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Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 3:32 am
by 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!
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 4:55 am
by ithinknot
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 7:05 am
by Windmill
Uuuh right, thanks ! So 12-ish with bigger softer rim I presume.
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2026 7:48 am
by 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...
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2026 10:46 am
by 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.
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:04 am
by Windmill
I simply took the picture off-axis. The steps are indeed concentric.
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 5:41 am
by WGWTR180
I have the 1.03A that I never use. Ithinknot thanks for the web address.
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:26 pm
by 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.
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:43 pm
by 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
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 5:41 pm
by 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!
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2026 2:48 am
by Windmill
Speaking of the 96B ? @fruitysloth
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2026 6:37 am
by WGWTR180
Windmill wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 7:48 am
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.
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2026 9:54 am
by Fruitysloth
Windmill wrote: Fri Jan 16, 2026 2:48 am
Speaking of the 96B ? @fruitysloth
Yes!
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:08 pm
by 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
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2026 5:18 pm
by 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.
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2026 4:47 am
by Windmill
That's it !!
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 7:14 am
by bellend
Zottola Catalogue
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:25 am
by 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
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 2:05 pm
by harrisonreed
bellend wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 7:14 am
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.
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 2:58 pm
by Fruitysloth
Windmill wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:25 am
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!
Re: Zotrola 96B - infos needed
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2026 2:53 pm
by 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 ?