The mouthpiece – link between wind player & instrument

The right choice

The Mouthpiece – link between the wind player and the instrument

Due to its function the mouthpiece is very important, as it needs to suite for the wind player and must help him fulfil his personal ideas and desires in regard to lip, timbre, sound quality, competence and stamina.

The mouthpieces of the comprehensive JK programme help the wind player to achieve the best sound and to meet his individual demands in an easier way. The characteristic sections of a mouthpiece form a functional unit.

Even slight changes on a mouthpiece section cause a changed behaviour of the mouthpiece. For the conscious selection of the right mouthpiece, the relationship between the shape and the function of the particular parts must be understood.

The material selection – decisive for excellent sound and response quality

During the development of the JK mouthpieces, we paid special attention not only to the functional interplay of the particular sections of the mouthpiece but also to the material selection. Only this way, we could achieve the excellent sound and response quality. Thanks to the use of a mouthpiece that is coated with precious metals (silver plated, gold plated), a change of the surface due to sweat or saliva can be avoided.

A mouthpiece with plastic rim is advantageous especially outside and in the cold season, because it provides a good protection against cold. Furthermore, the typical sound quality is maintained.

Perspex mouthpieces, which also protect against cold, are used especially for teaching purposes because they are completely made of transparent acrylic glass. Their sound character is smoother than the one of metal mouthpieces.

The cup diameter

determines how much lip surface can vibrate.

cup diameter

The cup diameter has to be selected big enough to guarantee the mobility of the lips.
This way, a perfect sound quality and a vibrating tone are archived. The appropriate cup diameter is determined by the physiologic properties of the individual wind player (jaw position, teeth position, constitution of the ring musculature).

The cup shapes

differentiate timbre and sound quality.

deep cup

A deep cup means a big sound volume, it creates a resonant and smooth sound. This sound quality is preferred in the concert sector.

medium cup

The medium cup allows the most extensive sound variation. Stylistically, its bright, clear sound offers the most possibilities.

flat cup

The flat cup creates a medium hard, brilliant sound, suitable particularly for the jazz and dance music sector. High pitches are achieved in an easier way.

extremely flat cup

The extremely flat cup with its hard, brilliant sound is suitable especially for wind players with very thin lips.
Difficulties in the high sound range can be reduced.

Thanks to its especially designed flow of lines, the cup run of the JK mouthpieces represents a linking unit between lips and bore.

Therefore, the JK mouthpieces distinguish themselves by an extraordinary clear and excellent sound quality.

The following specifications apply to all JK-USA Line mouthpieces:

A models: deep cups
B models: medium deep cups
C models: medium shallow cups
D models: shallow cups
E models: very shallow cups
W models: with extra-broad rim
Models without letter: medium cups

The rim

guarantees lip mobility and comfort suit.

narrow rim

Thin rims guarantee the most mobility and allow all tongue techniques. However, it is more exhausting to play on them because the pressure on the lip musculature emanates from a very narrow area and therefore, its impact is stronger.

wide rim

A rim that is too wide often gives a comfortable feeling but it fixes the lips into a certain position and thus restricts their mobility.

The rim of the JK mouthpiece is shaped to create a contact that is as comfortable as possible. The shape of the lips determines the width of the rim and also the shape of the cup.

Therefore, wind players with thick lips tend to use a mouthpiece with a wider rim and a bigger cup. The inner and the outer rim build the contour whose highest point(with all JK mouthpices) is located in the first third of the inner rim area.

If the highest point is transferred to the outside and the radius of the inner rim is amplified, the rim of the mouthpiece seems to lay more comfortably on the lips. 

However, the strong fit is affected and the brilliant sound gets lost, because the tones get faint.

The bore

determines how much sound volume is developed in the instrument.

The size of the bore determines how much sound volume is developed inside the instrument. The length of the inner bore (= cylindrical part of the bore) influences the resistance and attack decisively. If it is too short, this will affect the sound stability. If it is too long, this will affect especially the high register and the intonation.

The back bore is also a very important part of every mouthpiece. It is significant for the continuation of a concentrated air column inside the instrument.

For all JK-mouthpieces the following variants of the back bores are valid:

Back bore A1: small, narrow back bore
Back bore A2: mean size back bore
Back bore A3: big, wide back bore

The particular series-back bore is not specially indicated on the mouthpiece.

bore mouthpiece

Mouthpieces






Mouthpieces Accessories

Mouthpiece bags

in genuine leather with vellcro fastener

No. Mouthpiece
230 French Horn
231 Trumpet
232 Trombone
233 Tuba

Cortex, lined

No. Mouthpieces
234 2 Trumpets
235 3 Trumpets
236 4 Trumpets
237 2 Trombones
238 3 Trombones
239 4 Trombones
240 2 Tubas
mouthpiece bags

Mouthpiece brushes

No. Mouthpiece
243 French Horn to Trumpet
244 Trombone to Tuba
Mouthpiece brushes

Lip control rings silver plated

No. Mouthpiece
251 Trumpet
252 French Horn
253 Tenor Horn
254 Trombone
255 Tuba
Lip control rings silver plated

Adapter silver plated

No. Mouthpiece
245 French Horn – Alto Horn
245a French Horn – Parforcehorn
246 Us- to German flugelhorn shank
247 Cornet – Trumpet
248 Trombone – Baritone
248a Baritone – Bass Trombone
249 Trombone – Bass Trombone
250 B-Tuba | Bb-Tuba
Adapter silver plated

Adjusting sleeves silver plated

No. Mouthpiece
256 French Horn
257 Trumpet
258 Flugelhorn German shank
258a Flugelhorn American shank
259 Cornet
260 Trombone for Exclusive models
260a Trombone for USA models
261 Bass Trombone for Exclusive models
261a Bass Trombone for USA models
262 Tuba
Adjusting sleeves silver plated

Price List 2023

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