A Thorough Explanation of the Mouthpiece I Recommend!

What is the most important element in playing a brass instrument?
I think it’s the mouthpiece! No matter how well-known the instrument is, if the player does not use the right mouthpiece, he/she will not be able to bring out the best of the instrument.
Even if you only change the mouthpiece, the feel and tone can drastically change the instrument to the point where it can sound like a completely different instrument. I think it’s one of the pleasures to play different tones depending on the music.

So, I felt like introducing one of the mouthpieces that I frequently use, so I am going to write about it.... I’ll be happy if this article is helpful for you when choosing a mouthpiece.

Here is the mouthpiece I am going to introduce this time!

Denis Wick /4C Classic Trumpet Mouthpiece SP

What kind of brand is Denis Wick?

This brand of mouthpieces and mutes for brass instruments was created by Mr. Denis Wick, who was the principal trombone player in the prestigious London Symphony Orchestra in England.

His playing technique still has a great influence on British brass players. During his time as principal player, he participated in the opening recording of the movie Star Wars. I’m sure many of you may have heard it.

He is also active as an instructor and writes trombone instructional books and is actively teaching brass ensembles and brass bands.

The Denis Wick brand was created by Denis Wick to produce mouthpieces and mutes that meet the requirements of his colleagues in the London Symphony Orchestra and himself.

What is the Classic Series?

Dennis Wick offers a wide range of series, including the most standard model that is the Classic Series. The conical cup is a distinctive feature of this series, and you can choose one that best suits you from a wide range of sizes.

The higher harmonics (harmonics higher than the fundamental) sound particularly beautiful and give a clearer, more shimmering tone. What I like most is the ease of control. The sound quality is stable from low to high frequencies and can be freely expressed, making it suitable for a variety of genres.

What size is 4C?

It is right in the middle or slightly smaller than the entire Classic series.
It is hard to tell from the picture, but the shallow cup is one of its features.

In addition, Dennis Wick trumpet mouthpieces are divided into three types of back bore shapes (V-type, Barrel, and Open), which affect the blowing feel and the tone of the sound.
4C is a Barrel type.

The backbore shape is the shape of the tube near the mouthpiece exit.

Other makers that are close to this type are

• YAMAHA/11A4
• Bach/7C
• Silky/11A

The above are close in size, but the shape of the rim and backbore differs greatly depending on the maker.

I compared the Dennis Wick one to the Playtech mouthpiece!

I compared it with this Playtech mouthpiece that I just had on hand.

PLAYTECH / TPM7C Trumpet Mouthpiece 7c

Cup (rim) inside diameter: 16.20m
Rim width: 5.30mm
Bore size (throat): 3.66mm
and the cup is deep, although the overall size is close.

Above all, the cup shape is very different.

This is because the Dennis Wick mouthpiece has a distinctive shape.
Generally, I think they are bowl-shaped like the Pretek.

Another thing I am concerned about is the shape of the rim.
Even with the same rim width, a square-shaped rim and a rounded-shaped rim will make a big difference in blowing comfort. From here, there are various influences from how the sound resonates to how well the mouth sustains the sound.

Comparing the Pretek and Dennis Wick, you can see that the surface of the rim of the Pretek is more rounded (too hard to tell in the photo...).
(It's too hard to tell from the picture...) You can see that the rim of the Pretek is more rounded...

Anyway, if you not only look at the size but also the detailed shape,
you will be able to enjoy choosing a mouthpiece that much more! That's all I'm saying.

This is the introduction of Denis Wick/4C!
The DenisWick/4C has a shallow cup, so I think it is more suitable for jazz and pops than for classical music such as wind bands and orchestras (even though it is a classical series). There are quite a few sizes available, so please try to find the perfect mouthpiece for you!