Graham Ashton- Definitive Trumpet Mouthpieces™
Piccolo Trumpet Models
Trumpet or Cornet Shank

The design and development of the piccolo range was possibly the most complex - how to design a mouthpiece that makes the piccolo trumpet sound clear and vibrant, without being shrill and piercing. The resulting Nos.1P,2P & 3P mouthpieces are outstanding in terms of sound, intonation and flexibility.

All Graham Ashton piccolo trumpet mouthpieces are available with either cornet and trumpet shanks. They were tested with piston valve piccolo trumpets of Schilke, Stomvi, Yamaha, Selmer (Paris), Bach, Edwards and Getzen; and with rotary trumpets by Scherzer and Lechner.

The No.1P is really designed as an orchestral piccolo trumpet mouthpiece to play the D trumpet parts of Rite of Spring, Bolero, Pictures etc. Good for when you need to really blow the piccolo like a Bb trumpet. The No.1P started life as a commercial mouthpiece, which Graham Ashton had made when he was a studio player in London. He adapted the design to suit the piccolo trumpet and used it to record the D trumpet part of Messiaen Turangulila Symphony for EMI, with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Eso-Pekka Salonen. He also used this mouthpiece when recording the high piccolo trumpet part for Michael Nyman film score: The Cook, the Thief, his Wife, and her Lover. The rim size is about that of a Bach 3.

The No.2P is a slightly larger version of the No.3P. It is a very popular piccolo trumpet mouthpiece and produces a very vibrant and soloistic sound. The intonation is superb throughout the whole range. Great for soloing with a small baroque-size orchestra, perfect for trumpet and organ recitals and performances of small baroque chamber works. The 2P has a slight 'V' and so will never 'bottom-out' on you when you are tired or playing high. The rim size is about that of a Bach 5.

French trumpet soloist, Pierre Dutot, plays a 2P(t) on his Yamaha piccolo. He also uses the 2P(c) on his Eb cornet when playing high solos for soprano cornet with brass band.

This is the mouthpiece Graham Ashton uses on his piccolos: No.3P(t) on his Scherzer rotary, and No.3P(c) on the piston Stomvi. The original of this mouthpiece was made for Graham when he recorded the award-winning Baroque Music for Trumpet with the Irish Chamber Orchestra for EMI/Virgin Classics.

This is a great mouthpiece for all solo baroque concerti and perfect for trumpet and organ recitals. The mouthpiece an incredible top register and, like the No.2P, has a slight 'V' in the cup so it will never 'bottom-out' on you in the high register. Graham Ashton uses this mouthpiece for all of Bach's repertoire including the Second Brandenburg Concerto.