New Resource: Mouthpiece Directory

December 9, 2013•Equipment, Reference

**Update** Take the horn mouthpiece survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CQ37WY5

It’s been a while since I last posted, but the holiday music season is in full swing with lots of rehearsals and performances. Combined with the normal end-of semester routine of exams, juries, and grading, I’ve not had too much time for other projects! However, I did carve out a little time to do some work on a new resource for this website – a directory of horn mouthpiece makes and brands. This list is part of a larger project that I am putting together, and will eventually include mouthpiece survey results from a wide cross section of horn players (teachers, students, pros, etc.). For now, though, here is a list of every mouthpiece brand I could think of, as well as links (where available) to further information. Wherever possible, I tried to include a direct link to the manufacturer’s website. It is not all inclusive, but I plan to update it regularly as I gather new information. The point of such a collection is not to find the one “best” mouthpiece – which doesn’t exist – but simply to provide as much information as possible about the brands and models being used today. For more resources on horn playing, visit my resources page.

If you know of (or play) a horn mouthpiece brand that isn’t on this list, please feel free to comment below!

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Posted by hornworld

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Equipment, Reference

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horn mouthpieces

34 Comments

http://www.schmidt-brass.de/englisch/index.htm

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Thanks! I have added the link!

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James: Great resource, Thank you. I play on a Patterson/DeRosa #1 bore. Patterson Hornworks. As ever JPO

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Thanks John! I knew I’d forget somebody! I have added the link.

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Hi James,

My husband, son and I play horn with our local community orchestra and we all appreciate the insights you provide in your blog.

Several years ago, my Finke Triple was stolen from my car. Worse than the loss of the horn was the loss of my Giardinelli BT (Barry Tuckwell) 12 mouthpiece. I had played with this mouthpiece for over twenty years!

Tom Greer of Moosewood was able to accurately recreate my precious mouthpiece – he is amazing!

I am now playing on a Patterson Custom Geyer – fantastic horn – thanks to you! I first read about Jim and Patterson Hornworks in one of your blogs.

Thank you again for providing such a valuable service. I am looking forward to your future articles.

Best regards,
Terry Preshaw

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Hi Terry,

Thanks so much for your kind words!

James

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Is this your Finke? http://m.ebay.com/itm/111553526362?nav=SEARCH

Just sold on eBay, out of Lubbock TX.

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Great list! thanks …am wondering why the Lawson mouthpieces are not listed?

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Thanks Lorraine! Just added the link to Lawson.

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hmm, Lawson mouthpieces ? Thanks for doing this!

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Dell ‘Osa…. (Philadelphia)….. Also Kruspe made mouthpieces. These are both historical submissions so may not qualify for the list… Seraphinoff also makes sheet metal mouthpieces.

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Thanks for the suggestions Aleks! Just added them to the list, along with a few others.

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A few more… Finke makes (or made) some mouthpieces and Karl Hill makes some as well for use with his horns…. Also, Breslmair in Vienna… Best Brass in Japan…. There is also a small custom Japanese makes whose name has escaped me.

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One more…. McCracken makes hand machined solid nickel mouthpieces.

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Thanks Aleks! Good stuff!

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I don’t see Bach French Horn mouthpieces here. Did they stop making them for horn? I have played a Bach 11 for decades. Luckily, I have 3 of them here. I bought spares ‘just in case’.

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Thanks James! Bach is near the top of the list.

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Sansone had some nice mouthpieces.

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Thanks! Will add to the list.

James

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Parke DeRosa Horn Mouthpieces…Below is an is a yahoo horn list conversation concerning the Parke DeRosa mouthpieces. I was fortunate enough to study with Mr. DeRosa while at USC. He was not my primary instructor. He never pushed this particular mouthpiece. Although we had one in the studio anyone could try.

(7)ViewNextPrevious
rcweiss2
Apr 8, 2007
View Source
Someone commented they really liked this mouthpiece. I don’t know much
about it.

Anyone have one or can comment?

Thanks.

RW
brtdied
Apr 9, 2007
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I have a gold plated Parke DeRosa mouthpiece; i’ve played it for five
years with a Conn8d. In general i like the mpc quite a lot – it’s
pretty big and has a very comfortable rim; it tends to darken the
sound of the horn, is great for slurring (but articulates decently),
and seems to pack a wallop in the low registers.

