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

DRUM & BUGLE CORPS. The name say’s it all. However much has changed in that arena over the years. What is the difference between a BUGLE and a TRUMPET? Some would say it means the same thing. However, while a TRUMPET is more Cylindrical in nature a BUGLE is closer to the CORNET family being more Conical in nature. Does that make a difference in the Sound?  And why was a BUGLE originally pitched in the KEY OF G? To answer both of these questions we need to examine the military use of the BUGLE.

The purpose of the BUGLE for military use was to wake up the troops and for signaling of different calls for daily routine and in battle. Obviously they wanted these signals to be heard out in an Open Field. The BUGLES more Conical nature helped to spread the sound rather then the TRUMPETS Cylindrical more piercing sound. Also, placing it in a LOWER KEY like G, which is a minor third lower than Bb, helped in this regard making it LOUDER!!!    ENTER THE DRUM & BUGLE CORPS.

The modern day DRUM & BUGLE CORPS has come a long way from the humble beginings of the no valve BUGLE. In order to make music and not just calls valves needed to be added. The first valve added was horizontal. This lowered the instrument one whole step and added another series of overtones to be played, thus more notes. Then came the horizontal rotor. It was refered to has an F# rotor or allowing the BUGLE to be lowered one half step from the KEY OF G which it was pitched in. You might think of it has having the first two valves on your trumpet. Valve number one and valve number two(the rotor). Now with the different valve combinations you had 4 different sets of overtone series. All that was left was to add the third valve for all seven overtone series and a complete chromatic scale. Now you had all the makings of being able to play any musical piece.  Of course, as all this was going on, the DRUM & BUGLE CORPS was adding more instrumentation such as Baritone, French Horn, Contra Bass, which was also allowing for more music to be made. But keeping it all in the UNIQUE KEY OF G, which again is a minor third lower than Bb and therefore—LOUDER!!!

ENTER MARCHING BRASS. As the development of the modern DRUM & BUGLE CORPS was happening another development was happening right along side of it. BELL FRONT marching band instruments pitched in the band key’s of Bb and F. These were originally created by my father, Zigmant Kanstul at the F.E. OLDS & SON BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY. Little did my father realize at the time the major effect his creation would have on the DRUM & BUGLE CORPS movement.

KANSTUL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS offers the most complete line of CUSTOM MARCHING BRASS in the World. And KANSTUL MUSIC offers this line exclusively to the MARCHING BAND COMMUNITY. Give me, Jack Kanstul, a call for knowledgable answers to your questions. I was raised in the activity and can help you in your selection of the right instrumentation. We offer Financing and Timely Delivery of all Kanstul Instruments.

To The Music,

Jack Kanstul