Rim Options

Standard, Cushion, and Gabriel rims are offered. Gabriel rims are found on some signature and custom models. All Standard Brand mouthpieces have a cushion rim.

Rims differ primarily in terms of the outer diameter and side rim contour. Top / Bottom and Side contours are shown below. The Gabriel rim has a larger OD that the other two types.

Standard Rim

The Cushion rim has a slightly wider side rim and more lateral dip than the Standard rim. Cushion rims are designated by a "C" at the end of the name. A mouthpiece with a 3 diameter, standard rim, and C cup depth is a 3C. A mouthpiece with a 3 diameter, C cup and cushion rim is a 3CC.

Cushion Rim

The cushion rim also has a softer bite, and transfers some pressure from the top and bottom rims to the lateral rims. It provides a little more corner support and feels more like a conventional mouthpiece. The difference in lateral dip also makes the cushion rim models slightly larger and deeper than the same mouthpiece with a standard rim.

Because of the slightly larger diameter and deeper cup of the cushion model it does play a little bigger with a fuller sound and an upper register that is a little more work than a corresponding standard rim. The standard rim tends to provide slightly better flexibility.

Because the lateral dip on the Cushion is less than on the Standard, the Cushion rim does help to prevent bottoming out on the very shallow E and F cups. So if you want to try a shallow Wedge, but tend to bottom out, a Cushion rim is an option to consider.

Gabriel Rims

The Gabriel rim was introduced as part of our first signature line of mouthpieces. It is an extra wide cushion rim with less lateral dip than either the standard or cushion rim. It is an excellent choice for those players who feel too much pressure on the top lip from the cushion rim. Gabriel rims play a little larger than other rims. 

Gabriel Rim