The mouthpiece rim is the player’s direct contact with the mouthpiece and instrument – so we all have strong opinions on what we feel and what we like. So, I offer a variety of rims for my modular mouthpieces.
Surprisingly though, the rim ‘feel’ is affected by the rest of the mouthpiece and the horn. When you put the same rim on differing mouthpieces and play them on your horn, you can easily believe that they are not the same rim! The diameter feels different, the ‘bite’ feels different…highlighting the fact that we alter the way we play when we switch equipment – in order to make it work. I have sample rim selections that people can try in order to find what feels good to them without the extra baggage of a cup, backbore or instrument attached. You can see how the rim articulates too, without the influence of the mouthpiece and horn.
Small Diameter Rims
T4 Narrow – This rim is the T4 rim that is narrower in diameter for smaller cups. It has a rounded inner profile and speaks clearly while being very comfortable for long sessions.
The inner diameter is 1.004″
Medium Diameter Rims
T4 – This is medium wide in diameter, with a rounded inner profile. As the profile consists of several radii, you can’t specify the diameter as a specific dimension. The inner diameter is 1.008″
T5 – This is medium wide in diameter, with a xxx inner profile. As the profile consists of several radii, you can’t specify the diameter as a specific dimension. The inner diameter is 1.008″
T8 – This is medium wide in diameter, with a xxx inner profile. As the profile consists of several radii, you can’t specify the diameter as a specific dimension. The inner diameter is 1.008″
C3 – My current favorite, the C3 rim is medium wide in diameter, with a rounded inner profile. As the profile consists of several radii, you can’t specify the diameter as a specific dimension. The inner diameter is 1.006″