I myself am in the market for a new mpc, because for me the rim is now
a little wide and i feel i don’t have the flexibility i want; i have a
very dark tone anyway and with this combination of equipment i sound
tubby – it seems the sound is so big it has no core to it and when i
crescendo the sound gets wider instead of projecting forward; and my
sound seems to lose focus in the upper registers. Please take note
that these are all problems *for me* with this setup, and you may
experience none of them – the mpc might even help remedy a particular
problem you’re experiencing.

It is an excellent mpc and at least warrants a looksy.

RS
Steve
Apr 9, 2007
View Source
I currently play the Patterson 4C and have to say that Jim has done a great
job balancing focus, agility and depth of sound. Jim, you out there?!

Steve

Stephen Colley

Developer – Tuneup Systems

HYPERLINK “http://www.tuneupsystems.com”www.tuneupsystems.com

Tuneup Systems

PO Box 29574

Richmond, VA 23242

New contact number: 214-598-2700

___

Jim
Apr 10, 2007
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The mouthpiece you mention is derived from the 1970’s vintage Chambers
MP. I modified it by making the cup straighter with less bowl shape.
The result is more focus and projection. I’ve been making it since
1985. I have expanded my line of MP’s to include a Geyer copy, a copy
of Jim Thatcher’s MP (and some other hollywood hornists) and 4 rims of
different widths based on Vince deRosa’s rim.

BTW, the Park DeRosa, while a good MP is not one that Vince ever
played. It is a copy of the Mirafone DeRosa which was developed by
Mirafone while they were in So. Cal. Vince designed this MP for
students and never played it himself. I think it is a good MP for
students who are working on their sound. At some point, many players
begin to sound a bit tubby. It’s all about balancing your particular
sound. What is good for one may not be good for another.

>Steve Colley wrote:

> I currently play the Patterson 4C and have to say that Jim has done
a great
> job balancing focus, agility and depth of sound. Jim, you out there?!
>
>
>
> Steve
>
>
>
> Stephen Colley
>
> Developer – Tuneup Systems
>
> HYPERLINK “http://www.tuneupsystems.com”www.tuneupsystems.com
>
> Tuneup Systems
>
> PO Box 29574
>
> Richmond, VA 23242
>
> New contact number: 214-598-2700
>
> _____
>
> From: horn@yahoogroups.com [mailto:horn@yahoogroups.com]
>
>
>
> —

Apr 11, 2007
View Source
excuse me…
So, is this the url of the MP you mentiond – the Patterson
http://www.hornworks.com/mouthpiece.html

Recently, I met/borrowed this mouthpiece, Mirafone Decker Model D.
Supprisingly, it fits me very well; much better for me than Stork C8,
C12W, GS, or Marcinkiewicz 9S, 11…etc

I cannot find more information abou the specification of this
mouthpiece.
The material of it is quite different from most of the mouthpieces –
nickelsilver I heard, and hence heavier.

> BTW, the Park DeRosa, while a good MP is not one that Vince ever
played.

So, are you saying this mp:
http://www.parke.net/references/vincent_derosa.htm
http://www.parke.net/derosa/derosa_design.htm

> [The Park DeRosa] is a copy of the Mirafone DeRosa which was
developed by Mirafone while they were in So. Cal. Vince designed this
MP for students and never played it himself.

And, what about the “Mirafone Decker Model D”? Is “Mirafone Decker
Model D” the “Mirafone DeRosa” which you mentioned designed for
student?

Also, is there more information or specifications about these MPs?
(eg. cup diameter, bore … )
What similar MPs are there that might be able to replace
the “Mirafone Decker Model D”?
And, does anyone have this for sell, or where could I bought or copy
it?

Thank you very much

Show message history
corno911@aol.com
Apr 11, 2007
View Source
In a message dated 4/10/07 11:55:22 PM, neuroh@… writes:

> what about the “Mirafone Decker Model D”? Is “Mirafone Decker
> Model D” the “Mirafone DeRosa” which you mentioned designed for
> student?
>

No, the Mirafone Decker Model D is not their DeRosa Model.
The Mirafone DeRosa model was marked -DeRosa Model.
The Decker Model came in H and D.
The H model was, as described by Mirafone info. that I have from when they
were made, was designed for horn.
The D model was designed for descant horn. It has a shallower cup than the H.

