Okay guys, I need some advice. I had been playing on
large diameter mouthpieces for about 15 years and finely settled on my all-time
favorite rim and cup design (a Monette B1-1.) I loved it.
After awhile I began thinking that maybe I shouldn't be playing on such a large
diameter cup. My endurance has never been great. I could always get the job
done, but nothing extraordinary. I thought maybe I had been kidding myself,
having average sized lips, and that I should downsize.
Well, I finally did it. I tried some things out and settled down on a Bach 6B. I
like this mouthpiece. However, my sound seems quite small...nothing like the
huge sound I used to get on my B1-1. I've been playing on the 6B for a couple of
months now, and the sound still seems rather small. Everything else is fine on
this mouthpiece. I guess you could say that I successfully downsized, but
endurance is about the same though.
Anyway, I've started feeling like I should go back to the B1-1, but I'm not
sure. Could I get that same huge sound by going to a larger throat or backbore
of the Bach 6B? Or is the "size of sound" thing directly related to the cup
diameter?
What would you recommend?
We recommend you understand the facts and exactly what a
change will require. This change will not be easy as you are finding but already
you are learning. Keep a log of everything you try and what happens. We will
give you the facts and allow you to get a grasp on the situation.
1. The B 1-1 has one of the softest bites of all larger mouthpieces. Positive
things: The result is that more lip can go into the cup. More lip can vibrate
causing for more lip amplitude and therefore more sound volume. Negative things:
Too much lip goes in to cup, as you fatigue more lip can go in the cup, as more
lip goes in the cup intonation changes, soft playing becomes difficult,
articulation can be difficult, and accuracy can suffer. Things of note: This is
a very large mouthpiece with an unusual rim contour and one of the lowest alpha
angles found on a trumpet mouthpiece. It won’t fit a large population of players
but that doesn’t mean it not perfect for somebody what you need to determine is
if that is prefect for you, the playing tests will guide you.
2. The B 1-1 has one of the lowest alpha angles of all larger trumpet
mouthpieces. Positive things: The result is that more lip can go into the cup
and not be impinged by the alpha. More lip can vibrate causing for more lip
amplitude and therefore more sound volume. Negative things: The lower alpha
doesn’t provide enough support for soft playing, light articulations, and
ability to build compression for the upper register. That’s not to say you can’t
do it, just that it will take more effort.
3. The throat entrance is very open on the B 1-1. This will make it hard to play
soft and articulate light passages. This area is very dependant on the specific
trumpet you are using and must be a match. This will give the sound a fluffiness
and lack of focus at lower volume levels.
Once you have played on a like this for a while you become accustom to do what
is needed to make it work. We define that as manipulations. In order to make a
change you will need to undo those manipulations and bring lip out of the cup,
find a new lip equilibrium level, and rebalance the system. There are areas of
the mouthpiece design and matching to the trumpet that can be adjusted to aid
the individual. Everybody is different.
Study the over lays and I’m sure the visual image will provide more
understanding.
(Yes, the un-cleaned diagram is an actual scan of an actual mouthpiece)
1. r02 = Outside diameter, you will see
they are all similar.
2. Ro = Moving to the inside or left this is the Outside Radius. The 1 rim
(1970’s we call it a 1X now) has the smallest outside radius and will feel
flatter and wider; it could impinge the lips on certain people and enhance
endurance with others. GR has a test for this with a pencil eraser to find if
you can tolerate a wider or flatter rim. The B 1-1 had the largest outside
radius; it will be responsive but could hamper endurance in certain players.
3. ro = This is the highpoint of the rim. B 1-1 had the greatest highpoint and
will feel larger, 1 rim is less than the B 1-1 but larger than the 1C. The 1 rim
is the flattest and the B 1-1 the most rounded.
4. Rc = Radius of the curvature. A larger radius will make a flatter rim and a
smaller radius makes a more rounded rim. The B1-1 has the smallest Rc, and 1 rim
the largest Rc.
5. Rb = Bite Radius. The sharpest of the three bites is the 1 rim, then the 1C,
and the B 1-1 is very soft, therefore the largest bite radius.
6. Alpha = Alpha angle. The B 1-1 has a very low alpha angle at a little over 5
degrees, the 1 is higher, and 1C a little higher yet. The 1 C would be
considered to have a medium low alpha, 1 would have a low alpha, and B 1-1 a
very low alpha.