When you search for a mouthpiece, what measurements do you look toward to make sure you will find the perfect fit? Our suggestion is to always start with diameter. The 4 dimensions you will see on nearly every mouthpiece manufacturer’s website include diameter, rim width, throat, and backbore. Each of these physical measurements will give you an idea about what level of comfort and support the mouthpiece will offer your individual needs. You’re missing one, though...
Though you think you can see it, it only truly manifests once you start playing the mouthpiece. Your sound has the final say. And the part of the mouthpiece (other than cup contour) that has the most profound impact on your sound is the mass distribution or shape. It, in some ways, connects the physical to the metaphysical of your playing.
How does the shape of your mouthpiece affect the tone? Let's take a look at the metal bits first. As you produce sound with the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece resonates in the instrument, and the weight and mass distribution of the mouthpiece will darken the sound or brighten it, color it or focus it. The resulting overtones, or lack there of, are the difference between a sound you like or dislike.
Now let's look at how your body responds. When you play your first note, your body will react in one of 2 ways: relaxation or manipulation. If your ear does not hear the right sound immediately, your body will react to manipulate whatever muscles it needs to create the sound you want to hear. However, when you hear the right sound immediately your body relaxes, and you feel like you are playing the best mouthpiece in the world (a Denis Wick mouthpiece of course!).
If sound is your 5th dimension, then be intentional about adding variety to your mouthpiece trial in the form of varying weight and shape. Denis Wick mouthpieces uniquely offer you a wide variety of weight options on the most popular sizes of mouthpieces. As a trumpet player, I can try a 3C out in 5 different varieties that use the same diameter, but different shape and weight distributions as well as rim contours for comfort.
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How do you know what’s right for you? You have to try it out! No matter how perfect the measurements are, you will not know how it will work for you until you test the environment. This is why we suggest starting with the right diameter and then try all the styles (i.e. Classic, Heritage, HeavyTop, Ultra, etc.). The Denis Wick 5ABL trombone mouthpiece might be the perfect size for you, but you may find after trying them out that the Classic style allows you to sound better than your competition, but the Heritage allows you to sound like your idol. Both 5ABLs share the exact same sizing but the mass placement and overall weight is different in each mouthpiece, so they resonate totally different from each other, thus creating 2 different sounds for you.
To get a closer look the different shapes and sizes of Denis Wick mouthpieces and why they were created, check out this video:
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