Hammond Mouthpiece Specs

[Trombola2112]

Was considering trying a Hammond for my small bore and was curious on the difference between the S & M cups. Also, is the skeletonized bank worth considering vs the standard. I've only used more standard pieces, so I know little on more lightweight pieces.

[MalecHeermans]

Of course this is all subjective, but the S cup felt too shallow for me. I also wasn't wild about the light blank.

[Trombola2112]

Of course this is all subjective, but the S cup felt too shallow for me. I also wasn't wild about the light blank.

In what way did you find it too shallow?

[dukesboneman]

FRom what I understand, Not alot of difference between S & M cups
I have a 6S and concidering getting a M cup
I agree The Light weight cup doesn`t work as well and I don`t like the look

[Trombo]

S cup is shallower than M but has a U shape, and M has a V shape. For me, S is much more convenient than M. Your preferences may vary.

[Finetales]

I've actually never played a standard blank Hammond small shank piece, only the skeletonized blank (of which I've owned a couple). 13M is a really nice do-everything small piece, 11M is good for 3rd parts and the like.

[BrianJohnston]

I have played a 12s which I liked. Never really had a use for the "M" cup, but I really like all of Karl Hammond's mouthpieces in both blanks, although I prefer the standard blank a tad more than the light blank.

[muschem]

I have a set of Hammond pieces that I had threaded for my Doug Elliott XT rims by Bob Reeves shop. They started as 10-sized pieces, and my XTN102.5 rim was a pretty close match for most of them. A couple of the smaller pieces had to be adjusted slightly to match the rim. I have the ML and M in both large and small shank, but I most often use:

• Large shank, standard blank 10ML on .547
• Small shank 10M on .525
• 10S on .500 and .508
• 10XS on alto

[MalecHeermans]

Of course this is all subjective, but the S cup felt too shallow for me. I also wasn't wild about the light blank.

In what way did you find it too shallow?

In the usual way. I've found over the years that, being asked to play in many different situations, I like to have one sort of middle ground mouthpiece for each horn so I can fine tune the sound myself. Then I have maybe a smaller sounding one and a bigger sounding one for the moments when I have to play something a little outside of my norms. The Hammond S, to me, is a specialist mouthpiece. Something you might use when playing alto trombone, or on a very small bore tenor. That sound never really spoke to me. I also just find it physically uncomfortable and, over the years, I've found that comfort trumps sound. Again this is all personal and part of a long long journey in playing, so you may have different tastes. Fine!