I think everyone goes through this, probably over and over. From your post, my experience, first hand I might add, is that you are asking the wrong questions of the wrong crowd. For instance, why do you need a deeper mouthpiece? I finally put myself in the hands of an experienced mouthpiece designer, Scott Laskey, in my case, but there are several others, and discovered I didn't even know what a deep mouthpiece was. I'm an engineer, so I could understand when it was explained, but I quickly learned that, if I really wanted a great mouthpiece, the correct course is to find a real expert. A real expert will question you to determine what you want the new mouthpiece to do for you, compared to the old. In my case, the expert switched me to a different stock mouthpiece for a month or so, then questioned me again to determine the final adjustments to be made dealing with blood flow and endurance, attacks, slurs, loud and soft playing. Not only did I end up with the perfect m outhpiece to do what I wanted, if I need the the design optimized for different playing on a different horn, any expert designer has a solid basis to make the correct modifications. I worked with Scott while he was still with Schilke. The mouthpiece he changed me to cost about $35 from WW & BW, and the custom version he finally made was in the $100 range. Scott has his own company now, and Moosewood is well thought of by the list. If you're serious about being willing to accept their expert advice, and follow through, for probably less than $200, including the phone calls, you will get mouthpieces under control for the rest of your career. Buying a custom mouthpiece over the phone feels about as close to buying magic beans as you're ever apt to come. The key is to find an expert you feel rapport with, then rely entirely on THEIR expertise. Good luck -----Original Message----- From: Gordon, Heather <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 11:33:30 -0600 Subject: [Hornlist] mouthpiece metal
I'm in the market for a new mouthpiece. I've been playing on my little factory Fakas MDC for a few years now and it's served me well enough, but I think I'm ready to pay some bank for something really great. The rim size on my farkas is the most comfortable I've used (I used to play on a King H-2, if I remember right, but it was too big for me). My problem is that I want a deeper cup and something that resonates well, but my face is quite small. Anything deep enough for me is too big for my face. I've been looking at Storks recently. I haven't gotten to the audition stage yet, but I want to narrow the selection down a bit first (since mouthpiece trials are difficult to arrange where i'm the only horn player in town). My first quesiton is what have people heard about the Myers and Orval series' of Stork mouthpieces. I know it really depends per the player, but I don't even know what the physical difference is right now. My main question is, how does the metal make a difference? I've seen a lot of options for what they can be made out of. Is it strictly aesthetic, or is there a real difference in the sound? What's the difference between silver, silver w/ gold rim, gold, satin gold, satin silver, etc. I don't want to pay $30 for something that won't make a difference. Is there an acoustical difference? Does it change the resonance? I have a rosebrass horn because I like the sound of rosebrass, but does it make a difference in mouthpieces? Thanks, Heather _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/billbamberg%40aol.com _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
