Review of the Wedge Mouthpiece

I have been communicating with Dr. Dave for a few weeks and have taken advantage of his size trial offer. I have been experimenting with his 7E and 7EC tops. This is my experience to date:

Fit & Finish: Top notch! Excellent quality and workmanship! I had no problem threading the tops onto my Warburton backbores!

Comfort / Feel: Extremely comfortable! I do not know if I have ever played another mouthpiece as comfortable as the Wedge. As we had anticipated, the 7EC (cushion rim) did, in fact, feel more comfortable. Not that the 7E felt bad, just that the 7EC felt "better."

Like many others, I experienced absolutely no problems in getting used to playing the Wedge...almost like I had always been playing it! Perhaps it is because I had been concentrating on a more "centrally focused embouchure" prior to getting the Wedge that it came so naturally. Anyway, for whatever reason, I needed no acclimation period whatsoever.

Playability: As others have pointed out, what I noticed immediately was a bigger, fuller low end to my playing. The low notes were much easier to play on the Wedge than on my other mouthpieces of similar size! There is a good "core" to the sound. I would like, however, to try the 7FC, or the 7 with the hybrid EF cup! Might just give me a little more "sizzle" that I like to hear on the top end! Please understand this is a personal thing...many others may like the sound "just as it is" and, quite frankly, I have had some positive comments concerning the "sound" that I am getting from the 7EC.

Another positive benefit was a significant increase in my endurance. Admittedly, I do not practice much (at all)...I am lucky to get 10-15 minutes of practice in a day, and it is not unusual for me not to practice for several days at a time. (Hopefully that will change soon!) Nevertheless, even with such limited practice time, I still do perform occasionally. Such was the case last weekend, when I played on the 7EC exclusively. Material was jazz ballads, karaoke style, with me on trumpet playing the melody throughout the entire piece. I was able to play through the entire set without a break which, for me, I had not ever been able to do previously. Therefore, kudos to the Wedge in that regard!

Articulation has not changed, and I have not really experienced an increase in range. However, again to be honest, I don't practice enough to truly "increase" my range anyway...so it is certainly not the fault of the mouthpiece. I have noticed, however, a positive difference in my flexibility, or stated another way, in my ability to handle intervals of varying steps.

Overall: An incredibly comfortable mouthpiece that I believe will become my main piece once I "zero in" on exactly what I am looking for, soundwise (comfort, playability, flexibility, etc. are already "there"). Heck, for all I know, I may already have exactly what I am looking for...just may need to practice more!

Anyway, I have no hesitations about recommending the Wedge mouthpiece and, FWIW, heartily give the Wedge an enthusiastic "two thumbs up!"

Oh Dr. Dave...do you need a dealer in the greater Houston area????
_________________
Dr. Michael Guevara
Cinco Ranch Conservatory of Music
www.cincoranchmusic.com
Authorized Stage 1 and Fides dealer
Golden Trumpet Ministries

Originally posted on TrumpetHerald.com on May 31, 2008

Since the above post, Dr. Guevara did in fact obtain a Wedge 7FC mouthpiece, and coupled it with a Wedge 27S backbore.  MAGIC!  According to Dr. Guevara, this mouthpiece top and backbore combination has resulted in the "sound" that he has been searching for.  "I now have the sizzle that I wanted on the top end, and still have a nice, full lower register.  This combination allows me to easily adjust between playing lead, and warm and beautiful solos on my cocktail jazz pieces.  I didn't think that one mouthpiece could allow me to play with such varying tonal colors, but this Wedge combination certainly allows me to do it better than with any other mouthpiece that I have tried.  I couldn't be happier!" 

Dr. Guevara is currently using a Wedge 7FC mouthpiece top and a Wedge 27S backbore.