Paul Navarro
Custom Horn

**************************************
See what’s free at
http://www.aol.com.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jacobmedlin
Apr 13, 2007
View Source
— In horn@yahoogroups.com, “brtdied” wrote:

> I myself am in the market for a new mpc, because for me the rim is now
> a little wide and i feel i don’t have the flexibility i want; i have a
> very dark tone anyway and with this combination of equipment i sound
> tubby – it seems the sound is so big it has no core to it and when i
> crescendo the sound gets wider instead of projecting forward; and my
> sound seems to lose focus in the upper registers.

I think the reason for this is that the mouthpiece is one of the
lightest (in terms of weight) that I’ve played (or held for that
matter). I can see how this is a good idea for students, but any real
power behind it and the mouthpiece can’t handle it. I’ve done
extensive (and expensive) mouthpiece searching and I keep coming back
to the Lawson mouthpieces as a very nice balance between a nice
resonant mouthpiece without all the extra vibration robbing material.
Hope that’s at all useful.

Jacob

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Thanks Chris!

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Howdy. Great resource. Did not see Patterson Horn Works mouthpieces. Just go to his URL and it will give the details. JPO

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Thanks John! Patterson mouthpieces are located about 3/4 of the way down the list, below Neill Sanders and above Paxman. Hope all is well!

James

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I have a Pruviance 5*1, which I purchased at IHS in Denton in 2012. It has proved to be a wonderful mouthpiece, and is one of my favorites. I can find out nothing about Pruviance, although at one time, they were very big in the trumpet world.

Bill Adam
Dallas, Texas

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Thanks for this info, Bill. I haven’t heard of these mouthpieces either.

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James, I have a college student who has had to have braces put on for her sophomore year and beyond. What are you recommending for students with braces these days? Have you tried the Greg Black mouthpiece yet?

Thanks, Michael

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Hi Michael! I’ve not personally used the Greg Black mouthpiece with any students, but have heard good things. My go to braces mouthpiece is the Osmun copy of the Neill Sanders Rim: https://osmun.com/neill-sanders-replica-rim/

When paired with a medium/shallow cup, it can really help players deal with the negative effects of braces. Hope you are well!

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Thank you James, that was the one that my memory failed me on. What would cup would you pair that with if the students is currently on a Giardinelli C8?

Many thanks, Michael

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Hi Michael,

Almost any medium cup with Giardinelli compatible threads should be good. There are some larger cups that would be similar to the C8, but those might cause some range issues/frustration when combined with braces. I’m a big fan of the Houser San Francisco model, or you could try the Houser Gene Standley cup. Both are great and should be compatible with the Osmun rim.

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Hello James. First let me thank you for putting together that Kopprasch project a few years back. Sibelius can play them yes but I needed to hear how a real human plays it ‘properly’.
My question. I am reviewing the Houghton rims and noticed your review on the H1 rim. You indicated you were looking for a cup intermediate to the Houser SF and the H1. I have the SF cup but what parameters influenced your choosing between the two cups? Even though they seem to have a similar cup, what differences did you find?

Thanks

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Thanks Carl! In short the SF cup feels a bit smaller and easier to play for me. Both are very popular with lots of players, so I would suggest trying both and finding out what works best for you! -James

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Thanks James.
Yes I think I will. Might as well add to my mouthpiece/rim collection in my quest for my panacea of combos, this month. Aye yi yi yi.
I was using the SF on my H179 but when I moved up to my Briz 2000C it no longer worked. So far, Ion Balu’s ‘Le Meow’ is best matched to my horn, leadpipe and chops. But trills have now disappeared, poof!! 😦 (
Don’t know if it’s the tightness of the horn, my changing chops or what.

Cheers

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Never hurts to have another mouthpiece or two in the collection! That being said, if you are happy with the SF cup you could stick with it a while, OR try a SF cup with a different bore and/or shank size. Both variables can have a noticeable affect on response, slotting, etc. -James

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That’s for sure. I’ve got all sorts of cups and rims. From Moosewood to Julie Landsman rims and many in-between. I think I need an intervention 😀

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