M O U T H PI E C E M A N UA L
Vincent Bach was a rare combination of artist and engineer. A mechanical genius and acclaimed trumpet soloist, his instruments and mouthpieces are used today in every major studio and orchestra in the world. Bach personally designed the tools and composed the plans that continue to set the high standards for making all Bach products today.
C O N TE N T S M O U T H P I E C E D E S I G N I N F O R M AT I O N 3. Selecting a Mouthpiece 5. The Rim 7. The Cup: Depth and Diameter 8. The Backbore 9. The Throat 10. Mega Tone®, Screw-Rim Mouthpieces 11. Custom Designed Mouthpieces, Special Shanks, Finishes, Cleaning VINCENT BACH MOUTHPIECE MODELS 12. Key to Trumpet Model Numbers 13.-18. Trumpet, Cornet & Fluegelhorn Mouthpieces 18. E Contra-Alto Trumpet Mouthpiece 19. Mega Tone® Trumpet Mouthpieces 20. Mega Tone® Cornet Mouthpieces 20.
Selecting a Mouthpiece When selecting a mouthpiece, a brass instrumentalist should choose one with a solid, compact tone of large volume. A carefully selected Bach mouthpiece can help improve a player’s embouchure, attack, tonguing and endurance. Professional musicians and advanced students prefer the musical results of large mouthpieces, such as the Bach 1B, 1C, 11⁄4C, 11⁄2B, 11⁄2C, 21⁄2C, 3C, which provide a maximum volume of tone with the least amount of effort.
Wide Rim: Increases player’s endurance, but limits flexibility. Narrow Rim: Helps players who must cover a wide range of pitch. Rounded Rim: Crooked teeth may require a rounded rim contour at the expense of clean low-register attacks. Sharp Inner Rim Edge: Produces a brilliant metallic tone, makes attacks more reliable.
The Rim A well-constructed brass instrument mouthpiece should have a medium-wide rim with a fairly sharp inner edge. If the mouthpiece is properly placed, it will permit the lips to move slightly forward and backward. For high tones, a player will draw the lips farther back; while for low tones, the lip muscles will relax, permitting the lips to protrude.
Large Cup Diameter: Produces a large volume and reduces risk of cracked tones. Small Cup Diameter: Requires little strength. Limits the tone and inhibits embouchure development._ Deep Cup: Improves the tone, especially in the lower register. Shallow Cup: Designed for brasses in high keys. Aids in high register production.
The Cup: Depth In general, a large cup diameter and/or depth lowers the pitch of an instrument, while a small cup diameter and/or shallow cup raises the pitch. Therefore, it is important to match the cup of the mouthpiece with the pitch of the instrument. Due to variations in embouchure, air support and oral cavity among musicians, individuals should select a cup which improves their overall intonation.
The Backbore The backbore of a mouthpiece bears a certain relationship to the rim, cup shape and throat, and to the make and bore of the instrument on which the mouthpiece is to be used. If the backbore of a mouthpiece is too small, the high register will be stuffy and flat. If the backbore of a mouthpiece is too large, the mouthpiece will not have sufficient resistance and the player’s embouchure will soon become exhausted.
The Throat All standard Bach mouthpieces are made with medium-sized throats which produce an even register, good intonation, and sufficient endurance for strenuous, all-around work. A small throat does not produce an easier high register; on the contrary, it not only chokes the tone but contracts the entire register, making high tones flat or the low tones sharp. A mouthpiece with an excessively large throat will make playing softly difficult, however, a large throat may help to produce a bigger tone.
MegaTone® Mouthpieces Screw-Rim Mouthpieces Symphonic and jazz trumpet players have always experimented with ways to create a darker sound by using various mouthpiece add-ons to add weight and mass. The Bach Mega Tone Mouthpiece takes these experiments one step further. To create the Mega Tone, Selmer starts with genuine Vincent Bach mouthpiece designs and more than doubles the outside mass. This darkens the sound and allows you to play at higher dynamic levels without distortion.
Custom Designed Mouthpieces In addition to the variety of standard models listed in the Bach Mouthpiece Manual, custom designed mouthpieces may be specially ordered, allowing for any combination of rim, cup, throat and backbore designs. Many special requests can be created as solid mouthpieces, although some combinations can only be manufactured as a screw-rim mouthpiece. Special Shanks The shank (stem) of a mouthpiece must have the correct diameter and taper in order to fit snugly.
Key To Trumpet, Cornet and Fluegelhorn Model Numbers Bach trumpet, cornet and fluegelhorn mouthpieces have been numbered in an orderly progression from the largest to the smallest diameters and from the deepest to the most shallow cup, each with a choice of rim designs. Rim shape is described for each individual model throughout the catalog. Model numbers progress numerically from model #1 with the largest cup diameter, to model #20C with the smallest cup diameter. Cup depths are notated with letters.
