Stork: Light vs Heavy

[Trombola2112]

Been using a heavyweight Stork 1.5S as my go to bass mouthpiece (also have the heavyweight 1.5, prefer the S) and want to try the lightweight version. Those that use both, do you use the same throat/bore on both or do you change based on weight? Do people change between weights in other brands?

[hyperbolica]

On all the mouthpieces where I've played light and heavy, I always prefered the heavy, and that includes Stork.

[MTbassbone]

+1 for the heavy Stork models. I tried the lightweight 1.5S, and thought it sounded thin.

[Meng]

I had BT4 light, BT4 heavy, BT4S heavy.

I used some pin gauges with the 0.01mm accuracy to Go/No-Go measure the throat diameter.
The throat diamter of my BT4 Light is 7.10~7.11 mm.
The throat diamter of my BT4 Heavy is 7.05~7.06 mm.
The throat diamter of my BT4S Heavy is 7.15~7.16 mm.

Btw, my BT4 Light should be produced in earlier years. I bought these two heavys in Jun 2024.


I used 60 steel balls to try to get a rough idea of ​​the inner contour shape.
The cup sharps of two heavys are same, which are a little bit larger than the old BT4 light.

2025-07-10 13.42.15.jpg

2025-07-10 13.43.38.jpg

2025-07-10 13.44.43.jpg

Btw, there is one opinion from my friend, fyi.
He feld that the two heavy mouthpieces both have one problem, the tone color is not uniform in high and low ranges. My old BT4 light does not have this problem, it is consistent.


My teacher told me that different mouthpieces should be played in different ways to achieve the best and most suitable effect.
My understanding is that it is like singing the same song in different singing methods and singing styles.

For example, when playing the same one Rochuts,
Greg Black New York 5 Medium weight can play warmer, deeper, and the sound is very solid, more like the aria.
Greg Black New York 5.25 Regular weight, the sound is exquisite and flowing, more like the musical drama.
Greg Black New York 5 Regular weight will be more relaxed, like the lullaby for baby.
Griego Alessi 5C will be more performative and emotional.
Griego Alessi 4C sounds more open, like a big voice.

[kingtempo504]

I love my lightweight stork. BUT thats probably becaise i play a mall bore 485/500 size horn. I get alot of flexibility. Can play super soft or really light things up with some overtones when the time calls for it. Maybe the heavyweight blank just works better with large bore horns while the lightweight works bettsr with small bore. Not sure but just a rheory when looking at which one players choose.

[BrianJohnston]

I typically like standard weight mouthpieces, so whichever weight it closer to typical - probably the stork heavyweight is more like a standard Bach, where greg black lightweight is more standard as well.

[TomInME]

I love my lightweight stork. BUT thats probably becaise i play a mall bore 485/500 size horn. I get alot of flexibility. Can play super soft or really light things up with some overtones when the time calls for it. Maybe the heavyweight blank just works better with large bore horns while the lightweight works bettsr with small bore. Not sure but just a rheory when looking at which one players choose.

I play bass and my (not-extensive) experience with light-vs-heavy is that in (genuinely) soft dynamics, light is easier to play and more colorful but in very loud dynamics it's harder to control and possibly more edgy. Heavy is the opposite: less responsive and not very colorful in soft dynamics, but easier to control and possibly less edgy in very loud dynamics.

In the middle (mp-ff), I haven't noticed a lot of difference. And given the option, I'll choose lighter because I find soft playing more challenging/risky.

[GabrielRice]

I typically like standard weight mouthpieces, so whichever weight it closer to typical - probably the stork heavyweight is more like a standard Bach, where greg black lightweight is more standard as well.

Stork heavy (actually standard) trombone mouthpieces are much heavier than standard Bachs, closer to Megatones. Stork's lightweight blank is lighter than standard Bach, more like a Giardinelli mouthpiece.