Thanks.... It was the very first time I played a small cup MP, in that video. I was unsure and a little hesitant (as seen in the beginning when I put it to my lips).
I will try it more and more and see how well it plays. The main thing is that I don't strain, and I don't get that temporary indentation on my upper lip from too much pressure.
You got a deal!! Your Bach 10Ā¾CW mouthpiece came in the mail today! I quickly made a demo video playing it along with my Bach 3C, playing the standard tune "Happy Wanderer".
I will PM you with the final details...
Edit... Sorry about the goof-up and timing issue at the very end of the video. I was trying to merge in an image of the album cover from the jazz rock band "Chase", and also insert a sample audio track from their song "So Many People", and as you can tell, it started way too soon. Oops... 
Thanks, everyone! 
One more question: Does anyone have experience with Denis Wick mouthpieces?
Wow... Sticker shock isn't the word!!! The Harrelson mouthpiece kits are incredible, but cost almost about the same as a common "school band" trumpet!
Thank you!!!
Yes, it is an "interesting case" with me and my embouchure, etc... and the often told tale of my near devastating ice hockey injury, where (back in the day) I was playing amateur hockey with some buddies of mine, and I crashed head-on into a defenseman on the opposite team. We both fell to the ice, and out of sheer dumb luck, I landed on his hockey stick with my face, knocking out my front teeth and busting an eye tooth as well. I don't remember much, but just laying there, face down, in a pool of blood and teeth, also with a partially fractured nose! 
All these decades later, the bridge that they fitted me with broke in two, so my dentist fitted me with a complete upper denture place, and the rest is history.
Now, present day, my bottom teeth are now severely deteriorating, and I need to find some type of trumpet mouthpiece that will allow very easy playability, extreme comfort, and also allow extended range (should I need it).
As seen in the screen+print image from an Excel spreadsheet, I am now searching for a new mouthpiece that will help save my chops, and more importantly, allow me to still play with serious dental problems. As you remember, I have adjusted my embouchure and compensated for my problems, and all is well. But, what I have sadly learned is that now my endurance isn't what it used to be. I absolutely CANNOT play 1st chair, screaming high, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Chase, style of music. I just can't... My Curry 3M. and my Bach 3C won't cut it.
I decided to make a spreadsheet of various mouthpieces that I am interested in, with a wide range of cup sizes and manufacturers.
I absolutely love my '75 Olds Ambassador cornet with the old eBay Conn 3 mouthpiece that I picked up for a steal. It makes my cornet sing and is so sweet and mellow. I have no problem playing sweet, soft, melodies on it.
But yet with my '67 Holton Collegiate trumpet, I have played a Bach 3C for years and years. Then, I discovered Mark Curry and his line of mouthpieces and bought his 3M. mouthpiece. It was great, sounded great, and just a micromillimeter shallower than a standard 3C cup. The Curry 3M. is not a 3C and not a 3D. It's weird, it's sort of like a 3CĀ½ if that makes sense.
Anyway, what I am getting at in this long winded post.... I need to find something that allows more endurance. I switched back to my Bach 3C and even though I've played it for years and years, my endurance is shot. By about the 4th tune in the concert, I'm just about done, and my upper denture plate is loose no matter how much Super Polygrip or Fixodent I use.
Confession: I have adjusted my embouchure to alleviate any pressure on my lower teeth, as my bottom front teeth, root structure, etc... is all severely weakened. My dentist wanted to start work on fitting me with a complete lower denture plate, and I told him to (in a polite manner) "go to hell". I can play with an upper denture plate and real (but weakened) teeth on the bottom. I doubt I could play with TWO denture plates at all, and would probably have to give it all up. 
What do you think? If you were in my situation, would a very easy, very comfortable, mouthpiece be a consideration? Something with a wide rim (cushion rim) and a bit of a shallow cup, to aid in higher range?
Oh man, sorry to hear... I wish you the best with your trumpet career.
Remember the line in that Eagles song "Hotel California":
You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave... 
Thank you! I appreciate it! 
