Product Overview
The 98AL is the little brother to the 100AL. It has the same cup depth that spans the differene between the "commercial" C cup and the "symphonic" G cup, but with a smaller ID, closer to a Bach 7C.
The 98AL provides an option for players who want the darker sound of the AL cup combined with the bettter endurance provided by the smaller .98 inch diameter.
Material - These mouthpieces can be made in either Delrin or Acrylic plastic. Here is a comparison of their characteristics:
- Delrin:
- Feels softer on the chops because it has more give than metal. This is a great advantage for players with braces.
- Not as slippery as silver, giving more grip.
- Added grip makes Delrin mouthpieces feel smaller than their metal counterparts with the same size designation.
- Not as smooth as metal, so some players may feel slight chop irritation for the first day or two while they adjust.
- More comfortable to play in cold weather because they feel warm on the chops.
- Plastic mouthpieces are more responsive than brass, making soft entries more secure.
- Articulation less crisp with less point at the front of the note compared to brass.
- Darker sound than brass.
- Less core in the sound compared to brass.
Acrylic:
- Feels softer than brass but less soft and Delrin on the chops.
- Less slippery than metal but more slippery than Delrin.
- Grip intermediate between Delrin and silver.
- Feel slightly smaller than the metal counterparts.
- Smoother than Delrin, very similar to silver.
- Comfortable to play in cold weather.
- Responsive to soft articulation.
- Articulation is clearer than Delrin, very similar to metal.
- Sound is slightly darker than brass and brighter than Delrin.
- More core in the sound than Delrin, but not as much core as metal.
