This is Nakamura from Kubokan!
To all you trumpet players out there, what do you usually base your choice on when picking a mouthpiece?
Rim shape, tone, playability... I think everyone’s criteria are truly different.
As for me, my main priorities are playability > rim shape > tone. There have been times when that order was completely reversed, but I suppose it also depends on the genre you’re playing.
Now, I imagine some of you might consider weight as one of your selection criteria.
Generally speaking, it’s not a top priority… or rather, many people probably don’t mind as long as the weight is average.
So I went ahead and weighed a few of the mouthpieces I have on hand!
Bach: 91g
Bob Reeves: 99g
Lotus: 92g
AR Resonance: 87g
Monette: 124g
Patrick: 100 g
GR: 104g
Warburton: 94g
Giardinelli: 94g
Of course, there are differences of a few grams depending on the model, but you can kind of see a pattern, can’t you?
Since the Bach weighs 91g, that seems to have become a sort of benchmark.
AR Resonance, on the other hand, is a bit lighter. It’s safe to say that around 90–100g is a typical weight range.
On the other hand, the Monette is a heavyweight at 124g, but it’s interesting that, even when you play it, it strangely doesn’t feel that heavy.
Heavier mouthpieces tend to produce a more cohesive (tight) sound, a powerful tone, and a warm sound when played gently... On the other hand, lighter mouthpieces offer good responsiveness and a bright sound—the characteristics you get vary depending on the weight.
However, there are players who produce an incredibly rich, full sound using a light mouthpiece, so this is really just a rough guide.
Ultimately, it all comes down to the balance between the cup and throat sizes and the backbore. The balance with the weight of the instrument you’re using might be important, too. The struggles with choosing a mouthpiece never seem to end.
This article has turned out to be rather rambling, but since this is something I’ve been struggling with myself for a long time, please forgive me (^^;
If you’ve reached a point where you just can’t decide on your own, please do stop by our store. Why not come in and discuss the pros and cons with us?
Nakamura