Mouthpiece sizing

[ChuckTbone]

I have played on a conn Remington mouthpiece on my 88h for years. I have always felt like it didn’t take the amount of air I was trying to push through the mouthpiece fast enough and would cause my cheeks to puff out and would overall just feel alot of tension in my face. A few years ago I changed to a Greg black New York 5 which is considerably deeper than the Remington and has definitely helped but I’m not sure if it’s too deep or not. How does one know if their mouthpiece is too big? I know it could be considered as a small bass bone mouthpiece so I’m looking at possibly changing to help me when I have to play higher register pieces.

TLDR: my mouthpiece is big, how do I know if it’s too big or if I need a smaller one?

Thanks

[Burgerbob]

The New York 5 is not very deep. It's the shallowest of that series, and probably a good ish match for an 88H. I'd be more worried about the shank not fitting correctly.

[ChuckTbone]

The New York 5 is not very deep. It's the shallowest of that series, and probably a good ish match for an 88H. I'd be more worried about the shank not fitting correctly.

According to their website the New York series spans from a 1 to an 8. I always thought my 5 was in the middle somewhere, but then again I have a lot to learn when it comes to mouthpieces.
I’ve also never had trouble with the shank not fitting though it is noticeably shorter than my Remington it seems to seal just fine.

[Kevbach33]

As Aidan states the NY 5 is the shallowest in its particular diameter; 6 is the deepest. All the depth equivalents are listed on the site.

1 is the shallowest in the widest diameter; 2 is the deepest in that size.

And so on.

Regarding your question:

You'll know a mouthpiece is too deep when it makes your high register noticeably flatter than before. The sound may not have as many higher overtones as well; in other words, the sound "lacks sparkle." If the results are not too extreme, extra practice can iron it out. If too far, go shallower.

I don't play on Greg's pieces or an 88H, but if I did, I would probably go no deeper than the ".5" depth in the NY series (5G style).

[CalgaryTbone]

Greg can make his mouthpieces with a "Conn" shank, so it fits the (Elkhart) 88H in the same way that the Remington mouthpiece fits the horn. That might make the difference in what makes the mouthpiece feel "big" to you. The NY 5 has a rim around a Bach 4, while the Remington is more like a Bach 5 size in the rim - that may also be something to take into account. Lastly, the Remington has a "V-shaped cup" and a fairly small throat - the opening at the bottom of the cup, entering the inside of the shank (known as the backbore). Greg's NY series has more of a "Bowl-shaped cup", and a fairly large throat going into an open backbore. There is more than the cup depth that can affect how the mouthpiece feels for you, and if it suits your playing at this moment. I'm a fan of that particular Greg Black mouthpiece - I've used it on and off for years, although mine is marked "Alessi" - the early version before Joe moved on to another company. It might not work for you, but having it fit the horn properly might be the first thing to try. Before ordering one with a Conn shank, maybe see if you can try your existing mouthpiece in a horn that has a standard fitting receiver. See if the response feels better. Then you'll have a reasonably good idea if it's a good possibility for you.

Jim Scott