Paul Stephens - Lead

I recently purchased and used the Paul Stephens Lead mouthpiece from Stork during a church service, and I have to say—it did not disappoint. Right off the bat, the flat rim caught my attention and felt very comfortable. While it gives the impression of a wider diameter (likely because of the rim shape), it actually adds to the overall comfort without sacrificing control. The inner rim has a gentle bite, which really supports clean articulation. That’s not always a given with flat rims based on my experience, so I was pleasantly surprised. As I moved into higher registers (D, E, F, G, A above the staff—2-4 ledger lines) especially with some modern worship music and modern Christian Christmas tunes—the mouthpiece felt extremely responsive. No lag, no extra effort to get notes to speak, notes slotted easily. The sound leans on the bright side which is exactly what I want in a lead mouthpiece. My sound cuts through the mix in a live setting beautifully. One thing to note is the smaller-than-usual throat. When I first started using it at home, I realized immediately that I needed to back off and let the mouthpiece do most of the work. It did require a bit more focused air and less to really let the air flow freely, but once I adjusted to that, the efficiency became clear. It’s designed to maximize output without wasting energy, which is key in lead playing. Overall, I think Stork and Paul Stephens really nailed it. This mouthpiece is a well-thought-out, efficient tool for lead players. If you're looking for something that offers clarity, brightness, and ease in the upper register without compromising articulation, this is definitely worth a try. Hope this review helps!