Zotrola 96B - infos needed

[Windmill]

Hi all

Does anyone of you have any information on the small bore Zotrola 96 B mouthpiece? Seems to be very small, but couldn't find any further informations so far...


Thanks in advance!

[ithinknot]

It's Zottola... that should give more results.

http://users.rcn.com/rakright/
https://www.dwerden.com/Mouthpieces/tro ... &compare=0

[Windmill]

Uuuh right, thanks ! So 12-ish with bigger softer rim I presume.

[Windmill]

I finally got my hands on the piece. It does feel a bit tighter on the lips than a 12C, but the rim is really comfortable. The low register plays surprisingly warm for such a small piece.

Funny detail, the backbone seems to be machined unlike any other mouthpiece I've seen. There's no taper, but a succession of steps , like stairs...

[harrisonreed]

Well, don't leave us hanging! What's the rest of the mouthpiece look like? The website has no images.

Also, it might just be the lighting, but that backbore does not look concentric. Some of those "steps" are higher on one end of the shank than the other.

[Windmill]

I simply took the picture off-axis. The steps are indeed concentric.

[WGWTR180]

I have the 1.03A that I never use. Ithinknot thanks for the web address.

[Doug Elliott]

I think the stepped backbore was a feature of Zottola pieces, possibly patented. Pilczuk leadpipes were also like that. It was a gimmick, neither one really caught on.

[stewbones43]

I used to have a Zottola mouthpiece catalogue and the stepped backbore was explained in it. The idea came from watching and listening to water passing over stones in a stream!!!
I am surprised they didn't also market a very large, high volume water key.

Cheers

Stewbones43

[Fruitysloth]

I'll take it if you end up not wanting it! I tried a buddies a while back and have been looking for one since!

[Windmill]

Speaking of the 96B ? @fruitysloth

[WGWTR180]

I finally got my hands on the piece. It does feel a bit tighter on the lips than a 12C, but the rim is really comfortable. The low register plays surprisingly warm for such a small piece.

Funny detail, the backbone seems to be machined unlike any other mouthpiece I've seen. There's no taper, but a succession of steps , like stairs...

This is wild! My 1.03A has the exact same design.

[Fruitysloth]

Speaking of the 96B ? @fruitysloth

Yes!

[Windmill]

I'll keep it for a while, time to decide if I stick with it or not... But I'll get back to you if I wish to get rid of it

[TromboneMonkey]

Mine has a reasonably well-rounded rim, the cup is slightly more v-shaped than a Bach 12c. It's got more low overtones than many of my similarly sized mouthpieces, which I wasn't expecting.

[Windmill]

That's it !!

[bellend]

Zottola Catalogue

[Windmill]

Hi all

Quick review about the 96B. Very small piece, feeling a bit tighter than a 12C. Rim is confortable. Very well centered sound, rich in dark overtones.... But too stuffy if I start pushing air through the horn.. have to work very hard to get a brighter sound, which I dislike. IMHO, it's a piece made for relatively reasonable playing. If you wanna blow in a brass band, forget it. i guess the lightweight doesn't help either...

I went back to my Molter

[harrisonreed]

Zottola Catalogue

Ahhh, so the stepped backbore concept is really that they didn't want to make or use a backbore reamer and opted to use a series of off the shelf cylindrical reamers instead.

That's a bold choice.

[Fruitysloth]

Hi all

Quick review about the 96B. Very small piece, feeling a bit tighter than a 12C. Rim is confortable. Very well centered sound, rich in dark overtones.... But too stuffy if I start pushing air through the horn.. have to work very hard to get a brighter sound, which I dislike. IMHO, it's a piece made for relatively reasonable playing. If you wanna blow in a brass band, forget it. i guess the lightweight doesn't help either...

I went back to my Molter

I’ll take it if you don’t want it!

[Windmill]

Fruitysloth, I'm keen on selling it to you. But I'm in France though, not sure if paying the post oversea + customs is worth it for you ?