For everyone: Below is the "backing track" that I transposed into Bb so you can play along to it. I uploaded it into Soundcloud.
Yes, I was constantly using my new "frown" embouchure and very very light pressure.
In regards to that other post I made where I finally figured out how to rework my embouchure so I no longer "eat the mouthpiece", as the saying goes...
I have been practicing more and more with very light pressure, very mellow, and building up my range and endurance. It works! It really works!
In this quick video, I am trying to see if I can make my '75 Olds Ambassador "sing" like Shirley Jones did in "Carousel" to Gordon MacRae with the beautiful ballad "If I Loved You"... Hopefully I did it justice. I was trying to play as sweetly as possible with the lightest amount of pressure on the mouthpiece.
Good point... Lots and LOTS of reverb in the mix, along with compression/limiter, so the natural dynamics of the trumpet is gone.
Thanks again... Thinking back to that gig (where after our break, we picked it back up with "Lili Marleen" and continued through the set)...
I found a clip of an amazing trumpet tone playing the song. It is so smooth, a touch of vibrato in the tone, and the trumpet just sings! Wow!
@Dr-Mark said in DUH!! I finally figured it out, after all these years! (playing with minimal pressure):
@ButchA said in DUH!! I finally figured it out, after all these years! (playing with minimal pressure):
"The Sauerkrauts"
Long live the Sauerkrauts. Keep up the great work Butch.
Thank you... I have been so busy this whole month, playing Oktoberfest gigs all over the Richmond, Virginia area. You wouldn't believe it! Constantly dressing up like an overgrown "Keebler Elf" in Lederhosen, etc...
This afternoon was the last of the gigs, as we wrapped up the Oktoberfest season by playing at a huge pub here in town. I took a photo right as we were taking a 15 minute break. As seen on my music stand, we finished with "Beer Barrel Polka" and after we return, we'll play "Lili Marleen", and continue through the setlist in the books.
How about a little "Flashback Friday" type of theme...
Can you imagine a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner for $2695? ...And it has a "4 on the floor" and a 383ci V8 engine!
@Niner said in DUH!! I finally figured it out, after all these years! (playing with minimal pressure):
Did you get paid in beer? Was it German beer?
No. We raised $400 bucks for The Shriners Hospital, and that was all. Tiny little place, and it was also Sunday evening too. We had to pay for our beer on top of that. You can see my glass of Yuengling in front of me on that table.
I played a gig tonight (6:00 - 8:00) at a local pub here in town, as a prelude to the annual Oktoberfest. It was sort of a "warm-up" type of gig for us. The best part is I had NO PROBLEM with playing! No sensitivity, no pressure, no straining, etc.. I worked out fantastic, and all it was, was, a simple adjustment to my embouchure!
Teeny tiny little place, as seen in the photo. We were scrunched up in the corner on a tiny raised up stage. My buddy Steve and I were the only ones on trumpet & cornet (in the front on the right side of the photo).
Edit: We are called "The Sauerkrauts" from the ACCA Shriners Band here in Richmond, Virginia.
Thank you, guys!
Another embouchure/pressure thing I was also playing around with, is mentally thinking that someone has their hand on the bell of my trumpet and they are trying to pull it away from me while I am playing.
There should NEVER be a need to jam the trumpet MP into your lips with crushing pressure!
For years and years, I have struggled with my embouchure, played with a "smile" which is actually wrong. It causes way too much pressure, and, at age 58, has contributed to my weakened bottom teeth, upper denture plate, etc...
So... I decided to read some articles on proper playing technique, embouchure, and basically said to myself, "what the heck... lets see..." and believe it or not, it worked!
Check out my excited video that I just shot....
That's great that you are doing better, George! Keep it up and keep on inspiring all of us!
I have had my own personal setback with various dental issues, mainly my lower teeth, and can no longer play 1st trumpet parts, above the staff. It is what it is, and I will get this taken care of, so I can continue playing.
In the meantime, I alternate on Baritone (treble clef) - and I find the bigger MP to be more comfortable, but had to really relax my embouchure and re-adapt to the way larger MP.
