Lawton's Own Description of the Model B

Leaflet 1967: Round tone chamber for unrestricted air flow. [tenor only] Model B (for maximum power and edge)


Leaflet approx. 1978: Round tone chamber for unrestricted air flow. Star marking are Model B for maximum power and edge.


Leaflet approx. 1989: Round tone chamber for unrestricted air flow. Star markings are Model B or BB. Model B: Medium chamber brilliant full tone.


Leaflet approx. 1990: Round tone chamber for unrestricted air flow. Star markings are Model B or BB. Model B: Medium chamber and baffle. For brilliant full tone. Specifically designed for projection (big band work and Jazz playing).

Lawton Alto 7 STAR B (ebonite)

Timeline of Changes to Plain & Model B

From 1967 the tenor mouthpiece was offered in two types of tone chamber, the A (standard) and the B with more brightness/edge. The baritone and alto had the standard chamber design.

The B model proved to be more popular and so in the late 60s / early 70s Lawton standardised all three sizes (alto, tenor, baritone) on the popular design which became the new “Plain”.

In 1973 Lawton produced a design with more edge still and this became the “new” B model (tenor first and then alto and baritone a couple of months later), as Geoff said: “with what I consider to possess the maximum edge that I would wish to incorporate into my mouthpieces.”

In 1984 the design of the “Plain” models was changed by using “a slightly lower baffle” and “opening the throat a trifle to give a slightly fuller, darker sound”. This made for a greater difference in sound between the Plain and the B or BB models. The throat modification was also said to help intonation on the soprano.

Lawton Soprano 6 STAR B

Notes

  1. The internal design is similar to the “Plain” Model but with a somewhat higher baffle, straight sidewalls and a smoothed-off bullet chamber of medium size. Throat is slightly narrower than bore and slightly oval.

  2. When the Stainless Steel model was introduced in 1988 this was initially only available in the B model.

Lawton Baritone 5 STAR B (silver plated)