About Cups and Rims

All of our products are designed for sophistication and high functionality, and are available in a wide range of colors and sizes.
greatly enhancing the player's performance in all styles.
Compared to existing mouthpieces, you will realize the high potential of our mouthpieces.

The common feature of all cups is stable tuning in the upper register,rich sound with a sense of color, and intonation accuracy.and can be used in a wide range of genres and styles.

You will find that it is far superior to the cups of most mouthpieces.
All cups have a very rich tone and vibrancy and are optimized to enhance performance in all styles.

The sizes of the cups areXLtoXSto XS.

All cups are available in four rim sizes: 1, 2, 3, and 7. (Similar to Bach mouthpieces, but not exactly the same).

All rim shapes are the same, so there is a cup depth to suit every need.Switch between them.cup depths to suit any need.

The size comparison chart below with descriptions of each cup size will help you find the perfect cup for you.
Click on the cup name to learn more about each cup.

Classical players, think of these cups as a "drag" that dramatically improves your orchestra's performance! Think of these cups as a "drug" that dramatically improves your orchestra's performance. (...and it is completely legal!)

The XL cups are designed to be especially useful for orchestral players, and those looking for a sound that is better than 1-1/4C or 1C will find the fullness of the sound appealing. While the treble range is greatly expanded, the blowing feel is similar to that of the 1B. Those who fell in love with the sound of the B cup but gave up using it because of its limited treble range and endurance may want to give the XL cup a second try.

With this mouthpiece, you can maintain a sweet sound with a core, but not too sparkly. It also has a sparkling sound at forte and higher volumes. It blends easily into the ensemble and does not cause stares from the conductor! It will also easily improve all the articulation qualities required in a song. With this mouthpiece, it is much more difficult to produce awkward articulations, and it feels as if you are under a spell.

Recommended for
Orchestral players seeking a warm sound
Small halls, chamber music
Repertoire of Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, etc.
French repertoire
Opera performance
Rotary Trumpet

For Jazz Players
This mouthpiece will give you a very warm, thick and refined sound when you play ballads, Chet Baker, or Blue Mitchell-like gentleness. If you are using a heavy type trumpet or a large bore trumpet, even better...! Just how much richer your sound will be with this mouthpiece!

For classical and jazz players who prefer a deeper bowl cup, this mouthpiece is an unquestionable upgrade.

This mouthpiece has a very wide range of sound. It has more brilliance than the regular XL cup, a slightly less warm and exciting sound, and much easier access to the upper registers. The regular XL is designed for the soft, rounded articulation required for delicate classical playing and mellow jazz. The XL2, however, offers more open articulation and a punchier sound, making it the perfect choice for jazz and classical players in a band to shine.

This cup is very rich in tonal coloration. When played weakly, it has the rich, warm tone required of a deep cup. What is surprising is the exciting and powerful sound when accelerated. With this mouthpiece, you can go from whispering "I love you" dipped in dark chocolate to leaping over the ensemble with "High G" like the roar of a monster. This versatility is astounding. The versatility is astounding, and will greatly expand your range of artistic expression. Adam Rappa's most used mouthpiece is the XL2.

For classical players, it is ideal for
...wind instruments
∙ 20th century & modern repertoire
Demanding pieces such as "Alpine Symphony" and "Pines of Rome" / Mahler...etc.
American repertoire/Gershwin...etc.
Film Music/John Williams...etc.
Whenever you need special help to produce high notes while maintaining a heavy tone...

For Jazz Players
You will be able to play improvisation with confidence because you can easily hit the notes you are aiming for. The wide range of tones makes it very easy to express nuance and character. With this mouthpiece, you will be able to add character and depth to your sound.

If you like playing with a deep cup, but want a sound as exciting as a C cup for certain occasions, this mouthpiece is for you. It enriches the playing of ballads and adds power to bebop lines and higher registers. If you want that kind of sound, try this mouthpiece!

The newly designed L-cup will completely outperform the C-cup of the competition!

This mouthpiece is what everyone wants, from classical and jazz superheroes to beginners, and will be ideal for many players who prefer 1-1/4C to 7C. Everyone who plays it will be instantly captivated by its gorgeous, colorful sound and clear intonation that seems to be on autopilot. And it can easily produce sweet whispers to terrifying shrieks, majestic to obnoxious. (The number of classical and jazz stars who love this mouthpiece continues to grow! See our Artists page for more information.)

The major difference when compared to other manufacturers with comparable cups is that the upper register is remarkably open and easy. If you are a classical player, you will no longer have to change to a shallow one to play hard tunes or piccolo trumpet. For improvisers, they can confidently take on difficult phrases.

