A GOOD MOUTHPIECE can make a BAD instrument play BETTER and A BAD MOUTHPIECE can make a GOOD instrument play WORSE. This scenario helps us to see HOW IMPORTANT the selection of the RIGHT MOUTHPIECE is for your instrument. How does one determine the difference between a GOOD or BAD MOUTHPIECE? And which MOUTHPIECE is RIGHT for you?

To answer the first question about DIFFERENCE between GOOD or BAD MOUTHPIECES it comes down to Two Things: THE DESIGN and THE CRAFTSMANSHIP. To help us understand the design element a simple illustration may help. There are different sizes to BRASSWIND INSTRUMENTS like TRUMPET to TUBA. You would not think of using a TUBA MOUTHPIECE (if it could fit) in your TRUMPET anymore than you would think of using a TRUMPET MOUTHPIECE in your TUBA. The latter would fit but not right and that is the point. THE DESIGN is wrong for the size of the instrument. It needs to be MATCHED to the size of the instrument. The second point is it needs to be CRAFTED RIGHT. That is the machining of the metal, it’s dimensions and tapers need to be smooth and accurate to the finest degree. This is no easy task.

Now we come to the fun part: WHICH MOUTHPIECE IS RIGHT FOR YOU? FIRST we need to know WHAT A MOUTHPIECE DOES. Basically it is used to help your EMBOUCHURE to SET UP PROPERLY to make a SOUND in that RESONATING TUBE called a BRASSWIND INSTRUMENT. Sound Easy? Not Really! As there can be literally THOUSANDS of combinations. The key words here are SET UP PROPERLY. And it get’s more complicated in that NOT EVERYONE PLAYS with the same EMBOUCHURE. Some use a more SMILE APPROACH and others a more PUCKER APPROACH and everything in-between. Also you have differences in the ORAL CAVITY of the player which will make a difference in which size of CUP, wider-narrower…deeper-shallower, FEELS THE BEST. HOW CAN LASER TECHNOLOGY HELP?

ENTER KANSTUL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. My father, Zigmant Kanstul, has developed a REVOLUTIONARY approach to MOUTHPIECE MANUFACTURING. Using a RUBY LASER PROBE he has been able to make an exact copy of any mouthpiece OUTSIDE and most importantly INSIDE. Yes right down to the BACKBORE. Then using a MODULAR SYSTEM of design it allows you to match ANY MOUTHPIECE CUP to ANY MOUTHPIECE BACKBORE of MOST MANUFACTURES MOUTHPIECES. Also to help in this regard you can use his amazing MOUTHPIECE COMPARATOR which allows you to overlap one over the other to see the differences.

To give you guidance in all of this I offer my knowledge and assistance. Having been raised and trained by the best in the industry I have insights into BRASS PEDAGOGY. I can help you to select the right combination for you and your playing situation. So give me a call.

To The Music And Selection Of The Right Mouthpiece,

Jack Kanstul

Tags: Baritones, Bugles, Euphoniums, Flugelhorns, Marching Brass, mouthpieces, Trombones, Trumpets, Tubas

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 30th, 2008 at 5:22 pm and is filed under Alto/Tenor Horns, Baritones, Bugles, Cornets, Euphoniums, Flugelhorns, French Horns, Instruments, Kanstul news, Marching Brass, Service, Trombones, Trumpets, Tubas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.