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Re: Mouthpiece cushions, ( or the lack thereof )

Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2018-02-17 14:11

This is a subject in which I have a strong opinion on. I play with a double lip and I don't use one, and I do have fatter lips but not real fat lips. So thin lips and double lip players may want to use one.

Here is my problem, I see a lot when I reface mouthpieces. Players put these patches right up at the tip of the mouthpiece and this is just totally wrong. The first and major problem is you are blocking the airflow. The air hits these patches, so you are blocking air movement resulting in back pressure. The patches should be on the thinner side for single and double lip players and place just in front of where your teeth hit, not at the tip of the mouthpiece. Also your articulation suffers and so will your sound and your whole embouchure is screwed. Think of trying to articulate with 2 feet of rubber on a mouthpiece beak and you only have that tiny 1.05 or so tip opening. I have to use this as an example for people to understand. Now think about how hard it will be to get air through that 1.05 tip opening. Some patches are double the thickness of the tip openings and players set them right smack on the tip on the mouthpiece. Why? Your teeth aren't there. They are back a ways. That's where the patch should be. You want a thin patch because you don't want to bite. If you are using a thick patch you need serious work on your embouchure and should start practicing long tones using a double lip. If your upper lip hurts well you are biting and talk to a good teacher.

Someone said recently that double lip embouchures are old school. I hope not. It is as important as learning the Rose 32 and 40 etudes. In 20 years from now probably every mouthpiece will come with an 1/8" built in patch, because everyone will bite. We can't let this happen.

Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces

Yamaha Artist 2015

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