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Trombone Mouthpieces

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MOUTHPIECES | Trombone Mouthpieces

Help with Choosing a Trombone Mouthpiece

"A Brief Guide to Denis Wick & Vincent Bach Mouthpieces" may prove useful

Trombone Mouthpieces - Rims, Shanks and Chambers

Denis Wick and Vincent Bach Brass Mouthpieces - A Brief Guide to Brass Mouthpieces

Mouthpieces come in many different shapes and sizes and can present a minefield to any player wanting to change mouthpiece or buy for the first time.

The physical shape of the brass mouthpiece has always been of great interest; manufacturers and players claim that the various parts - rim, cup, throat, backbore and shank - affect tone and playability. However, factors such as the shape and size of players’ mouths, their embouchure, and perception of sound should also be taken into account.

According to Vincent Bach, the "selection of a satisfactory mouthpiece presents to the average player an immeasurably greater problem than the choice of an instrument".

The mouthpieces of brass instruments have a "rounded" section that fits against the lips (the rim), an "enclosed volume of air" (cup diameter and depth), a narrow constriction (throat and shank), and a taper that widens out to meet the bore of the body of the instrument (the back bore). The enclosed volume may be approximately conical, as in many horn mouthpieces, or cup shaped, as in most other brass instruments (see left and below).

It is useful to know, especially when ordering, what the letters and numbers ascribed to each mouthpiece mean, how they affect play and to whom they are suited. This again is a minefield, as neither manufacturer nor player seem to agree on what is best generally for any player. They do seem to agree on what the separate parts of the mouthpiece achieve.

Generally, a wide rim increases endurance, a narrow one improves flexibility and range, and a round one improves comfort. While a sharp rim (the sharpness of the inner rim), advocated by most sellers and players, increases "brilliance and precision of attack", a thick rim creates more lip contact and may make high notes easier to reach, and increase endurance. A sharp "bite" may make playing pitch more accurate, but lip control may be limited as may comfort and endurance. A soft bite will make up for this, but may lessen the "clarity of attack".

In both Denis Wick and Vincent Bach mouthpieces a "W" in the name implies a wider cushion rim on the cup. "X" usually signifies a large "cushion" rim. For Denis Wick, "N" (trombone and French horn) means a narrower rim.

A large throat is thought to increase blowing "freedom", volume and tone. It may also sharpen the higher register, and lower register. A smaller size may increase resistance, endurance and brilliance, but flatten the higher register. All standard Bach mouthpieces are made with medium-sized throats No 27 (3.66 mm). Special throat sizes are available. The lower the number assigned, the larger the throat.

A larger cup diameter may increase volume and control, while a smaller one may help to relieve fatigue and weakness. A deep cup may darken tone, while a shallow one may help to brighten it. A large cup will also lower the pitch - thus the importance of matching the cup of the mouthpiece with the pitch of the instrument.

VBI trumpet, cornet and flugel horn mouthpieces are numbered from the largest to the smallest diameters, and from the deepest to the most shallow cup. Numbers progress from 1 (largest cup diameter) to 20 (smallest). Cup depths are notated with letters: "A" is the deepest, standard cups have no letter, and "F" is the shallowest. "V" models, as the letter suggests, have "V" style cups - for these, cup depth is notated with "S" shallow or "M" medium. So 5MV is medium deep V style cup.

Denis Wick mouthpieces work in a similar way: the lower the number, the larger the cup diameter and vice-versa. The lettering system is more idiosyncratic. Generally speaking, "B" is medium depth, "C" is shallow, "E" is very shallow. For flugel horn, "F" is very deep. For trombone, Euphonium and baritone, "A" is deep. For tuba, "S" is shallow cup. So 5BFL flugel horn, is medium-deep cup, large fitting.

Backbores vary in size and taper, and can help adjust tone and pitch depending on how these combine, and what sort of cup and throat the mouthpiece possesses. If the backbore of a mouthpiece is too small, the higher registers may be flat; if too large, the mouthpiece will make the player suffer and exhaust their embouchure. Size alone is not a very accurate way of gauging backbore, as taper and shape also change.

For Denis Wick trombone, "L" is large bore and "S" is medium bore. For tuba, "L" is large fitting (S is shallow cup). Generally, the first letter suffix applies to cup depth, and the second (if there are two) to bore/fitting. So tuba 2SL is shallow cup/large fitting, and trombone 4BL is medium cup large bore/fitting.

