Monette Mpcs: Do you have to use a "C" mpc on C trumpet?

Lawler Bb · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 10:57 am Post subject:

Hello,

I am curious as to what the Monette gurus think about the use of the
various key Monette mouthpieces. I have played Monettes for 3 years
now, and I have always used my B12 on my C trumpet as well. I notice
that my horn seems to "build up a wall" as I ascend above top line F. I can
play up to a high C without too much effort. The "wall" becomes stronger
the higher I go. I dont have any wall problems with my Bb trumpet. Is this
the Bb mouthpiece working against the C trumpet? I'm pretty sure it is
just me, but I thought I would check.

What is to be gained by using a C mouthpiece on a C trumpet? Better
intonation? Better sound? I haven't noticed sound being a problem using
the B12 on my C trumpet.

I play a Lawler Bb and a Bach C with 229 bell and Blackburn leadpipe.

Thanks

trptdaddy · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 11:14 am Post subject:

I asked the same question when I was looking into Monette mouthpieces. The vast majority opinion was: It's better to play a Monette C mp in a Bb horn than a Bb mp in a C horn. In other words, if you were going to have only one mp and switch horns, better to have the C mp. It has to do with the intonation. The Bb mp is too long for a C horn. The shorter C mp is OK on the Bb horn.

David

richj50 · Veteran Member Joined: 02 Dec 2001 Posts: 370

What you are feeling on the C trumpet is probably the pitch center of the mouthpiece being too low in the upper register, so the mouthpiece wants to play flat above the staff. Of course, that's the way most mouthpieces play except that Monettes tend to lock in the pitches more because of their weight and the larger gap and it's harder to "lip up" the notes to compensate. If you played a C1-2 you'd find the upper register to be more in tune and the sound would also be darker and broader.

Using a C mouthpiece on a Bb is a little easier since the Bb is easier to play in tune, but for me I can't get much brilliance with a C mouthpiece on a Bb. Tends to sound too foggy and unfocused.

It sounds like you are pretty set on the 1-2 size. Why not pick up a used C1-2?

Rich

Lawler Bb · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 8:27 pm Post subject:

Rich,

I don't find the upper register going flat in any way. Actually, some notes are a bit high (like open G). This "wall" is a dynamic thing too. I've got "pp" to "fff" up to 4th space E. After that, my dynamics compress, where I only have "mp" to "f" at high Bb. I think this would have to be my problem, not my horn or mouthpiece. I just wondered if having the wrong Monette mpc for a C trumpet would make the horn "shut off" up high. Like I have said, this isn't really a problem on my Bb. Maybe I am using too large of a mouthpiece.

Oh, I am not really stuck on the 12 series. I just dont like the rim of the B2. I like a flatter rim. I did play a B15M the other day and really liked it. That would be a possibility. I also have yet to try a B3. That may be the ticket. I dont know. I just like the sound (size, color, richness) of the B12. I would like to avoid more brightness/brilliance. I would say my sound is more towards the brilliant, resonant, large (not bright) side of things. I dont want to be any more so if at all possible.

David,

Do you use a C mouthpiece on your Bb, or do you have each? What do you notice about playing characteristics?

I appreciate your commments, and would like as much info on this as possible!!

Thanks,
Eric

elbobogrande · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 8:39 pm Post subject:

I would assert that, yes, you should always use a Monette mouthpiece with the key of instrument for which it was made. Honestly, I didn't believe that using mouthpieces in the correct key was necessary until I tried it myself. I felt this same "wall as you did when using my B4 and B6 24 on a C trumpet. I have since purchased a C4, and it feels much like the feeling from switching from a non-Monette mouthpiece to Monette. I guess this is similar to the fact that I didn't think that a Monette mouthpiece would make much of a difference with pitch centering until I experimented (not because I was dissatisfied with the Monette mouthpieces) with switching back to my Bach 1C from my Monette B4. I am certain that the different feel didn't come from the size difference, because I have experienced that before. The Bach piece simply didn't seem to play as solidly as the Monette. I say that without even mentioning the slip in tone quality that I felt. All of these changes are best experienced by trying it yourself, but paradoxically, I couldn't personally imagine going back from Monette. I'm sure people could tell me of people who moved back to non-Monette equipment successfully, but I'm just giving information from personal experience. I would recommend having mouthpieces for the correct keys of instruments, just as Dave Monette, himself recommends. It is strange to think that, by just trying and liking a few Monette mouthpieces a couple years ago, I have "committed" myself to using Monette equipment from here on out. Even more strange is that I (of all people) don't resist this commitment at all.

[ This Message was edited by: elbobogrande on 2002-02-13 23:46 ]

trptdaddy · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2002 9:39 am Post subject:

Eric, I ultimately had one of each. I started with just the C mp. Then I got the Bb. I found the slotting was better on the Bb with the Bb mp, but not by much. I did try the Bb mp in the C and it didn't work very well at all. Intonation and slotting was all over the place. Nothing locked in for me.

I've had several Monette mp's over the last few years. I've kept them for a while then sold them. I keep wanting to try them. But for the life of me, I can't keep from going really sharp in the upper register with each of them. Something in my "body alignment" I guess. So I've given up.

David

BADBOY-DON · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2002 10:29 am Post subject:

richj50 · Veteran Member Joined: 02 Dec 2001 Posts: 370

Eric,

It's possible that the "shutting off" that you are feeling is just you, but I'd also suspect that as you are ascending above the staff you are playing more and more above the pitch center to keep the C horn in tune up there with the Bb mouthpiece. If you play off the pitch center of the mouthpiece, you'll loose a lot of the resonance and freedom of response which will kill your dynamic range at both ends. If you can do it, try playing into the upper register and intentionally letting everything go flat. This may be hard to do if you adjust automatically, but you also might find that resonance that you are losing up there.

I do have difference mouthpieces for Bb and C trumpet, but I don't have much of a choice because I play an STC-3 mouthpiece on my Monette C and an STC-1 on my Yamaha Bb. I do own an STC-1 C mouthpiece which I've played on my Bb though and I've owned pairs of matched mouthpieces in the past.

Talk to you later,
Rich