Mouthpieces

Mouthpieces: Fact or Fiction?

from Vol. 1, No. 2 / May 1998

Opening the back bore will darken the sound. Fiction!

Text Box: Just about any mouthpiece pamphlet you pick up will describe the sound you will get from opening up the back bore as being darker, symphonic or even Teutonic. But, in reality, many players actually experience the opposite; finding that as they go to a larger back bore their sound gets brighter. Needless to say, this kind of phenomenon does not encourage a sense of confidence towards what is being presented as reliable mouthpiece theory.
This type of occurrence is, nevertheless, fairly simple to understand. The bigger back bore/ darker sound theory assumes that as the internal volume of the mouthpiece increases, the air will slow and the sound will get darker. All things being equal, this would be true. The problem with this type of theoretical approach is that once we step out of the laboratory, away from the computer mock ups and back to actual players, a different set of dynamics come into play: the personal physiology of each individual player. Each individual brings his own set of variables with him. The solution is a unique equation!
The player whose sound brightens has been over powering his equipment set up. The balance of resistance between his mouthpiece and instrument was too tight in that it was not able to accept the amount of air that he was capable of feeding in. Increasing the internal volume of the mouthpiece by opening the back bore allowed air to rush through faster. Faster air translates into brighter sound. Of course, if one continued to add to the internal volume of the mouthpiece by either continuing to open the back bore (which in itself may not have enough impact on the balance scheme) or opening the bore or deepening the cup; eventually the player will find the point at which he can no longer speed the air to sufficient velocity. The air will slow and the sound will eventually darken.
BACK