Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
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eeflattuba
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Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
How popular are these British made mouthpieces in North America? Across the pond, they seem to be all the rage. I just got one for my 981 Besson Sovereign EE flat and I am enjoying it very much. 350 bucks Canadian make it the most expensive mouthpiece I have ever purchased.
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the elephant
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eeflattuba
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
Not really new. They have been around for a couple of years now and have their own website. Stated by two British tuba players they now make mouthpieces for every brass instrument from top to bottom.
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arpthark
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
A lot of folks around here (northeast USA) in the brass band scene have these. I had considered one for my Besson but I don’t think they offer small British shank, funnily enough.
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bloke
- Mid South Music
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
eeflattuba wrote: Sun Jun 29, 2025 7:08 pm350 bucks Canadian make it the most expensive mouthpiece I have ever purchased.
Just for what It's worth, in my three piece stainless steel line of mouthpieces - adding an optional gold-tone titanium coated rim (+$35) and an extra tall rim (+$15)...
...I guess that barely hits on 300 USD (which Google tells me is about 410 CAD)...
... so - if you continue to be interested in setting new records - let me know, and I'll see what I can do for you.
(Admittedly, they're not the newest thing on the block, so I know that's not a plus.)
serious comment:
I'm always interested in checking out new things, but I suppose I would have to go to an elephant room to try one of those. I haven't been to one of those in a few years. If they feature 24aw style rims and/or huge throat diameters (??), they're a non-starter for me.
Last edited by bloke on Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
I have the MB5. I really like the sound and the flexibility I get, but I don't seem to match very well with the rounded rim.
I am sure @andycat can add some more info
I am sure @andycat can add some more info
Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
Hi, yes, M+B are 2 friends of mine, both tuba players (an EEb and a BBb player) who live pretty local to me.
I helped develop the initial tuba range, plus my own model, the MB5 Cattanach (which is surprisingly popular!). Other players have models or input, Les Neish did one, James Gourlay uses a couple of ones etc.
The rim was my fault @BramJ so sorry you're not a fan! Getting the right rim for a BBb to enable definition whilst keeping the other features was my goal, but horses for courses, each to their own etc.!
If anyone wants comparison sizes or more info, drop me a message, although the website has lots of info too.
https://mercerandbarker.com
Andy
I helped develop the initial tuba range, plus my own model, the MB5 Cattanach (which is surprisingly popular!). Other players have models or input, Les Neish did one, James Gourlay uses a couple of ones etc.
The rim was my fault @BramJ so sorry you're not a fan! Getting the right rim for a BBb to enable definition whilst keeping the other features was my goal, but horses for courses, each to their own etc.!
If anyone wants comparison sizes or more info, drop me a message, although the website has lots of info too.
https://mercerandbarker.com
Andy
- These users thanked the author andycat for the post (total 2):
- the elephant (Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:56 am) • eeflattuba (Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:21 am)
Andy Cattanach, UK
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/user/acattanach72/videos[/youtube]
Foden's Band, Intrada Brass Ensemble.
Yamaha Neo BBb x 2 (2011 and 2022), B+H 3v Imperial BBb.
Yamaha YBL613H Bass Trombone.
Mercer and Barker MB5 Cattanach, M+B 1.5BT Mouthpieces.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/user/acattanach72/videos[/youtube]
Foden's Band, Intrada Brass Ensemble.
Yamaha Neo BBb x 2 (2011 and 2022), B+H 3v Imperial BBb.
Yamaha YBL613H Bass Trombone.
Mercer and Barker MB5 Cattanach, M+B 1.5BT Mouthpieces.
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anadmai
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
As a 981 player, I started looking at them. I was looking at the MB4. I'd love to take one for a spin.eeflattuba wrote: Sun Jun 29, 2025 7:08 pm How popular are these British made mouthpieces in North America? Across the pond, they seem to be all the rage. I just got one for my 981 Besson Sovereign EE flat and I am enjoying it very much. 350 bucks Canadian make it the most expensive mouthpiece I have ever purchased.
1906 Henry Distin Euphonium(JUNIOR)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
Five Lakes Silver band have a full set of Mouthpieces for demos, worth contacting them to see if you can fix up trials.
Andy Cattanach, UK
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/user/acattanach72/videos[/youtube]
Foden's Band, Intrada Brass Ensemble.
Yamaha Neo BBb x 2 (2011 and 2022), B+H 3v Imperial BBb.
Yamaha YBL613H Bass Trombone.
Mercer and Barker MB5 Cattanach, M+B 1.5BT Mouthpieces.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/user/acattanach72/videos[/youtube]
Foden's Band, Intrada Brass Ensemble.
Yamaha Neo BBb x 2 (2011 and 2022), B+H 3v Imperial BBb.
Yamaha YBL613H Bass Trombone.
Mercer and Barker MB5 Cattanach, M+B 1.5BT Mouthpieces.
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GC
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
They're showing up more and more. I love the comfortable rims since I can't stand flat rims or a sharp bite between rim and cup. Most are somewhat heavyweight. I use a MB3 in brass band, and own a Tim Buzbee Lone Star. I'll probably buy a MB3 “Power” soon. The Lone Star is an F/Eb mouthpiece that's shallow but too big for me, so I'll probably sell it soon. It'd be good for someone used to larger diameters.
Bloke, their rims are fairly narrow, and the throats are not extreme IMHO.
Bloke, their rims are fairly narrow, and the throats are not extreme IMHO.
Packer/Sterling JP377 compensating Eb; Mercer & Barker MB3, Kellyburg; for sale: Conn Monster Eb 1914, Fillmore Bros 1/4 Eb ca. 1905 antique, Bach 42B trombone
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anadmai
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
Where is a good list of their pieces? I keep hearing of mouthpieces models not appearing on their website.
1906 Henry Distin Euphonium(JUNIOR)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
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anadmai
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
I’m an idiot. Yes.
I was only looking at the stainless steel.
I was only looking at the stainless steel.
1906 Henry Distin Euphonium(JUNIOR)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
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anadmai
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
Hmmm. I grew up with their MD, so maybe I’ll reach out and say hello. lol.andycat wrote: Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:34 pm Five Lakes Silver band have a full set of Mouthpieces for demos, worth contacting them to see if you can fix up trials.
1906 Henry Distin Euphonium(JUNIOR)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
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Heavy_Metal
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
- These users thanked the author Heavy_Metal for the post:
- anadmai (Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:46 am)
Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
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anadmai
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Re: Mercer and Barker Mouthpieces.
I reached out to Uncle Matt for an appointment. When I go up I'll give them a try.
1906 Henry Distin Euphonium(JUNIOR)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)
1952 B&H Imperial Trombone(HASTINGS)
2015 Sterling Virtuoso Baritone(MARGARET)
1988 Besson/B&H Sovereign 967(BRAMWELL)
2023 Dillon Eb Bass 981S(ALBERT)