Giddings for Marching Band?

[JMartinez0]

Hello all!

I've heard how comfortable these pieces can be and I was wondering if they could help with my endurance? Rehearsals go on for about 5 hours, playing almost non stop. Half way through, my chops start to show fatigue and while it's gotten better, could a giddings help out? Or would it be better to let time take its course?

What are yalls thoughts, opinions and experiences?

Thank you.

[AtomicClock]

This sounds like a terrible time to change mouthpieces. That really tanks my endurance and control. If you are weak because you took the summer off, I'd just focus on building strength back. If you're in shape already, then your peers are also struggling, and the director is (hopefully) pushing you only temporarily.

[Posaunus]

Why do you think a "giddings" (stainless steel) mouthpiece could improve your endurance?
Which Giddings mouthpiece (there are many!) have you heard is so comfortable?

[JMartinez0]

Well my chops are in great condition, as well as those of my peers. I can't remember what specific pieces but I do remember from those who've I've heard from didn't have any fancy finish or extra.
I want to believe that the comfort of the rim would mean less tension on my lips. Though I haven't been able to test a piece for long enough to fully tell.

[Posaunus]

I can't remember what specific pieces but I do remember from those who've I've heard from didn't have any fancy finish or extra.

Well, that much is sort of true. Giddings mouthpieces are solid stainless steel - no brass, no silver or gold plating.

I want to believe that the comfort of the rim would mean less tension on my lips. Though I haven't been able to test a piece for long enough to fully tell.

"Comfort" is pretty much an individual thing. Everyone's anatomy, facial structure, jaws, teeth, lips, ... are different.
And (I think) not all Giddings mouthpieces have the same rim profile.

I'm afraid that, if you think a different mouthpiece will help your endurance, you'll have to select it by trial and error.

[HornboneandVocals]

Marched 4 years as a contra player back in hs and played giddings mouthpieces. Developed a nickel allergy so it was an absolute necessity. Definitely increased my projection and my potential volume to the point of absurdity, regularly covering up the band and subsequently getting yelled at. Comfortable? Not necessarily, I've tried a few on tuba and bass tbn and they all have a sharper inner lip that wasn't very comfortable for me, however I like the lower-friction and flexibility it offered with the stainless rim.

[Matt K]

I suspect you would have had the exact same experience with a mouthpiece made of brass that was the same shape. Not saying material is immaterial, but not to that degree. Their designs were fairly unique, though in recent years they've added more traditional designs to the lineup. Differences even between what they called "comparable" even on their spec sheets are not what I would call a "copy". For example, the description of the NB100 says it's comparable to a 6.5AL but the throat is listed at .278 (small bore 6.5 are typically .261. Even the large shank 6.5A is .276. Then comparing it to the description of an E1, which they say is comparable to a 5G you'll notice that the NB100 is actually .001" deeper based on how they measure. So, all of that is to say that if you were comparing say a 6.5AL to an NB100 you aren't really comparing apples to apples.