VBI mouthpiece backbores are assigned numbers, although these apply to factory parts, not to the size and shape of the backbore. Trumpet and cornet "C" mouthpieces have a No10 back bore as do mouthpieces with no letter. This can probably be considered medium, however, VBI claim that backbores cannot be considered in terms of "large or small" because of the variation in size and taper. They attribute different qualities to each style of backbore.

The difficulty when buying a brass mouthpiece is well documented. Denis Wick has the following to say on the subject:

"The brass player’s mouthpiece is the most important piece of equipment he or she possesses. It is as personal as shoes and should be fitted as carefully. Instruments need mouthpieces which bring out their best characteristics and players need mouthpieces that will help them realise their full potential. There is no easy answer to this complex requirement. No two players are alike and their requirements from the same instrument can be wildly different. Care taken in choosing the right mouthpiece for instrument, type of music and player can make the difference between steady progress, leading to ultimate success and wasted effort leading to constant frustration. Brass instruments are hardly ever made with really accurate keyboard-precise intonation. Manufacturers usually try to find the best intonation compromise by the intricate matching of the internal tapers. The natural harmonics of any tube are governed by natural laws and can never be perfectly in tune as western man hears the notes. A well designed mouthpiece should assist the compromise and make the instrument more usable. The perfect match can give perfect results. The best players can, with careful training, produce intonation which transcends the narrow confines of equal temperament."

Vincent Bach thinks along a similar line:

"Choosing the perfect mouthpiece is often more difficult than choosing the perfect instrument. Your success as a musician depends on the choice of equipment that will do justice to your capabilities."

He has the following to say about choosing a mouthpiece:

"Selecting a Mouthpiece When selecting a mouthpiece, a brass instrumentalist should choose one with a solid, compact tone of large volume. A carefully selected Bach mouthpiece can help improve a player's embouchure, attack, tonguing and endurance. Professional musicians and advanced students prefer the musical results of large mouthpieces, such as the Bach 1B, 1C, 11.4C, 11.2B, 11.2C, 21.2C, 3C, which provide a maximum volume of tone with the least amount of effort. By opening up the lips so that they do not touch, the larger mouthpiece produces a clearer, purer tone. The large cup diameter also allows a greater portion of the lip to vibrate, producing a larger volume of tone, and keeps a player from forcing high tones by encouraging the correct functioning of the lip muscles. However, a student may find a medium-sized mouthpiece suitable. Do not select a certain mouthpiece because another player uses it. Because no two players have the same lip or tooth formation, what is perfect for one may be entirely unsuitable for the other. Bach produces many different models so that each player can find the best mouthpiece for their individual embouchure."

Vincent Bach was a rare combination of artist and engineer. A mechanical genius and acclaimed trumpet soloist, his instruments and mouthpieces are used today in every major studio and orchestra in the world. Bach personally designed the tools and composed the plans that continue to set the high standards for making all Bach products today.

Go to Vincent Bach Trombone Mouthpieces

Denis Wick Trombone mouthpieces are incredibly popular and very well priced. Their quality control is very good, and the trumpet mouthpieces come in a huge range of different specs: plesae see the guide if you wish to learn more.

Go to Denis Wick 5880 Trombone Mouthpieces

The Denis Wick Heavy top mouthpieces are made with much more mass than the standard ones. This allows for greater volume without distortion, with less resistance and greater flexilibility. Basically a larger, more powerful sound without the great effort and lip fatigue that can result from doing the same on a standard mouthpiece.

Go to Denis Wick 6880 Heavy Top Trombone Mouthpieces

Denis Wick 3180 Heritage Trombone Mouthpieces

The new Heritage trombone mouthpiece from Denis Wick offers an alternative outside shape to classic Denis Wick design, whilst retaining the proven inner dimensions. The new Heritage design has been adapted from designs originally used in the 19th Century where a thinner cup wall was employed towards the top of the mouthpiece.

This has been combined with a large amount of mass around the bottom of the cup to create a mouthpiece with huge power but great sensitivity - ideal for the symphonic trombonist.

The Heritage range of trombone mouthpieces comes in all sizes and is finished with a silver-plated outside and a gold-plated rim and cup - a beautiful finish for a beautiful sounding mouthpiece!

Go to Denis Wick 3880 Heavy Top Trombone Mouthpieces

Arnolds & Sons Trombone Mouthpieces