Making your life and ours so much easier has been a very time-consuming and frankly very expensive endeavor, but we have succeeded. You will love this mouthpiece. And from the moment you blow your first note, you will never go back to your old C-cup again!

The L2, like the L, is the C-cup equivalent of other companies. It is ideal for jazz & commercial players who want maximum firepower in the upper registers and an overall crisper, punchier performance at the expense of a little warmth and width of sound.

The characteristics are even more pronounced in the nickel silver material, making this mouthpiece the devil's twin... versus the regular L-cup. In other words, step on the gas pedal and it turns into a mouthpiece that cuts through the band like a flamethrower.

If you are the type of person who plays reeds in 3C, or if you are a jazz soloist who needs a little help when playing aggressive solos, you will love this mouthpiece. You will get the biggest difference, especially with the nickel silver material.

If you are a classical player who wants maximum pop in articulation, try this cup for the clearest and most defined sound in the slur line.
Choosing a brass material will keep the blend completely homogeneous within the section. The bronze material will bring back the warmth and tonal range that was lacking with the L cup, as well as increase the certainty and security of the sound.

Have you ever wanted to get that sparkling, beautiful... soft yet full-bodied... sound that a C-cup can't produce, while playing those sparkling, high note phrases that make you say "Wow!" all the while? Do you want to have a rich and full sound in all registers while playing sparkling high note phrases that a C cup can't produce? This is what this mouthpiece can do.

You will know the true value of this mouthpiece when you realize how much easier it is to play in the upper register.

It is ideal for classical players who want a little more juicy sound when playing West Side Story and others, or for those who want to play the piccolo with ease. It's also great for trumpet heroes or when you want to get noticed in a second line parade on the streets of New Orleans.

It can also be used by reed players accustomed to shallow cups who want to add depth to their sound without losing their beautiful brilliance in solo playing or in parts where a milder sound is required. The back bore is designed to further thicken the tone, making it almost as shallow as a D cup but sounding more like a C cup.

Since this cup is also the juncture of cups with various tonal characteristics, three different materials are available. Nickel silver gives it a powerful shine, bronze adds warmth and richness for an even deeper sound, and brass is somewhere in between.

Unlike the versatile M-cup, the M2 has only one purpose: to be a killer! They call it the "killer."

This new model replaces the M-cup and was designed to meet the needs of players who want a more fiery, aggressive sound. It is specifically designed for reed, studio, and commercial playing. This mouthpiece has a slightly shallower and slightly tighter throat than the M-cup, a different back bore design, and is only available in nickel silver, all of which make this mouthpiece even more powerful.

It sounds more like a reed mouthpiece than an M-cup, but has more volume than a standard reed cup, making it ideal for players who have trouble playing reed mouthpieces. It is also ideal for playing big band high note ballads and other music requiring low and mid-range notes. It provides richer nuance than a reed mouthpiece and allows for a more musical reed sound in a band.

It is also an excellent tool for playing pop and commercial music. Articulate with the clarity and thickness of an armor-piercing bullet, or hit a difficult phrase with certainty.... If this kind of playing is part of your job description, give it a try. This is the mouthpiece you are looking for.

You know the old line? 'The ultimate lead mouthpiece! It extends the range of your sound. Great, big sound!"
The word "ultimate" is very subjective, but this mouthpiece may be the closest thing to it.

Despite its shallow cup, this mouthpiece produces an amazingly rich tone over a wide range, from the upper register to the low F#s. This is the kind of reed mouthpiece that many people want to hear.... Each note is like a sparkling firework, yet it has a robust sound.

The essence of this mouthpiece is that it can produce a very clear sound when it comes to lead playing and solos in the upper register, even in calm situations. However, that is until the time you step on the gas pedal and become a flamethrower. The sheer volume of the sound at that moment will have your members squealing with delight. Be prepared!

Very shallow cup and laser beam-like focus

For players who know how to drive a small sports car like this, there is nothing more fun to be had playing Extreme Lead, and it can be used for very demanding gigs, such as a 3+ hour salsa performance. (You may feel like you're cheating, but that's okay. You're making a smart choice!)

Whereas the S-cup can still produce a beautiful sound, the XS-cup says. 'To hell with beauty! This is war!" And.
In the battle between normal human limitations and sounding like an indestructible treble machine, this mouthpiece gives you the best shot at victory.

It has tremendous endurance, unleashing flames in a mezzo forte. You can leave the volume to the microphone. Those who are pointed at the bell end may be unlucky. Because when you blow into it in forte, you'll take as much damage as if you were shotgunned!

