8. Why don't the mouthpieces sizes from different brands match, even if they are supposedly the same size?
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On many occasions, musicians ask me for a Romera Brass mouthpiece with a specific inner rim diameter. When I ask them where they get this measurement, they tell me it's the one listed in the catalog of the brand they are currently using.
But how can we be sure that the measurement given by the manufacturer is correct? And what happens if you change brands? Will the same measurement still be valid? You're probably already imagining the answer, but keep reading if you want to understand why.
This is a topic that creates a lot of confusion for musicians, so today I want to shed some light and try to solve this mystery.
It's very common for musicians to believe that if they change brands, the inner rim diameter will have the same measurements, but unfortunately, this almost never happens. Each brand lists totally different measurements in their catalogs, even if they actually have the same size. But why does this happen?
So, the same mouthpiece can have totally different measurements depending on the catalog. Seems incredible, right?
All measurements are correct but taken at a different place, at a different point on the radius of the inner rim.
At Romera Brass, we want to make things easier for you. That's why we maintain strict control when measuring and publishing the measurements of our mouthpieces, not only for the inner rim but also for the cup and the bore. These are always real and verified measurements for each of the mouthpieces we manufacture.
In this regard, on our website www.romerabrass.com, within each of the pages for the different instruments, you will find an equivalence table. By simply clicking on a link, you can find the actual measurements of other brands to know exactly what size your mouthpiece is in relation to a new Romera Brass mouthpiece.
And now, let's solve the mystery. Where is the exact measurement of the inner rim?
The exact point is in a different place depending on the mouthpiece.
On Romera Brass mouthpieces, the inner rim diameter measurement is always taken at the following points:
- Trumpet and French horn: -2 mm
- Trombone and euphonium: -3mm
- Tuba: -4mm
Why do we take measurements at these points and not others? And why this difference between the different instruments? We'll tell you all about it in the next "Boquilleando" post!
But to fully understand the problem we're discussing today, don't miss the following video where I explain everything in detail with very visual practical examples and very descriptive and clarifying images!
I await your comments,
Greetings and much music!