouthpiece.
I can't recommend a mouthpiece for you, anymore than I can reccomentd that you
should buy a size 48 suit!!
You CANNOT .... pick-up a mouthpiece and make a valid value judgement in a few
days - let alone a few hours or minutes.
I'm aware that this (above advice) is not going to be perceived as being particularly
helpful. (Grin!)
But it is offered to you in all sincerity!
Please read the first paragraph, again - remember the A,B, C,s of mouthpieces!
Keep 'Em Flying
Clyde Hunt
I few years ago my instructor, XXX XXX, directed me to get a larger
mouthpiece. I ended up a Curry 1B with a large symphonic backbore.
This piece works well while playing legit music. For the piccolo I
initially tried Curry's 1 ZM. This did not work at all. The sound was
too bright by my ear and the piece started to mess up my embouchure on
the 1B. I finally discovered the 1B worked well on the piccolo.
Apparently, Jay experience a similar problem with the keeping the rim
the same size and reducing the cup volume. Jay ended up going one rim
size smaller which seemed to work well with the ZM cup.
I recently picked up a Dennis Wick 2 for my Cornet and love the dark fat
smoky sound. It felt so good, I got a 2 FL for my flugalhorn. This
piece feels great and is significantly bigger than the Bach 1 I had been
using. Although a larger piece, it eliminated the stuffiness in the
upper register and produced a huge dark tone.
Since studying with XXXX I have to Maryland and now study with XXX XXX who is strictly a orchestral musician. I would like to do some big
band playing and the 1B doesn't have quite enough edge. My question is
as one changes mouthpieces to obtain a brighter sound needed in big
band/rock bands, what would be logical rim and cup size to explore?
Past experience suggests simply reducing the cup volume does not work.
Ask Clyde
(YES) - Opening the throat seems to help LOUD playing, especially.
I do not have great experience to share with you, regarding mouthpieces. I have played upon a grand total of "eight" different mouthpieces - since day ONE.