Trumpet, Cornet & Fluegelhorn Mouthpieces Catalog No. 351 Trumpet / Catalog No. 349 Cornet / Catalog No. 342 Fluegelhorn* Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 1* Deep 17.50 mm Medium thin. Extra-large cup for players with a robust embouchure. Produces a great volume of tone. 1X Deep 17.00 mm Medium wide. The pre-1970 (old style) No. 1, with slightly smaller cup and wider rim than the present model. 1B Medium deep 17.00 mm Medium wide.
Trumpet, Cornet & Fluegelhorn Mouthpieces, continued 14 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 3B Medium deep 16.30 mm Medium wide. Description A fairly large cup. The tone is warm and full. 3C* Medium 16.30 mm Medium wide. Fairly large cup, good for all-around use. 3CW Medium 16.30 mm Slightly wider, lowered to outside. Same as No. 3C with wider cushion style rim. 3D Medium shallow 16.30 mm Medium wide. Fairly large, medium shallow cup produces a more brilliant tone.
Trumpet, Cornet & Fluegelhorn Mouthpieces, continued Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 7A* Very deep 16.20 mm Medium wide, lowered toward the outside. Med. sharp inside edge. Warm, melodious, rich tone approaches the quality of a lyric soprano voice. Free blowing. 7B Medium deep 16.20 mm Medium wide, lowered toward the outside. Med. sharp inside edge. Slightly livelier timbre than No. 7, full in the low and middle registers, responds easily on high tones. Warm, rich sound.
Trumpet, Cornet & Fluegelhorn Mouthpieces, continued 16 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape Description 81⁄2 Deep 16.10 mm Medium wide, lowered toward the outside. Med. sharp inside edge. Slightly smaller in diameter than No. 7; produces a full, round tone. Preferred by players with a sensitive embouchure and by those whose work is very strenuous. 81⁄2A Very deep 16.10 mm Medium wide with rounded inner edge. Produces a full, velvety tone. Suitable for cantilena playing.
Trumpet, Cornet & Fluegelhorn Mouthpieces, continued Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape Description 101⁄2CW Medium 15.90 mm Extra wide, high toward the inner edge. Size, cup shape, and playing qualities are similar to the No.101⁄2C Cushion rim recommended for players who use heavy pressure. 101⁄2D Medium shallow 15.90 mm Medium wide, high toward the inner edge. Similar in size to No. 101⁄2C, with a shallower cup for more brilliance and an easier high register.
Trumpet, Cornet & Fluegelhorn Mouthpieces, continued Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 111⁄2C Medium 15.65 mm Medium wide. A brilliant, scintillating tone, very easy response and good allaround register. 113⁄4C Medium 15.60 mm Medium wide, well rounded. Easy playing, with a compact, brilliant tone. Recommended for players with sensitive embouchures and narrow lips. 113⁄4CW Medium 15.60 mm Fairly wide, rather flat, not too sharp.
Mega Tone® Trumpet Mouthpieces Catalog No. K351 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 1 Deep 17.50 mm Medium thin .Extra large cup for players with a robust embouchure. Produces a great volume of tone. 1B Medium deep 17.00 mm Medium wide. Large cup for players with a robust embouchure. Produces a warm tone with great volume. 1C Medium 17.00 mm Medium wide. Large diameter, medium cup, good for all-around use. 1D Medium shallow 17.00 mm Medium wide.
Mega Tone® Cornet Mouthpieces Catalog No. K349 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 1 Deep 17.50 mm Medium thin. Extra large cup for players with a robust embouchure. Produces a great volume of tone. 1B Medium deep 17.00 mm Medium wide. Large cup for players with a robust embouchure. Produces a warm, mellow tone. Description 1C Medium 17.00 mm Medium wide. Large diameter, medium cup, good for all-around use. 3B Medium deep 16.30 mm Medium wide. A fairly large cup.
Horn Mouthpieces Catalog No. 336 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 3 Medium 17.60 mm Narrow. A large mouthpiece for great volume of tone, especially in the low register. 7 Medium 17.25 mm Narrow. Fairly large size, for a strong embouchure. 7S Medium 17.25 mm Narrow. Same as No. 7 but with larger throat and backbore. Freer blowing, darker sound. 10 Deep 16.80 mm Medium wide.
Small Shank Tenor Trombone, Baritone & Euphonium Mouthpieces Catalog No. 350 22 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 3 Medium deep 26.26 mm Medium wide, well rounded. Extra-large cup for players with a robust embouchure. 4 Medium 26.00 mm Medium wide, well rounded. Very large cup; principally used by players having healthy, strong embouchures. 4C Medium shallow 25.75 mm Medium wide, well rounded. Large cup with a brilliant tone. Requires a powerful, natural embouchure.
