Trumpet Mouthpieces Comparison - Bach vs. Lotus

Here's a short comparison between several trumpet mouthpieces, Bach Megatone 1C, Bach 1C and Lotus 1XL2HC.
All made out of brass.
All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and entertainment purposes.

[@wilsongonzalez8753]

Love it...very honest and straight to the point. Good luck and wish you well. From PA/USA Prof. WG

[@MihaiSorohan]

Thanks. I got some people angry at me because I wasn't the biggest fan of the Lotus. Right now I find myself using the Wedge Pierobon C, it's a bit thinner and sharper than Bach (as a sound quality), but it's by far the most comfortable.

[@MultiTrumpetman]

You should try Padovani A1.

[@MihaiSorohan]

Cool recommendation, I'll try.

[@rothwindowcleaningservices3098]

I’d say you get used to the “sound” of your Bach mouthpiece. But I can hear immediately that the Lotus was in tune and the bachs weren’t centered in tune. You get used to that uncentered Bach sound though.

[@MihaiSorohan]

I don't really hear much difference between, but I feel it while playing. I dislike how Lotus feels in the lower register. The Bach responds better in the low and mid register, articulation is easier and the notes feel more resonating from the player perspective. Full disclosure; I have 2 trumpets, a Yamaha and a JP by Taylor. On Yamaha I hear everything as being in tune, while JP is somehow out of tune... However, when I import a recording in Melodyne, JP is in tune and Yamaha is all over the place, so you might have a point there.

[@ls5454ss]

Thanks, Mihai - you just saved me some money and time :). I'll stick with the Monette that I've been using for eons now!

[@MihaiSorohan]

I should get a Monette too, to test. As said in the video, don't take my word for it, test it for yourself if you get the chance. Thanks for the comment.

[@ls5454ss]

@@MihaiSorohan I switched from the same exact Bach Megatone that you use to a Monette about 20 years ago...I'll trust your judgment this time that it's not worth it, especially since I used to also be happy with the Megatone 😉

[@MihaiSorohan]

@@ls5454ss then it seems a Monette is on my wishlist 😄

[@stupoo]

The Lotus plays like the Monette but better I would say, open but lights up easier than the Monette

[@stupoo]

The HC are very different not as good

[@valerymedvedev5806]

I hear that the upper case is easier for you on the megaton than on the lotus

[@MihaiSorohan]

Feels that way to me too...

[@claudiomtrompete]

the shorter length is a copy of Monette`s concept, but I think it did not cause the same efect on the tuning,

[@MihaiSorohan]

well, it was useful during a concert in winter, which it had to be outside, and my tuning went down pretty fast...

[@hansersson6860]

Thanks you for the review, think I stick with my beloved Bach Megatone 1b

[@MihaiSorohan]

I prefer the Megatone too, not for the sound but for the response in the low register, but don't take my word for it, test the Lotus for yourself if you get the chance.

[@lotustrumpets6739]

The proper comparison for your Megatone 1B = LOTUS 1XL Bronze. Doesn't matter if it is Gen2 or Gen3, they are exactly the same other than the color.

[@MihaiSorohan]

@@lotustrumpets6739 thanks for the info, very useful. I wish I knew that before I made the video. Might make another one for a more fair comparison.

[@stupoo]

Why try HC should have played the normal one for the Lotus experience

[@MihaiSorohan]

It would be a biased comparison between different sizes. I ordered a Lotus mouthpiece of a similar size I use (Bach Megatone 1C). The L throat was described by the seller as "Symphonic" and he recommended the HC. To me, there is a big difference between the regular Bach 1C and Megatone 1C, maybe is the different throat size?

