“I am thrilled to be working with Warwick Music to help bring new products and ideas to the trombone world. Being able to collaborate with the team, to refine and perfect these mouthpieces, and deliver something of such a high calibre to fellow performers is a real career milestone for me,” explains Ian Bousfield.
Using state of the art CAD techniques these professional mouthpieces have been produced to the finest tolerances and each model is uniquely shaped both inside and out. They have included many technical features, to make sure that they really are the most advanced and high performing mouthpieces available. The initial range of Ian Bousfield Mouthpieces will be in S5, S4 and Signature sizes, the 4 and 5 sizes will be familiar to trombonists; however the Signature is a completely new custom size created by Ian, who said: “I use this mouthpiece in the most demanding of solo environments where extreme register changes and endurance are required without loss off brilliance in the high register and speed and clarity of articulation”.
Chris Fower of Warwick Music said “The focus of the design concept has been to take the very best of traditional mouthpiece design, which produces a clear, bright and centred timbre and then make this comfortable, stable and accessible for the modern player.
“In addition, the high register on these mouthpieces are readily available whilst maintaining good sound in the middle and lower registers. The clarity of timbre and articulation has been paramount in the development process – so fast, clear, running passages are incredibly nimble and controllable throughout the range.”
Alongside this innovative approach to design the mouthpieces feature – flexible tone adjustment rings – which the player can use to modify the response of the mouthpiece to their own needs. This innovation takes the form of flexible polymer rings that seat into grooves on the throat of the mouthpiece, dampening and stiffening the throat and shank area. The effect is that players can fine-tune the resistance of the mouthpiece, creating a more open and malleable sound or a more focused and centred response.
The range focuses on mouthpieces conceived for use in specific musical environments explains Chris Fower:
“Firstly and most notably Ian’s involvement in every stage of developing this product means that the mouthpieces truly represent the years of experience and deep knowledge that Ian has about what he needs from a mouthpiece.
More information including detailed technical specifications about the mouthpieces are available on www.ianbousfield.co.uk
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