This mouthpiece is addictive, so be careful!

Very deep flugelhorn cups

If you are looking for the thickest, darkest, creamiest flugelhorn sound, this is it. This is exactly what flugelhorn soloists have been longing for. It brings a whole other level of depth and richness out of high-end horns and breathes new life into inexpensive instruments that you may have neglected since your student days.

With a conventional deep cup, the high end would be very flat, and some would have the "High C" hanging by nearly a semitone. This would have forced them to make two unfortunate choices: force control or simply not blow high notes. With this cup, however, that is not a problem at all. High C and D in the upper register are tuned without difficulty, and anyone with the skill and willingness can make them sound even better than that.

This mouthpiece is like magic.... Never before has there been a mouthpiece that offers such a deep cup, such an expansive sound, and such uncompromising intonation. It also has the novelty of allowing you to choose your favorite tone in either brass or bronze!

Standard depth cup for flugelhorn

This mouthpiece brings what many consider to be the typical, classic flugelhorn sound, suitable for all kinds of playing, from wind band to jazz and classical solos. It is an optimized version of a very familiar style of cup for everyone.

The big difference is that it reproduces exactly the pitch you are looking for in every register. You get a rich, buttery tone and remarkably easy intonation, even in the higher registers.
You can choose between a more traditional sound with brass or a more modern, dense tone with bronze.

*Comparison chart
Comparison info: (Available in rim sizes 1, 2, 3, 7 in Brass, Bronze or Nickel Silver)

1L2 = Bach 1 1/2C, GR 66.8L/66.9/67L, Monette B3-S3, Reeves 43.5C692, Schilke 15C, Warburton 3MC, Warburton 3MC Yamaha 15B4

2L2 = Bach 3C, GR 3M/66M, Monette B4S2, Reeves 43C692, Schilke 14C, Warburton 4MD, Yamaha 14C4/Bobby Shew Jazz

3L2 = Bach 5C, GR 65MX, Monette B6S1, Reeves 42C692, Schilke 13C, Warburton 5MC, Yamaha 13C4

7L2 = Bach 7C, GR 64MX, Monette B7F, Reeves 41C692,, Schilke 11C, Yamaha 11C4-7C

Since many people ask about throat size, we have included measurements here. However, please do not overthink this number. Throat size alone does not determine resistance or playability. It is really a matter of the geometric recipe of the throat, the shape of the back bore, and the gap between it and the instrument.

We take great care in finding the perfect balance in each design. And we think you will find that every mouthpiece is easy to blow and suitable for its own purpose.

So let's find the rim size that most closely matches your current mouthpiece...

Comparison Chart (PDF)

Throat Size of LOTUS Mouthpieces
XL, L, L2, M = 3.9mm (between #23-24) aka "symphonic" throat size

M2 = 3.7mm (between #26-27)

S = 3.8mm (between #24-25)

XS = 3.6mm (between #27-28)

F-XL = 4.6mm (between #14-15)

F-L = 4.55mm (#15)

F-M = 4.0mm (between #21-22)

Find the rim size closest to your current mouthpiece

We offer four different rim sizes. The feel is very comfortable and familiar, especially for those accustomed to playing with Bach type rims.
Instead of a sharp inner bite that compromises endurance or a flat rim that interferes with articulation, this is an in-between shape that feels comfortable and beautiful from the moment it hits your lips.

Many manufacturers have published their own charts as the equivalent of Bach. In order to convey this information in a simple form to many players, we too have listed a chart of Bach equivalents and the names of several manufacturers' models.

- LOTUS1 -.

(17.12mm / 0.67")
Bach 1 - 1¼
Monette B2
Schilke 14
Yamaha 17
Warburton 3

- LOTUS2 -

(16.85mm / 0.66")
Bach 1½ - 2
Monette B3/B4
Schilke 13
Yamaha 16
Warburton 4

- LOTUS3 -

(16.6mm / 0.65")
Bach 3
Monette B6
Schilke 11
Yamaha 14
Warburton 5

- LOTUS7 -

(16.3mm / 0.64")
Bach 7 - 10½
Monette MF / BL2
Schilke 6
Yamaha 11
Warburton 7

However, these should be kept as a reference only. It is best not to pay too much attention to the bore diameter values of different manufacturers. Since there is no uniform standard, they are not accurate. The contour of the rim can greatly change the fit to the lips, and there are some things that cannot be determined by numbers alone.

If you are not sure which rim size to choose, try two different rim sizes and you are sure to find the perfect fit.