One of the biggest challenges in discussing trumpet mouthpieces is describing their shape. Words alone rarely capture the subtle differences in curves and contours of the rim, cup, throat, backbore and exernal blank. In this post, the focus is the shape of the cup. There are many terms used to describe various cup shapes, but what is the difference between a convex V cup and a concave V cup? What is meant by double-cup? Because the cup is visible to the eye, pictures can be helpful. The graphic below shows the most common mouthpiece cup shapes side by side.
It’s important to note that cup depth is another variable that affects the shape of the cup. A shallow bowl differs from a deep bowl. Here’s a quick reference for trumpet cup depths:
Trumpet Mouthpiece Cup Depths
- A – Deep
- B – Medium Deep
- C – Medium (standard depth)
- D – Medium Shallow
- E – Shallow
- F – Very Shallow
Check out this link for a great explanation of how cup depth will affect your sound.
To review other mouthpiece specs, check out this post.