Collection:
Schilke Trumpet Mouthpieces
Renold O. Schilke had a profound influence on the development of brass mouthpiece design and pedagogy in the 20th century. His wisdom and insight have influenced several generations of performers, educators and students while setting the standard for other manufacturers. Today, Schilke Music Products continues to offer the highest level of expertise in assisting musicians when determining what mouthpiece might work best for their playing needs.
Read More About Customization Options & Detailed Labeling System
Options include:
Choose from a variety of patterns and designs or personalize with your name, initials, or a phrase!
Click Here for examples.
This system allows the trumpet player to optimize their gap for sound, pitch, and playability.
Have us cut your mouthpiece and you'll be offered a discount on your sleeve purchase!
Expand the throat diameter of most standard Trumpet, Cornet, Trombone, Tuba, and Flugelhorn mouthpieces!
Have your mouthpiece bent from 1–12 degrees to help compensate for an overbite or poor embouchure.
10 degrees is usually the most common.
Cut tops and backbores from the best manufacturers in the business to utilize The Warburton System.
Remember: Mouthpiece Tops and Backbores should have a matching throat size.
When a standard model Schilke mouthpiece has a standard backbore, rim and cup, only the cup diameter (first number) is shown on the mouthpiece to designate the model number. For example, in the case of the model #14, it is only necessary to identify the mouthpiece with the first number because it has a standard C cup, standard 3 rim and standard c backbore. It could be cataloged as a 14C3c, but the nomenclature was dropped since the remaining variables are standard. The model 14A4a has a shallower A cup, flatter 4 rim shape, and a tighter a backbore than the #14 model.
using the model 14A4a as an example:
CUP DIAMETER (First number in label – 14A4a)
The first number (i.e. “14”) refers to the cup diameter; smaller numbers have smaller diameters. Cup diameters increase as the model number increases. Most trumpet and cornet mouthpieces have a cup diameter that falls between .600 inch and .725 inch. Nos. 5 to 24 in the Schilke system represents sections of .005 inches each between these two measurements. This is also referred to as inner diameter (id).
Cup diameter or inner rim diameter is the most common way players compare one mouthpiece to another. It is individual choice determined by a player’s embouchure, experience, strength, instrument, personal playing style or musical prerequisites. Generally, a small diameter may improve the upper register and endurance but resonance and volume may be affected. A narrow diameter may produce a strained sound without focus and control if a player needs more room. A larger diameter allows the player to “vibrate” a larger surface area of the lip into the bowl of the mouthpiece thus providing more sound volume and depth of sound. However, this may affect endurance and require more strength to maintain a balanced sound in all registers.
CUP VOLUME (First letter in label – 14A4a)
The first letter or second character (i.e. “A”) refers to the cup volume, which is classified as a shallow volume cup shape. It is dropped from the model name if it is the standard ‘C’ cup shape and all remaining variables are standard.
Cup volume helps determine tone quality, tone color, and intonation. In general, deep cup mouthpieces produce the darkest sounds with more core and less highs in the sound. In reverse, shallow cup mouthpieces produce the brightest sounds with more high overtones present in the sound. This aids in the production of the high register. The standard Schilke “C” cup is a compromise, which offers both full tone and ease of sound production.
Resistance is also affected by cup volume. A shallow cup offers more resistance to the player. Conversely, a deeper cup offers less resistance or more freedom.
RIM CONTOUR (Second number in label – 14A4a)
The second number or third character (i.e. “4”) refers to the rim contour of the mouthpiece, which classifies it as a semi-flat rim contour.
The rim is the connection between the player’s body and the instrument. This is critical because it is what you “feel” as the player and it is what creates the seal. The “thickness” of the rim or “bite” of the inner diameter can greatly affect response and articulation clarity. Generally, a rounder rim will allow greater flexibility but sometimes tires the player sooner. The location of the high point of the rim contour may change the way a player perceives the cup width. A flat rim often feels the most comfortable but tends to hold the lips in a fixed position, thereby reducing flexibility.
