A couple of questions for all you trumpet players

[M Sharpe]

How much attention do you pay to your lipstop?

1. Which do you find plays better for you and why?

A) Flat Surface

B) Slightly Crowned

C) Heavily Rounded

D) Or can't tell any differance

2. Do you prefer a straight or angled mouthpiece and why?

[Shadetree Callers]

I prefer a slightly rounded lipstop and i like them to be on the small size too. it just takes a bit to let your lips gauge where they need to be. Ialso like an anbled mouthpiece shaped into an ''eye'' like a wingbone. The angle helps draw a better kee kee. Most people's lips are spaced so that the upper lip protrudes farther than the lower lip and imo , the angle makes it fit and seal better.

[merocustomcalls]

I pay a lot of attention to my lipstop.  I suppose I have about 1/4 inch of the mouthpiece protruding up from the lipstop.  Even a change or 1mm plus or minus makes a difference for me.  I prefer a slightly crowned and mostly straight mouthpiece.  I severe angle is a bit less consistent for me, I have a harder time getting a roll over out of it.  Everyone's jaws and lips are different, I guess that's why there are so many styles.

[professorwingbone]

I prefer a slightly rounded lipstop and i like them to be on the small size too. it just takes a bit to let your lips gauge where they need to be. Ialso like an anbled mouthpiece shaped into an ''eye'' like a wingbone. The angle helps draw a better kee kee. Most people's lips are spaced so that the upper lip protrudes farther than the lower lip and imo , the angle makes it fit and seal better.

Concerning the angled mouthpiece, which way do you prefer the angle, against the upper or lower lip?

Fred

[M Sharpe]

I pay a lot of attention to my lipstop.  I suppose I have about 1/4 inch of the mouthpiece protruding up from the lipstop.  Even a change or 1mm plus or minus makes a difference for me.  I prefer a slightly crowned and mostly straight mouthpiece.  I severe angle is a bit less consistent for me, I have a harder time getting a roll over out of it.  Everyone's jaws and lips are different, I guess that's why there are so many styles.

I'm with you on that Brian. Most people probably don't know how important that is. I like cork lipstops on my wingbones. If I'm sending one out to someone I think doesn't have much experiance in playing them, I send a rubber lipstop. I sent a friend of mine one with cork and in a weeks time he had it so worn from sliding up and down trying to find that right spot. I, personally don't see the advantage of an angled mouthpiece. I can play either equally well. But, I generally like just a slightly crowned lipstop.

[Old Geezer]

When I use a caller with a beveled tip, I have adopted Turpin's method to "have the inner parts of both lips pressed against beveled hole in mouthpiece". page 7 of Turpin's book.  Only way to do that is to hold the caller so opening is to left or right.  For me this gives a better vibrating sound than holding the bevel against the upper or lower lip.  I bevel mouthpieces only by request.

Ralph

[savduck]

Mark, I like the lip stop to have a rounded edge on it. It is more comfortable and easier to change your angle of how you play. I thinkit plays a huge part in my style of playing. i prefer a round straight tip slightly tapered. Again, its just more comfortable to me.

[professorwingbone]

When I use a caller with a beveled tip, I have adopted Turpin's method to "have the inner parts of both lips pressed against beveled hole in mouthpiece". page 7 of Turpin's book.  Only way to do that is to hold the caller so opening is to left or right.  For me this gives a better vibrating sound than holding the bevel against the upper or lower lip.  I bevel mouthpieces only by request.

Ralph

Ralph,

By saying that, do you mean that the opening of the wingbone should be perpendicular and not horizontal?

Fred

[M Sharpe]

That is the way I interpeded it.

My reason for asking this question is, if a guy buys a trumpet (or wingbone) for the first time. More than likely, he doesn't know that these slight changes can make a huge difference in a calls playablity. I got a trumpet from a fella once that the lipstop was sunk in. I difinately could not play it. A few seconds on the belt grinder and I was in business.

[callmakerman]

When I use a caller with a beveled tip, I have adopted Turpin's method to "have the inner parts of both lips pressed against beveled hole in mouthpiece". page 7 of Turpin's book.  Only way to do that is to hold the caller so opening is to left or right.  For me this gives a better vibrating sound than holding the bevel against the upper or lower lip.  I bevel mouthpieces only by request.

Ralph

Ralph,

By saying that, do you mean that the opening of the wingbone should be perpendicular and not horizontal? Fred I believe thats what he's saying. I only have one that I play that way and for me and that call it works out just fine but I believe it's because the angle is long conpared to say Fred's wingbones. I play the angle on all others except that one with the angle down toward my lower lip and like a crown on my lip stop. Rubber is OK but really like the look of cork on wing bones and some trumpets.

Fred

[drenalinld]

I also like the look of cork on wingbones and most trumpets but do not like how it dries and feels rough quickly. Chap stick helps a little. I like lipstops on the smaller side and prefer rounded in the lip end to allow different angles easier.

I don't have any beveled mouthpieces but have attempted to run a couple and struggled with bevel up or down. I am anxious to try it sideways. Bet it works. However getting a raspy break is not my issue, I tend to get too much.

[Turkeycaller]

Let me ask this.
"How many hunters live in a state where there is a fall season"?
Myself, I live in Georgia....there is NO fall hunting for turkeys.
Why would I even care about Kee Keeing on any caller?
I don't even try and have made it publicly known when playing callers.
And if I ever need to Kee Kee, I don't think anything beats a mouth caller for ease of use.

[Old Geezer]

Fred,  I am referring only to a beveled Turpin style tip, not a wing bone.  I use it with the opening ( flat part of the bevel)to my left side.  That way both lips contact the opening as explained in Turpin's book.  I found this worked much easier and added more realisim to my calling than having the bevel up or down.  Just another idea for folks to try.  Not mine but Turpin's, if you interpret what he writes literally. 

A beveled tip is directional.  You just can't throw it up and start calling in any position as with a rounded tip that is cut off flat.  That said, I like a mouthpiece tip that is cut off flat with a slightly rounded edge.  The degree of angle from the main part of the mouthpiece to the tip and the final OD of the tip make a difference in how easy the call plays and sounds too.

Check out how other guys play their calls and adopt the one that works best for you.  No method is set in stone.

Ralph

[M Sharpe]

  A beveled tip is directional.  You just can't throw it up and start calling in any position as with a rounded tip that is cut off flat.  That said, I like a mouthpiece tip that is cut off flat with a slightly rounded edge.  The degree of angle from the main part of the mouthpiece to the tip and the final OD of the tip make a difference in how easy the call plays and sounds too.

I totally agree Ralph.

Turkeycaller, I too live in GA and have heard many a spring hen kee-keeing for 1 or 2 notes before yelping. I also use those same tactics while spring hunting. While it is true, mouthcalls make some good kee-kee's, I quite using them several years ago.

[savduck]

Georgia boy here to. I hear live turkeys, hen and jake, kee kee in the spring. I use it spring hunting all the time.