Stork Custom Mouthpieces has long been recognized as the mouthpiece specialists. Our focus is on mouthpieces . . . only mouthpieces.

From the beginning we brought a more reasoned, thoughtful approach to mouthpiece manufacturing. We fought against the misconceptions, the outrageous claims and the gimmickry, offering instead practical methods, yielding reliable results.

Stork mouthpieces were designed to accommodate the needs of the player, not the other way around. Our primary goal was to help the player improve, not sell our latest model. Having chased the dream long and hard ourselves, our vision was to find a way to make a difference for every player we worked with. We knew that no one mouthpiece could ever be the answer for everyone. Taking the time to talk with players, hear their concerns and analyze their needs has become our way of doing business...

A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP

This unique approach grew, quite naturally, from the depth of knowledge and experience that both John and Phyllis Stork brought to the business of mouthpiece manufacturing. John's abilities as a craftsman had already earned him worldwide recognition while he was still an employee of Giardinelli's, New York . . . the perfect proving ground. Working on a daily basis with the elite of the brass world allowed John to perfect his technical skills while bringing his personal experiences as a trumpet player to bear in translating the musical requests of the finest musicians into practical expression via the mouthpiece.

Phyllis, a freelance classical player from New York, brought a wealth of theoretical information to the mix. Her exhaustive knowledge of the workings of the mouthpiece, acquired through a long association with William Vacchiano, coupled with an exceptional ability to understand and diagnose embouchure and playing difficulties, gave rise to a more "systemic" approach to mouthpieces. Taking the "whole" player into consideration, from physical make-up to performance requirements, engendered more of a problem solving method of mouthpiece marketing.

STOCK MOUTHPIECES VS. CUSTOM MOUTHPIECES

There are many elements that must be examined when "fitting" a player to a mouthpiece. Among these are the inner diameter, cup depth, cup shape, rim width, rim contour, rim bite, throat, bore, back bore, overall length, and gap. Altering any of these components by as little as three thousandths of an inch can dramatically alter the playing results of a given mouthpiece for a particular player. Besides ensuring that each of these elements has been set to match the specific needs of a given individual's physical make-up, the mouthpiece must also strike a balance between the player and the instrument being played. That's a lot of variables to be considered. Even though our "stock" mouthpieces are designed to allow the greatest degree of adaptability for the individual player, not every player's needs will be met within the confines of a "stock" system. That's where customization comes into play.

THE ART OF CUSTOMIZATION

Customizing a mouthpiece can be as simple as altering an existing stock model, deepening a cup or changing the shape of the cup. It can also mean combining elements of two different stock models into one new mouthpiece; taking, for example, the rim from mouthpiece "A" and putting it on mouthpiece "B". Customization is about extending the boundaries of stock models, pushing the envelope. It's a craft requiring an artist's sensibilities, manipulating the contours of the brass, drawing on the artist's perception to shape the dimensions of each element so as to perfectly reflect a given player's physiology.

Many players spend a lifetime suffering through the effects that a poorly chosen mouthpiece imposes on them. Horror stories involving those poor souls who switched to the "perfect" mouthpiece, only to be left floundering six months later, have kept many players from finding the mouthpiece truly most suitable for them. These players struggle on from year to year believing that with just a little more practice they will overcome playing problems that are, in reality, restrictions imposed on them by an improperly fitted mouthpiece. That's where we come in.

Consultation and diagnosis are a part of our everyday services. We'll guide you through every step of the "fitting" process. We'll provide personal trial test kits to ensure that by the time we make you a customized mouthpiece, we will have fixed your personal specification parameters as closely as is practicably possible. Getting optimum performance results from one of the most personal and important pieces of equipment you'll ever use shouldn't be something you've left to chance. We can maximize your odds!

THE RIGHT MOUTHPIECE FOR YOU? WE'VE GOT THE MEANS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Whether you choose to rely on the consistent quality and excellence available in the Stork Custom line of brass mouthpieces, or find that you need a more individual solution to your playing needs, we are committed to your satisfaction.

Put us to work for you. Take advantage of our expertise. Put us to the test. We've built our business on providing services that no other manufacturer can. We're confident that we can make a difference for you, because we've made that difference for thousands of players before you!