[Trombone-l] Assessing mouthpieces

[Wayne Dyess]

On Jan 7, 2008, at 5:23 PM, Daniel Pliskin wrote:

> I've said this before and I'll say it again.  Try an experiment.   
> Try clocking your mouthpiece.  Set it in the receiver with the logo  
> facing out, as a reference point.  Play it for a while.  Then turn  
> the mouthpiece about 45 degrees and try it again.  Most mouthpieces  
> are out of round, to the point where there is a preferred rotation  
> of the mouthpiece, where you like the tone the best.  You might  
> want to mark your mouthpiece, so that you always insert it with  
> that best rotation.
>
> But also, this points out how the tiniest change in a mouthpiece  
> makes a world of difference.  So if you take the next size lettered  
> drill and take out some of the back-bore, you may well have gone  
> past that sweet spot, you were looking for.  Numbered drills are a  
> better bet, because there are more sizes.


This is a good idea, I agree.  We all strive to get the best  
mouthpiece, the best instrument, even the best slide lubricant.  By  
"clocking" your mouthpiece, you have just added that much more  
stability to your playing.  It'll be the same every time.  I've been  
doing this since talking to a friend of mine about what I saw him  
doing in his warm-up... he was turning the mouthpiece just so.   
Dennis Dotson (formerly with Woody Herman), who had "stolen" the idea  
from the principal player of the Houston Symphony.  I've been  
"clocking" myself ever since.

Or maybe I've been clogging.

Whatever it is... I'm more consistent.

:-)
Wayne