Mike_Bonfig

I'm a big fan of playing on whatever feels the best for the individual player. For example, I'm a big guy, but don't have huge lips, and I prefer the cut of a Schilke. In the past (when I was playing every day) I could produce as much sound out of a Schilke 13a4 as I could a Bach 1C (we won't talk about the dark quality of the sound though). However, lately, I've been doing a majority of my playing on a Laskey 60S*. It has the ability to hold your chops in when your tired (like a Bach) but takes the air very nicely (like a Schilke). They're still not very readily available to try out at stores, but Brasswind will let you get up to 3 at a time to try and then send back the two you don't like. Back on topic - I've always been afraid to think of telling people to play on a standard mouthpiece. With young players who don't know how to use their air properly, I fear it could end up more frustrating and disappointing than productive. P.S. - If you want to try a Laskey for highnotes, and know how to use your air, I would advise an S model over an S* - the S* is a little too shallow for my preference, but I'm being cheap right now and haven't bought the 60S for myself yet.

One of the greatest screamers that I've played with is one who never really played a "glory" solo: Scott Lyle. He played with Spirit of Atlanta back in the day, BD 1994 and Madison 1995. His chops often amazed me along with Edwin and Schipper. Other people I've played with "whos gots da mad skeelz" of high chops - Hank Wadsworth and Roger Grupp (who I think adds a third to his range every time I hear him play) of MN Brass and Greg Hiniker (best soloist and stylistic player of any that I've met doing senior corps) of Chops, Inc., and Dana (don't know his last name) is on fire for Bayou City Blues. All are great to play with and know their way around the high notes of a soprano.