whats the difference between 7c ,5c, 1c, etc.....

7c is a medium narrow rim with a standard sized cup. 7 refers to the narrowness of the rim. c refers to the cup depth. 5c is a standard mouthpiece. (standard rim/cup depth) 1c (what i play for jazz) is a wide rim with standard cup. then 1b (what i play for concert/marching) is deep and wide.
the only difference is with schilke mp sizes. in which case the bigger the number the wider and the smaller the letter the smaller the cup.

what about the B and A sizes? And whats all this i hear about the megatone mouthpiece? my friend said its a piece of sh*t but then why is it a best seller? do any of these mouthpieces make it easy to play high notes?

the shallower of a cup you have the easier it should be to play high. but shallow cups also take away from your tone. megatone adds metal onto the mouthpiece and says that it increases mouthpiece vibrations and then they ad 10 - 15 $ onto your price and in truth you just got ripped off. you can do any kind of music with a 5c so stick with that until you know more about your embouchure and what music you want to play. for example i found out that my lips are to big to play a shallow mouthpiece but that it didn`t matter because i can play up to a triple g with out using a shallow cup. i also found that i needed something wider than a 5c to play with a good tone. so i use a 1.5c for jazz and a 1b for concert/marching. it took me 4 years to find all that out so don`t rush into a decision about switching mouthpieces until you are 100% positive that you need something different and that it`s not just something you want to make playing high notes easier

well if u cant hit a C on ur normal mouthpice u wont be able to do it with anyother mouhtpice same with any other note the mouthpice will cange the sound of the note though different mpc different sound not range

-Fillip Rubadukiy

The megatone mouthpiece is weighted and gives you a more centered,focused tone.
Derek
You said that Schilkes were the only exception yet Yamaha also has a different numbering system. example 11c4 Yamaha=7c Bach

-"the shallower of a cup you have the easier it should be to play high. but shallow cups also take away from your tone"
I thought that shallower cups made your tone brighter?

shallow cups make your tone small. or not as round. i don`t know about youi but when i play i like to have a big sound that hits people like a brick instead of a little compact sound that will hit people like a lazer beam. no shallow cups will mess with you big time

oh yeah sry i didn`t mention the yamaha cups but i forgot about them because i don`t recomend them. the main mouthpieces that i suggest are bach, schilke, and giardinelli (sp?)

The Yamaha sizes copy the Schilke mouthpieces. There`s no difference. See http://kanstul.net/mpcJN/Compare/CompareIE.HTM

a useful resource!

ok then, sorry, I just wasn`t sure what difference a shallower cup made, because I`ve never changed mouthpeice! so when they say it brightens your tone, it just makes it squeeky...
I was actually looking at a Bach 3D, for playing Jazz, (and I`ve also been invited to blow some trumpet in one of my friend`s bands (a punk band!!))
Can anyone recommend a good powerful yet comfortable Bach mouthpiece? (mainly for Jazz...)
I play a 1 1/5 C which came with the trumpet, and I find that the tone lacks any punch, and is just a bit boring...
Any help would be great, thanks!

I play on a 7c generally, but I`ve also got this 14A4. How does that compare?

As a trumpet player I did shows, and bigband etc on a Bach 1 and a 1C. Years later I realise how much easier life may have been on a smaller diameter size. Top C`s are a struggle on a 1 and only having found myself "in the deep end" on a show once, did I really push to stretch way over the top C out of necessity. That`s fun if you see the part on a Sunday and you are `on` live on Monday.
The Bach 1 allows a lovely tone and a really big trumpet sound for the solos that 2nd Trumpet plays in Big Band arrangements. The 1.5C you are playing on is more like a 7C than the numbers suggest (check out the Kanstul comparitor!!) and for "normal" trumpet work therefore is about as close to the most popular mouthpiece size that I would not worry about changing too much.
I played a cornet on a 1.5C for long enough to know that it can sound mellow if you want it too.
As I`ve said elsewhere on this board, mouthpieces of smaller sizes can make a nice sound that fits the situation. It`s how you play them that counts. You can`t go from a deep mouthpiece to shallow and expect it to sound the same immediately. But then don`t go from small to large and expect to get the same range immediately either.
Mouthpiece choice always involves compromise - it`s physics.
One compromise for smaller sizes is in ability to start and hold a note quietly (though I`m having some second thoughts on that, depending on pitch) and total volume which is no doubt easier on a big mouthpiece in the range up to G above the stave (for a Bb). If you are looking at stuff above that, consider trying smaller sizes, but for Bb, maybe 1.5C is small enough.
The killer is getting into the `is it better? Maybe? I don`t know` frustration!! This inevitable phase occurs with any change. If you have to be on top form because you are playing out with a band, change is a risk. If you have the luxury of time, it can pay off, but I would ignore those places that say "choose the one that gives you the best sound". Sound develops over time. A big mouthpiece might always win that test, but may not necessarily give you the best long-term. There`s no "magic wand". Something to think about

wait i play on a 1.5 c for jazz and a 1b for concert. on both i can reach a double c (yes the one 2 octaves above middle c) easily. the thing that i preach to my students when they want to switch mouthpieces because their range is suffering is that it is not the mouthpiece that gives you range. it is the person playing the mouthpiece. definitely there will be people that need shallower mouthpieces because a deep one doesn`t fit their lips but you do not need a different mp to get better range or endurance. ( i play 8-9 hour gigs on a big bore flugelhorn with a 1-1/4 c bach mp and i do not get tired.) all you need to do for range and endurance is long tones and lip slurs. range and endurance come with. also you need to make sure you are warming up properly and you don`t want to smash the mo into your face. as for the mouthpiece sound not being right for what you want... you can find ways to adjust your sound or you could try getting a schilke for more of a bite. if that is the case i would recomend a schilke 16 or a schilke 15 for anyone playing a 1.5 c . if that doesn`t work than try a schilke B cup with a wide rime (15 or 16) i highly suggest that you do not go to an A cup because than you begin to depend to highly on the mouthpiece for range and you will begin to damage your chops. Hope i helped

thanks for the help you guys, I think after what you`ve said I may just stick to the 1.5C and try out other mouthpieces over time, cheers!
BUT... could anyone recommend a mouthpiece on the same lines as the 1.5C but maybe with a bit more of a crisp, bright and punchy tone?
I`m being a pest now...
Thanks again!