Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

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Iplaytrombonetoo
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Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Iplaytrombonetoo »

Hello trombone friends
1st time posting, long time lurker.

I acquired a 1935 Conn Vocabell trombone when I was 10 years old. I learned to play on it, (I know, I know, I question of the wisdom of that, but no one ever said otherwise!!) - but switched out two years later in junior high school to a Conn 50H which was definitely a bit more suitable and I was happy to use it outside in marching band.

The Vocabell then sat for another 20ish years in my parents attic. About 10 years ago, I hauled it out, got it fully refurbished and I play lead bone in a big band with it. I use a Jiggs Wigham Marcinkiewicz mouthpiece with it and I'm generally very happy playing with it. The low range suffers a bit with it, but the high register really sings out.

So anyways, my question though, the Vocabell had 2 mouthpieces in the case when I got it. A Buescher True Tone 77 Trombone Mouthpiece which is tiny. And this other tiny one. No branding or markings. Does anyone recognise it?
Comparisons added to the Buescher and the Marcinkiewicz - Maybe it's just a 'no name' or custom mouthpiece, or could be something else. I can't make as nice a tone quality on the horn with these mouthpieces, but just find them fun as part of it's history as whomever played the horn didn't like the Conn 2 or 3 or whatever was included with it at the time.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q2MrgBsDVYAZAv9y8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/KgqFnzrXJeEgQtep6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5whSH1X9coESicqB7
Last edited by Iplaytrombonetoo on Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:10 am, edited 3 times in total.
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BGuttman
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by BGuttman »

There's something wrong with your links. I found one image and tried to insert the on-line address with no success.

Here is one picture
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Bruce Guttman
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Iplaytrombonetoo
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Iplaytrombonetoo »

Sorry about that, I took it out of the 'image' format, hopefully those links work. Otherwise, I will need to find anew to upload - As a new poster, not sure I have the ability to add attachments yet.
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BGuttman
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by BGuttman »

You need 3 approved posts to be able to post attachments.

What I posted was the first of your images.

Does the mouthpiece have no taper in the shank? How does it fit in the trombone?

Btw, I played a 44H that belonged to a band I was a member of. Interesting instrument. Nice for lead, but I wonder about blending with more modern horns.
Bruce Guttman
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Iplaytrombonetoo
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Iplaytrombonetoo »

A very tiny taper, not really very discernible. Shank is about 2 inches long, sits about 1 inch outside of the horn, which feels quite long!

It's definitely an unusual trombone. Got quite a bright sound to it and can get very loud. But playing in the high register, it will absolutely sing out on those lead lines. I have definitely toyed with getting something more modern, but not sure what to even go for. I play both a TR181 and 88H regularly as well, so I'd have to convince my husband that I need another trombone. ;)
Iplaytrombonetoo
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Iplaytrombonetoo »

Ahh now that I can add attachments, here we go :D
Sorry, mouthpiece needs a clean, I realise!
Unamed Mouthpiece.jpg
Unamed Mouthpiece in Horn.jpg
Next to Buescher.jpg
Next to Marcinkiewicz.jpg
Inside.jpg
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Kbiggs
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Kbiggs »

It’s probably the picture, but the shank looks to have very little taper. Did Coon use a Browne & Sharp (Brown & Sharpe?) taper for their small shanl trombones?
Kenneth Biggs
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BGuttman
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by BGuttman »

Kbiggs wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:31 pm It’s probably the picture, but the shank looks to have very little taper. Did Coon use a Browne & Sharp (Brown & Sharpe?) taper for their small shank trombones?
The 44H I played took a small shank mouthpiece with no wobble, so the original came with a standard (Morse) taper.
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Posaunus
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Posaunus »

Original mouthpiece in 1935 was probably a Conn 3, like the one that was supplied with my 1936 Conn 30H.

Alternate may have been a Conn 2, but a Conn 3 is more likely.

Worth trying a Conn 3 to see how it mates up.
Iplaytrombonetoo
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Iplaytrombonetoo »

Thanks folks - The Marcinkiewicz fits where a mouthpiece should, the odd unknown one is definitely long! I will try and find a Conn 3 mouthpiece to see how that goes (only to see if low register can slightly improve, but the Marcinkiewicz is outstanding in the high register)
Marcinkiewicz.jpg
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BGuttman
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by BGuttman »

A Conn 3 is sorta like a deep Bach 7C. Conn 3 is no longer made (even Conn provides a Conn version of the 7C with new horns).

I played the 44H with a Bach 4C, but you may find a 6½ AL or a 7C to work fine. There are obviously other small shank mouthpieces that will work well; just find one that works with your embouchure.
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Iplaytrombonetoo »

Thanks all!

And if anyone does recognise that squarish mouthpiece, could be from anywhere in age when trombone mouthpieces were made, haha, to under 1990!, let me know. It's a curiosity thing more than anything!
AtomicClock
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by AtomicClock »

Is the throat its own little cylinder of metal?
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JohnL
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by JohnL »

It's got a bit of a homebrew look to it...
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BGuttman
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by BGuttman »

The mouthpiece looks like a couple of ones I have that are about 100 years old. The rim looks rather Herco-ish.
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Re: Any clues what kind of mouthpiece this is?

Post by Iplaytrombonetoo »

Thanks all. We may never know :-D
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