A bit of history
In the time since the release of the Artiste and Legacy mouthpieces I’ve played a lot with the VennCAD software that was used to design them. I’ve created some wonderful designs for all sorts of music but I’ve not chosen to bring these mouthpieces to market. I want to stay true to my original vision:
- Neoteric Brass mouthpieces are not copies or adaptations of popular designs that already exist.
- I won’t follow trends in throat and backbore design. The most popular brands of mouthpiece at the moment are all chasing a particular sound and design strategy that I believe takes us away from the characteristic trumpet sound that we should be trying to create. Similarly another popular brand is using a backbore design that makes a uniform but quite uninteresting sound – I don’t want that either!
- Although my mouthpieces are smaller than today’s most popular designs and work fantastically in the upper register, this does not mean that they are intended solely for high-note playing. I have rejected designs that are great lead trumpet mouthpieces because my priority is making mouthpieces that aid technique as a whole, not just one aspect of it. There are many lead trumpet mouthpieces out there if that’s what you want I’d recommend taking a look at the Vennture Lēde Line, which are outstanding.
I’ve also spent a bit of time thinking about and making changes to the Legacy mouthpiece but after a few prototypes I ended up back where I started.
Previous design descriptions:
Below you can read the information from the website when the available mouthpieces were Artiste, Legacy, CJ-Mod and Principal. These mouthpieces are still available whilst stock lasts or via special order thereafter. Please send an email to shop@tonguecontrolled.info to inquire.
Rim
All Neoteric Brass mouthpieces feature the same rim that was originally designed by Dominick Calicchio and discovered by Jerome Callet around 2007. It is a fairly broad and flat rim. The diameter of the mouthpieces is 0.633”, with a variance of 0.001” dependent on the choice of cup shape.
Throat
Throat sizes have been chosen to encourage a clear vibrant sound whilst not making you work hard to get it. This means that your trumpet sound will occupy the correct part of the audio spectrum and as such blend appropriately with an ensemble. The compliments I receive from non-brass-playing musicians (i.e. the unindoctrinated) are a constant reminder that this is the correct path. I have been hired by bands instead of other trumpet players as a direct result of chasing the true trumpet sound and not a dull, spread tone. In 2012 I was told by Jerome Callet that this would happen and I am happy that I chose to believe him.
Tech Specs
Click on any pictures to see full size.