Introducing the CE1 mouthpiece model by Christoph Ess and B. Tilz company.
00:00 Intro
01:08 Specifications
01:32 Modification 1: rim
02:29 Modification 2: cup
02:57 Modification 3: back bore
03:24 Modification 4: more material
04:00 Overview
04:50 Different coatings
Hello dear horn players,
I would like to talk a little about my own mouthpiece model, the CE1, which I had the privilege of developing together with the company Tilz. After more than a year of testing, experimenting, and making changes, we finally arrived at this model.
A big thank you goes to Yvonne Denny from Tilz, who supported me in every aspect of this process.
The CE1 mouthpiece is based on the Tilz model Schmid 115. I played this mouthpiece myself for over 20 years, and I was generally very satisfied with it. However, I eventually realized there were certain things that could be improved, and I started to think I could make some changes. So, I made four modifications. They are small, but important! And today, I’d like to discuss them.
Specifications of the series model:
I have an inner rim diameter of 18.0 mm, with a bore size of 4.4 mm. The cup is medium-depth, and the rim is of medium width.
First, the rim:
The rim is slightly wider and has a slightly rounder outer shape for a reason.The rim on the Schmid 115 model used to feel a bit sharp against my lip, and I often developed small cracks in my lower lip.I’ve actually heard the same complaint from several other horn players. With the slightly wider and rounder rim, the point where the teeth, lip, and mouthpiece meet became less of an issue. The cracks disappeared, even during heavy playing, from the very first moment. That was a great result!Additionally, the wider rim provides more stability on the lower lip and helps prevent the mouthpiece from slipping too far upward when playing high. It also gives more support and power.
The cup:
The cup has a slightly more open entrance to the bore. This affects airflow and, in my experience, makes it easier to navigate the register break—when transitioning from high to low notes and vice versa. It also helps to make slurs between notes smooth and direct.
A similar effect was achieved by slightly opening the back bore. This means that it opens up earlier, making the material at the end of the mouthpiece very thin, but it allows the air to flow more directly into the horn. This also contributes to smoother, more controlled slurs and makes the air transfer to the instrument work beautifully.
The fourth and perhaps most significant change:
I added an additional 1 mm of material across the entire mouthpiece. This makes the mouthpiece slightly heavier—by about 6 to 7 grams. For me personally, this change allowed me to produce a warmer, rounder, and darker sound compared to the other series model, without losing the brilliance.
Overall, the changes have allowed me to:
* Maintain and even stabilize the high register without losing brilliance.
* Make my sound warmer and rounder.
* Make transitions between registers easier.
* smooth and soft slurs.
The series model, as mentioned, is the silver version with an 18 mm inner rim diameter.
However, you can order different inner diameters, and you can also order changes to the bore. Keep in mind, these modifications will affect the mouthpiece, so they need to be tested. I’ve had several people try mouthpieces with 17.5 mm or 18.5 mm rim diameters, and these have also been very positively received.
There are three coating options for this series model:
1. The standard silver coating.
2. Raw brass – I personally use this one most of the time. I really appreciate the slightly warmer feel, and it’s also allergy-safe, meaning it's free from nickel and other irritants.
3. And especially recommended: Many brass players use the Diamond Brass coating. This is a synthetic diamond coating applied to the raw metal. It’s harder than regular brass and has heat-retaining properties. The material feels slightly rougher on the lip, which gives better grip and stability, especially if you sweat a lot. Additionally, it feels nice and warm on the lips. The antibacterial coating also prevents cold sores and skin irritations, making it a great option for health reasons.
This Diamond Brass coating costs an additional €130.
The regular price for the other models is €99, the same as any other Tilz mouthpiece.
The mouthpiece can be purchased at my own website (https://www.germanhornsound.de/ce1 or www.christophess.de)
or at Firma Bruno Tilz (https://www.mundstueckbau-tilz.de/modell-christoph-ess.html)
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