TromboneChat

What is this section of the mouthpiece blank called? Does it do anything? Is it used to aid in manufacturing?

My only guesses are that it either is just the maker's artistic touch, or perhaps something that you can use with a specific collar to hold the mouthpiece in the lathe while you are working on the mouthpiece face, rather than a Morse taper collar that might allow the MP to work loose.

I saw a diagram once by Marcinkiewicz that pretty much said what that area was and how the particularly design they used helped with something, but for more the life of me I can't find it, and have been trying to for years. I'm sure it has some type of name.

It is called "Outer Shape" https://studylib.net/doc/18285363/how-t ... ce-for-you . In addition to illustrations, there is a description of its function on the last page of the document.

It's just a traditional design that has been used forever between the cup and shank. Doesn't necessarily have any particular purpose other than decoration.

Doug Elliott wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2024 2:49 pm It's just a traditional design that has been used forever between the cup and shank. Doesn't necessarily have any particular purpose other than decoration.

I call these turned grooves "ribs." (They are NOT knurled!) There may be a more formal name used by some mouthpiece makers. As far as I know, they serve no other purpose than decoration.

I'm glad Doug chimed in. I have no idea what to call it either. Looks like a "pommel".

Conn didn't use it on the CL series, on the older Conn 3 (and Conn 2 and Conn 1), the Remington (and the Connstellation Remington). I do have an old Conn Inness from about 100 years ago that has a "pommel".

My Rudy Muck had one. All my Bach mouthpieces have one. There is even a mouthpiece maker who offers O-rings that you can put on the mouthpiece shank to change the response much like the idea of the Harmonic Pillar on some Edwards/Getzen instruments.

We used to add accessories around the mouthpiece to change response. The earliest one was the Sound Sleeve, which I simulated with a steel bearing end.

Conn mouthpieces have rather heavy rims. I bet they thought having the mass at the rim would improve response more than the pommel on the shank.

Doug's mouthpieces have a hex fitting that he uses for connecting/removing the shank which probably acts like a pommel.

It originates in the Renaissance when mouthpieces were in two parts. The shank, made of thin brass sheet, rolled and seamed, was typically reinforced with a ferrule (often with turned decorations) at the top, where the cup was inserted.



When mouthpieces started being made in one piece, those turned ornaments below the cup stayed – and got pretty crazy in the 18th century before getting somewhat more sober again in the 19th. Look at this 18th century trumpet mouthpiece design for example:

Woodturners have names for all of those different shapes. Beads, coves, filets, etc..

"Conn didn't use it on the CL series, on the older Conn 3 (and Conn 2 and Conn 1), the Remington (and the Connstellation Remington).

Pretty close, but not quite true. Attached is a photo of my "original" Remington small shank that I acquired when a student at Eastman in 1956. It is shown next to a Plexiglass copy of the same mouthpiece [with NO pommel]. After all, Eastman was in Rochester, NY, in close proximity to Buffalo, NY, the capitol city of "Winter at its Worst". That's a "pommel" all right ! Nothing was properly documented in those days. Whoever could have guessed that people would still be playing trombones in 2024 ?

2bobone wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2024 6:05 pm Attached is a photo of my "original" Remington small shank that I acquired when a student at Eastman in 1956.

Certainly not a typical Conn blank (outer profile). Interesting that the shank seems to be unplated.

Thanks all. You guys gave me a lot!

The narrowest part inside the mouthpiece is called the throat, so... I call it the neck. And just like the necks of people, they can be adorned with beautiful and utilitarian designs.

... and the winner is......... Kbiggs!

I always believed this was to put a ring on it (in the groove in between) to attach the mouthpiece to the instrument with a chain, as it was curently done on some post horns...

It's just decoration derived from traditional woodturning.