Small Shank Tenor Trombone, Baritone & Euphonium Mouthpieces, continued Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 81⁄2BW Medium shallow 24.75 mm Very wide, well rounded. For players with heavy lips who need support to prevent the rim from digging. Well liked by musicians who do strenuous work. Produces lively, brilliant tone with easy high register. 9 Medium deep 24.72 mm Medium wide. Possesses a beautiful, rich, rather mellow timbre. 11 Medium deep 24.70 mm Medium wide.
Small Shank Tenor Trombone, Baritone & Euphonium Mouthpieces, continued Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 17 Medium 24.20 mm Medium wide. A rather small mouthpiece for all-around work by players with a small mouth or weak lips. Produces a mellow tone. 17C Medium shallow 24.20 mm Medium wide. Produces a clear, brilliant tone; requires little effort to play. Good for players with a small mouth and weak lips. 17D Shallow 24.20 mm Medium wide.
Large Shank Tenor & Bass Trombone Mouthpieces, continued Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape Throat Backbore Description 11⁄2GM Deep 27.00 mm Medium wide, well rounded. .319" 800S Larger throat and backbore than the No. 11⁄2G results in less resistance, larger dynamic range, deeper, warmer sound. 2G Deep 26.75 mm Medium narrow. .276" 429 Deep, full, resonant tone. Big low register even through the pedal tones. 3G Deep 26.26 mm Medium wide, well rounded. .
Mega Tone® Small Shank Tenor Trombone, Baritone & Euphonium Mouthpieces Catalog No. K350 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape Description 4 Medium 26.00 mm Medium wide, well rounded. Very large cup; principally used by players having healthy, strong embouchures. 5 Medium 25.50 mm Medium wide, semi-flat. For players with good, natural embouchures. Rather large cup. Produces a full, mellow, sonorous tone. 5GS Medium 25.50 mm Medium wide, semi-flat. Same as No.
Mega Tone® Large Shank Tenor & Bass Trombone Mouthpieces Catalog No. K341 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 1G Deep 28.00 mm Medium thin, well rounded. .319" 800S Extra large and deep for extraordinary power and depth of tone. Among the largest and most powerful bass trombone mouthpieces produced today. 11⁄4GM Deep 27.50 mm Medium thin, well rounded. .302" “N” 800S Same rim and cup as No.11⁄4G, but with a larger throat and backbore for a large, powerful sound, well in tune.
Tuba & Sousaphone Mouthpieces Catalog No. 335 Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape 7 Medium 33.25 mm Medium wide. A large mouthpiece with full, lively tone and a splendid low register, for players with a strong embouchure. Recommended for large-bore instruments. 12 Medium 32.75 mm Medium wide. Fairly large diameter, producing a big, vivid tone. 18 Medium 32.10 mm Medium wide. Our best-selling mouthpiece for all-around work.
Screw-Rim Mouthpieces • Complete mouthpiece includes a silver-plated brass threaded underpart with choice of silver-plated brass or Lucite screw-rim. • Brass underparts standard with silver-plated finish. • Rims standard in silver-plated brass or Lucite. • Optional gold-plating available on any brass component.
Gold-Plated Trim Kits Enhance the beauty of your silver-plated Mutes Bach offers a complete line of Mutes, from economical polyethylene models to our professional Stradivarius Ultra and Elite lines, constructed of aluminum with a rugged stainless steel bottom. Brass Microphone System Our Mic System provides excellent tone quality with minimum visibility. A flexible gooseneck adjusts for optimum positioning, and rugged construction offers lasting value. Adaptable to wireless systems.
Heavy Valve Caps Achieve a warmer, more powerful sound by dampening vibrations with our Heavy Valve Caps. Polishing Cloths and Gloves Keeping your trumpet brilliantly clean is easy with our Polishing Cloths and Gloves. Choose from specially formulated lacquer and plated finish options. Leatherlike Double Trumpet Gig Bag The Double Bag offers the look of leather at an affordable price, with easier clean-up, greater durability and superior moisture resistance.
Outer Dimensions of Bach Mouthpieces Model #K342 Mega Tone Fluegelhorn Model #351 Trumpet Receiver Opening .405" Receiver Opening .432" Receiver Opening .546" .355" .382" .496" 1" 1" 1" 2 7/8" 3 7/16" Model #349 Cornet 3 1/4" Model #343 Contra-alto Trumpet Receiver Opening .385" Receiver Opening .455" .341" Model #340 Contra-bass Trombone Receiver Opening .564" .405" 7/8" .514" 1" 2 3/4" 1" 3 1/16" Model #342 Fluegelhorn 3 5/8" Model #A337 Alto Horn Receiver Opening .
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