A mouthpiece cross section showing its' different components All the parts of a mouthpiece must be balanced properly in order to achieve
the best sound, pitch, slotting, playability, and power output
| Parts of the mouthpieceRim: The part of the mouthpiece that contacts the lips.Rims come in an infinite number of diameters and shapes.Cup: The cup comes in different shapes, depths, and thus internal volumes.
In general, a shallower cup makes the upper register easier, but has fewer low frequencies in the sound.In general, a deeper cup makes the upper register more difficult, and has more low frequencies in the sound.Throat: This is the approach to the bore.The shape of the throat is integral to the sound and playability of the mouthpiece.Bore: The bore is the narrowest point in the mouthpiece. It is measured in numbered drill sizes like 26, 27, 28.The bore must be balanced with the cup volume and backbore in order for a mouthpiece to play properly.The bore can have a cylindrical (straight) section, or be single narrow point.Backbore: The backbore starts at the end of the bore and continues to the end of the mouthpiece.
The backbore is a shape, not just a cone.By varying the shape and size of the backbore, we can affect both the sound and the playability of the mouthpiece.Shank: The shank is the outside morse taper that goes into the receiver.
The diameter of the shank affects the penetration of the mouthpiece into the trumpet which affects the annulus, or gap.
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 A cut away showing the annulus (gap) |  A cut away showing different penetrations with the same gap |
Don't confuse the distance the mouthpiece penetrates into the trumpet with the gap.
As you can see from the picture above, we have two different penetrations with the same gap.
It is the gap that is of prime importance,not the mouthpiece penetration. | The Annulus, or "Gap"When you insert a mouthpiece into a trumpet receiver, there is a space between the end of the mouthpiece and the start of the leadpipe. This is called the annulus, or "gap." The size of the gap is very important in determining how a mouthpiece/trumpet system plays and sounds.The gap is a tuning device. In other words, it changes the distance frequency-wise (pitch), between the modes.By affecting the distance between the modes, it affects how the harmonics interact and thus affects the sound.The gap affects the back pressure felt by the playerIn general, making the gap larger will increase the back pressure.In general, making the gap smaller will decrease the back pressure.More information in the videos below |
A mouthpiece cross section showing its' different components
including a Flex Coupler | The mouthpiece to the left is converted for our Flex Couplers: The mouthpiece shank is altered to accept the Flex Couplers which plug on and off and stay in place through the use of an o-ring.The Flex Couplers vary in diameter which affects how far they penetrate into the trumpet and thus affect the gap.To date adjustable shank mouthpieces have had some inherent problems in that they haven't sounded or played quite as good as their solid shank counterparts.
We have fixed this in three ways:
1. We make our Couplers out of our Flex Brass Alloy.
2. We have added a significant amount of mass where the Coupler plugs onto the shank.
3. We have replaced the conventional rubber o-ring with a high tech material that does not absorb the vibrations as does a rubber o-ring.
Our Flex Couplers come in a variety of diameters allowing you to fine tune the gap on your set-up for optimum performance.
More Information on Flex Couplers |
Click on a thumbnail below for video