The #3 standard Schilke rim has the feel that most players prefer in a rim. It has flat enough contour to distribute the slight pressure needed to provide an air seal but is rounded slightly to offer increased flexibility. The flatter #4 rim provides cushion and comfort in the upper register.
BACKBORE (Second letter in label – 14A4a)
The second (last) letter or fourth character (i.e. “a”) refers to the backbore, which classifies it as a tight tapered backbore.
The backbore describes the taper or rate of change inside the mouthpiece stem following the throat as it opens into the mouthpipe. As an extension of the instrument’s mouthpipe, the backbore shape plays a significant role in sound color, tone quality, intonation and resistance. A tighter tapered backbore offers more brilliance and control while providing more resistance. This generally will assist a player in the upper register. If the backbore is too small, the resulting sound is “stuffy” and lacking resonance. A large backbore offers a darker, thicker sound with more depth and volume but with less resistance. If there is not sufficient backbore resistance, the resulting sound is harder to control and intonation is less stable with the upper register being slighter sharper.
Standard Series
The Standard Series includes Schilke’s core mouthpiece models and dimensions, offering a wide range of diameters, rim contours, cup depths, and playing characteristics for student, commercial, solo, and orchestral applications.
Heavyweight Series
The Heavyweight Series is available in the best-selling models. The additional mass provides a darker and subtly more focused sound, with more secure slotting and increased projection at louder dynamic levels.
Z Series
“Tighter and Brighter” – The Z Series trumpet mouthpieces feature a contour exterior profile, which is lighter in mass for a quicker response. Also featured is our extra-tight ‘Z’ backbore, which offers slightly more resistance than the standard ‘A’ backbore.
S Series
Working on custom mouthpieces with American Jazz trumpeter Ryan Kisor, lead trumpet with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Schilke developed the S Series lead mouthpieces. Utilizing the rim shape of the Symphony Series line with the Faddis cup, throat, and backbore, we created a new line of high compression lead mouthpieces that provide a very comfortable, balanced mouthpiece with the resistance critical to playing in the extreme upper register with depth and resonance. Ideal for commercial lead trumpet playing.
P Series
Expanding options for piccolo trumpet, the P Series pairs with our shallow ‘A’ cup and Schilke ‘x’ backbore to provide a comfortable, responsive mouthpiece choice for piccolo trumpet that is balanced through the range of the piccolo with a clear, resonate sound. The P Series offer slightly less brilliance and more warmth than the traditional 11Ax and 14A4x piccolo trumpet mouthpieces.
Available in three rim sizes in cornet shank or trumpet shank.
Signature Series
Jon Faddis
In collaboration with Jazz Trumpet Legend Jon Faddis, this unique mouthpiece features a XL heavyweight blank profile which enhances projection and focus as well a rim profile, cup, and backbore preferred by Mr. Faddis.
Marc Geujon ‘Soloiste’ Mouthpieces
MOST Trumpet Mouthpieces
Symphony Series
An evolution in mouthpiece design utilizing several concepts from the standard Schilke line, the Symphony Series models are on the larger side of the mouthpiece spectrum, creating a deep, vibrant sound with a well-focused center and are conceptually developed to meet the demands of the modern orchestral player. They have comfortable rim shapes that provide a clean, crisp attack. They are offered with a standard cup depth or a deep bowl shape.
The 150 Series and “C” option for the Symphony Series (M1C, M150C, etc.) were developed working with Jack Sutte, trumpet player with the Cleveland Orchestra. The F cup models were originally developed for the Houston Ballet Orchestra trumpet section. The mouthpiece originally known as the “fluffy” has a flugel style cup and trumpet stem with the same rim contour and feel as the other models in this series. This has been a very popular custom choice for quieter passages where a cornet sound is desired without losing the control and focus of the sound.
