Are there any other cats out there who like the high angles? Every high note person I know likes shallow cups with low alpha angles. For me, I sound darker on low, but I have to work harder to get the same result even if the cup is shallower in volume!
Taken from a post on The Trumpet Herald.
GR:
You have made a good observation regarding the alpha angle. Look at the parameters and note the beta angle. The alpha and beta are adjusted mathematically by the “GR mouthpiece design program” so the sound wave equation is solved. Therefore, a lower alpha angle with a shallow cup will cause the beta angle to be higher. A higher beta angle allows for more instant acoustical feedback or something to blow against, some have other descriptions like “flat bottom” or “high shoulder”.
These
terms were too confusing so we defined it in mathematical terms
with a drawing for communication purposes. We didn’t invent it,
just defined it. If we raise the alpha angle to solve the sound
wave equation we must lower the beta angle, therefore, the cup
will look more V shaped even if the volumes are the same.
Neither is right or wrong, this is player specific! Maynard and
Carl Fischer like the very high alpha lower beta, Doc and Jens a
medium alpha and higher beta, all sound great it’s just a matter
of matching the equipment to the player.
The same is true for symphonic players. Some like the 1C style cup with a lower alpha, and higher beta for acoustic reflection. Others like the B style or 1 1/2C type cup with a medium to medium high alpha and a lower beta angle. The GR consultants are trained to find this when doing the playing tests. It’s truly amazing that you can take a player using the wrong combo and just by giving the correctly matching mouthpiece everything just lights up. The system must match.