[@stupoo]

I can’t make my mind up between my Bach and Lotus, I find my Lotus slots in tune better but my Bach response is better and louder even though my 3L2 is in nickel 🤷🏻

[@lotustrumpets6739]

@@stupoo 3L2 Nickel would compare to Bach 5C with the more open throat setting, NOT a standard 5C. Nickel Silver focuses the tone into a more directional beam, is brighter in tone color on purpose, and is preferred by Lead/Salsa players and folks who spend time playing outdoors or folks who have heavy/dull horns that could use a dose of "life" shot back into them. If you are comparing a standard Bach 5C to the LOTUS 3L2N, again, it is a few factors from being A vs B. Rim diameter is about the same, LOTUS throat is more open (Gen2 3L2HC or Gen3 3L2 would be better comparisons) and is why you feel less "pop" and "crispness of articulation". A Monette player or player coming from a "symphonic" setting mouthpiece would feel the opposite: too tight, overly-sensitive articulation and a feeling of "where did all my sound go". Nickel Silver purposefully reduces the amount of self-monitoring (a.k.a hearing yourself behind the bell) whereas Brass would likely feel right at home. Deduction: you need to find a Gen2 3L2HC Brass (make sure it has the matte finish inside of the cup) or a Gen3 3L2 Brass.

[@lotustrumpets6739]

@@MihaiSorohan The throat of a Megatone is more open than a standard sized Bach 3.6mm vs 3.9mm). Extra mass on any metal object reduces vibration. To compensate for the loss of resonance (a.k.a sound), they opened up the throat to try and find more sound. Monette does the same thing with their heavy horns and mouthpieces: very very open throats, giant bells and large bores....all in an effort to liven up the tone. A Bach 1C shouldn't sound or feel like a Megatone 1C. Neither should our 1XL2HC Brass.

[@lotustrumpets6739]

One last comment: If you like the "blow/feel" of the 3L2 and simply want to back off of the shininess and directional beam created by the Nickel Silver = Gen2 3L2 Brass (with matte finish) or Gen3 3L2 Brass.

[@Beginnerjazzlessons]

The lotus sounds the brightest to my ears Mihai. I prefer the sound of the megatone!

[@MihaiSorohan]

Thanks for the feedback, somehow I prefer the megatone too, not for the sound but for the response in the low register.

[@MrSergiu1983]

What are you talking about?You can not mislead so many people by posting videos with your impression at you first mouthpiece..How many Lotus mouthpieces have you tried.Yes second generation mouthpiece loweres the pitch.But 3 generation has a normal pitch.

[@MihaiSorohan]

I'm talking about my experience with these mouthpieces, that's what the video is about. As explained several times during the video, that is MY experience, which might differ from YOUR experience, therefore I advise you, and everybody watching the video, to actually try yourself and see how it fits you. Don't base your instrument and mouthpiece acquiring on other people's opinions. This being said, I believe my Lotus was the latest generation at the time I made the video. Couldn't buy a generation not existing at that time, my time machine was broken. Still is... sorry... I was communicating for several weeks with a representative, trying to find the closest match to my 1C. I bought what THEIR representative said to be the closest match; "Thanks for your interest in LOTUS! The perfect comparison to the Bach 1C = LOTUS 1XL2HC Brass. You will love it and it is simply A LOT easier to play than your Bach." I usually try to research a lot before buying something expensive. I'm not made out of money. That's also why I don't have 346568787 Lotus mouthpieces from gen. 1, gen.2, gen. 3, gen. 9000 or over 9000. Also, Lotus, by being shorter than all of the other mouthpieces, is rising the pitch, not lowering it. The "fish face" technique Adam uses and explains lowers the pitch, and that's in HIS words, not mine. And that is why I assume the mouthpiece is shorter and rising the pitch, to fit Adam's technique.

[@peterhuizinga3849]

The Lotus mouthpiece had more body to the sound.

[@MihaiSorohan]

Thanks for the feedback. I might consider trying a newer generation one at some point.

[@md4645]

LOTUS intonation is the best

[@MihaiSorohan]

I should do a video where I import all of the performances in Melodyne and actually measure the intonation precision.

[@diz7595]

I'll stick with my bach megatone 5c.

[@MihaiSorohan]

5c is a size I think I never tried. I got some good results with some 3c similar sizes, tried a Monette, a Best Brass (soon a video with that too), and a Wedge.

[@escobar2021]

lotus sonido mas fluido y mejor

[@MihaiSorohan]

Gracias por tu comentario. Creo que Lotus suena bien, pero Bach me resulta más cómodo.

[@gilbertosandino8324]

Sonido más redondo y centrado, Megatón. Es mi opinión.

[@MihaiSorohan]

@@gilbertosandino8324 Sí, tienes razón, así lo escucho yo también.

[@valerymedvedev5806]

I hear that the upper case is easier for you on the megaton than on the lotus.