Art by Valerie Welsher

The Studio Master Series offers a wide range off options all designed to find the optimum balance of resistance between the player and his equipment to achieve maximum air velocity in the upper register. There are Five Major Elements that we manipulate in order to achieve this balance.  Overall length, cup depth and shape,  bore and back bore. Click the links to the right for more details.

Overall Length

Cup Depth and Shape

Bores

Back Bores

Rim Specs

Overall Length

 Altering the overall length of the mouthpiece affects the resistance. All things being equal, the longer the overall length, the greater the resistance. Shortening the overall length reduces resistance in a way that is subtle enough to maintain high compression while still having a significant impact. We use this point of resistance to be able to hold constant or manipulate other aspects of the mouthpiece, such as cup depth or bore size which have a much more immediate impact on air velocity.

Cup Depth and Shape

The Studio Master cups are shaped quite differently than most shallow cupped mouthpieces. They employ a "Dual Cup" concept. This allows us to carefully and purposefully manipulate the two most important factors relating to shallow cupped mouthpieces: Lip accommodation and Air flow.

The top cup is designed to allow for more room for the lips to vibrate freely. The bottom part of the cup (throat area) is used to regulate the air flow.

Here is a comparison of the shallowest Studio Master cup versus the most common shallow cup design:       

Most Common Shallow Cup Shape

Studio Master Cup Shape

The yellow arrows help to highlight the differences in cup design.  The top part of the cup has a great deal more room just under the rim in the walls of the cup. Not only does this allow for the lips to vibrate more freely, but it is an important factor in the robust sound that the Studio Master pieces are known for. This extra room also lets players with fleshier lips play a shallower cup than they generally are able to play. The extra room in the throat area of the cup (bottom of the cup, or entrance to the bore) allows more air to flow through more quickly.

The Studio Master Series offers 5 different cup depths. This offers a player maximum adaptability to their own needs. The depth of the cup has an enormous impact on the overall volume of the mouthpiece. The deeper the cup, the greater the overall volume. Some players will need a deeper cup simply because they have fuller lips. This does not mean that they need the extra overall volume that goes with it. For these players, the extra options available in the Studio Master line, such as back bore, bore and overall length options can be used to compensate, so they can have the room in the cup where they need it, but tighten things down in other areas so that they will still get the velocity in the air flow needed to play in the extreme upper register.

From shallowest to deepest...the Studio Master cup depth options:

 LT, LX, and LD Cup

The Shallowest of the Studio Master cups.

Depth in inches: 4.60"       

Depth in millimeters:11.68mm

LTV, XV and LDV Cup

This cup has a bit more room in the walls of the cup. This can add extra depth to the tone and provide extra vibrating room for the lips.

                                            Depth in inches: .460"

Depth in millimeters: 11.68mm

LTS, XS and LDS Cup

This cup has the same bowl in the top of the cup as the preceding cup, but the throat area is opened more adding additional volume to the cup.        

                                                Depth in inches: .475"

Depth in millimeters: 12.87mm

VMS and XMS Cup

This cup is decidedly deeper and more "V" shaped than its predecessors. It is a balance of ample "bowl" in the top of the cup with a gradual "V" shape into the throat area.

Depth in inches: .560""

Depth in millimeters: 14.22mm

VM and XM Cups

This is the deepest of the Studio Master cups. It is very close to a pure "V" shape with just enough bowl to add depth to the sound.

Depth in inches: .595"

Depth in millimeters: 15.11mm

Bore and Back Bore

The Studio Master line offers 5 different back bore options and 2 different bore sizes.

LD, LDV, LDS

LX, XV, XS

LT, LTV, LTS

 V 

VM

       XM

This is the largest back bore of the Studio Master line. Coupled with the  shortness of the overall length of this model these two elements combine to dramatically reduce the resistance in this design.

This back bore is tighter than the LD,  but because of the shortness of the overall length this model has considerably less resistance then most 'high note' designs. It provides a great balance between openness and resistance.

This is the tightest back bore in the Studio Master line. These models also have a #28 bore. Depending on the player, extra resistance can help to speed the air and boost the upper register. *Note the long straight section*

This is a large back bore. This mouthpiece is a great 'cross- over' piece and gives the player great flexibility: shallow enough to climb easily into the upper register, large enough to blend just about anywhere.

The XM back bore is slightly smaller than its counterpart VM back bore. This extra bit of resistance can help to quicken response and facilitate range.

Bore Size = #27

(.144" or 3.65mm)

Bore Size = #27

(.144" or 3.65mm)

Bore Size = #28

(.140" or 3.57mm)

Bore Size = #27

(.144" or 3.65mm)

Bore Size = #27

(.144" or 3.65mm)

Rim Specifications