GR Vintage Trumpet Mouthpieces

Gary graduated University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. Gary studied trumpet with Allen K. Butcher, from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Dennis Najoom, Co-Principal Trumpet with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Renold O. Schilke to name a few. After college, Gary traveled on the road, backing up big-name acts, arranging, composing, doing copy work and some studio work.

GR as an educator

Gary Radtke has been a High School Band Director, Department Head, as well as, an accomplished composer/arranger. This extensive background is the basis to his series of clinics, “The Scientific Approach To Brass Playing” and “Understanding The Mouthpiece”.

GR’s Technical Background

GR is a journeyman tool maker. He started GR Technologies in 1999 and introduced new tools and new thinking. GR also defined the mouthpiece with mathematical parameters, developed a system for communication, improved design, and developed methods for proper fitting. (GR Playing Tests)

GR "Vintage" Series Trumpet Mouthpieces

GR has breathed new life into sought after no longer in production vintage mouthpieces. Original designs have been reverse engineered using the GR Design Program to remove discontinuities for a familiar feel, but with improved playing results.

61A - Al Hirt Model A

Original Jet-Tone Al Hirt Model A from the Bill Ratzenburger era. Flat rim contour, small volume cup, GR T-72S backbore. This is a reverse engineered new design from GR which retains many of the same qualities of the old Jet-Tone, but plays with a fatter sound and cleaner articulations.

61A over 1970's Al Hirt Model A

The "Goz" - Conrad Gozzo (Description by Gary Radtke)

This is a very unique mouthpiece. Story has it that it was a modified 7C by Bert Herrick. I have seen 2 very old Bert Herrick mpcs that were suppose to be just like Conrad Gozzo's. They had similarities but were not 100% the same. If this was a modified old 7C, it was shortened and the rim was cut off. The Rim is wide and I would say cushioned, with a sharp bite, although, the profile makes it feel like a larger mouthpiece.

The cup is moderate, close to the volume of a GR M cup, the alpha angle is higher than the standard M cup, although, similar to the GR 64.7M.

The big key is the throat exponent makes this a very open mouthpiec and probably better suited to a trumpet with characteristics to those of the 40's, 50's, and 60's. You may have trouble with a really open horn. The uses are this piece are vast; good on the smaller horns like Eb and even some love it on piccolo (rim is close to a "W" in width). This mouthpiece has a big fat sound for the right match player and horn.

Model	Backbore	Cup Volume	Cup Volume	Cup Diameter r2			r4	Rim
Goz #1	Number	Description	Cubic Inches	Inch	mm	Fraction	@.032"	Contour	Bite	Alpha Angle
Goz	1	Medium Small	0.0712	0.647	16.43	41.4/64	0.655	Semi Flat - Wide	Medium Sharp	High

Click for Diagram

60VM - Bud Brisbois (Description by Dan McMillion)

"The 60VM was reverse engineered by GR from one of Bud's mouthpieces that I have in my collection. I acquired Bud's Holton ST-200 from an estate sale many years ago and the mouthpiece came with the horn. I thought it was interesting since the Bud Brisbois cup shape and rim looked a lot like the mouthpiece that Dominick Calicchio made for Maynard, a shallow V cup with a small 30 drill size."

GR took the parameters off of the Brisbois Mouthpiece and reverse engineered it to remove all of the bad design lines caused by either hand tooling, or manufacturing flaws. The reverse engineering took that vintage design and made it much more playable. This is a small diameter cup with a medium "V" shape. High velocity, sax player killer.

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