New Soprano Mouthpiece from Mercer and Barker
Mercer and Barker mouthpieces are due to release a new mouthpiece with legendary soprano player Kevin Crockford. Having worked with Kevin for some time to bring this mouthpiece to life, it’s finally here! This is what Kevin had to say about the new mouthpiece.
Soprano cornet mouthpieces always generate strong debate. Social media forums are full of these debates and I wonder how many e-mails / messages I have received over the years asking which mouthpiece I personally use! I have always believed that what suits one persons embouchure will very likely not suit somebody else, so much dictates these criteria, i.e. posture, teeth, even lip thickness. We are all massively different.
Mouthpiece manufacturers have historically had attempts at offering a range to help soprano players, but these ranges have always been quite limited in selection, until now. Mercer and Barker have taken a great deal of time talking to players to get their opinions, indeed George Barker spent two hours at my house discussing this topic. They have taken this very seriously which I congratulate and commend them for their efforts.
Nothing has been too much trouble for M&B, and they have been very patient as they want to get it right. So, at last, we now have a growing and diverse range of soprano mouthpieces on offer for us all, and about time too. I have played on the same mouthpiece since I was 12 and never had any intentions of changing, but following the efforts of M&B, I have had to take them seriously.
I have been working hard with the MB4-KC, it is of similar depth to my old mouthpiece ( a 50 year old Salvation Army " Rangefinder" ) so one can maintain a big and full sound quality and the rim is nicely rounded to stop the mouthpiece digging in, especially when it comes to near the end of a concert when fatigue is setting in. The aesthetics and quality of manufacturer are simply stunning.
Bravo Mercer and Barker for the mouthpiece and for taking the subject so seriously, ground never attributed to soprano mouthpieces to this extent before. There will, I am sure, soon be the right mouthpiece for all soprano players.
To find out more about this new mouthpiece follow the link below:
