This mouthpiece has a wide inner rim diameter with a large V-shaped cup. Tom requires an extremely versatile mouthpiece because he plays in so many different settings: large symphony orchestras, small chamber ensembles, brass groups, and in solo recitals. With this mouthpiece he can play as high or strong as is necessary, and yet can create as rich and full a sound as he wants in any register. The sound is well focused for clarity and projection, and the playability is responsive and comfortable. Silver-plated.In addition to his solo work, Thomas Bacon has held principal horn positions with the Syracuse Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestras. He is in the highest echelon of hornists worldwide.Yamaha"s Replica Series mouthpieces come after year of collaborating with hundreds of the world"s best players at their R&D Ateliers. These players were unsatisfied with the commercial models out there and knew the Yamaha technicians would deliver exactly the tone and response they wanted. The demand for these mouthpieces has grown, so Yamaha decided to offer a select lineup. Each Replica Series mouthpiece is produced on a precise, computer-controlled lathe to guarantee each one is exactly the same as the one used by its namesake.