Conn Helleberg or Shilke Helleberg

[iiipopes]

Well, I seem to be the first one to have voted. I personally don't like the traditional flat Helleberg style rim with the sharp inner bite. It is too uncomfortable for me. But I do like the funnel cup for most applications, so I play a Wick 1, which has the deep funnel cup, but a more Bach-ish rim, on my Besson. I voted Conn/BBbCC because I've been around more of them and they just fit together better with a lot of instruments. I know Schilke supposedly has a "real" Helleberg, i.e. one that August himself actually used, but bear in mind that he had a different mouthpiece made for each of his instruments, and who knows, maybe more than one, and to his personal specs in relationship to the horn. How do we know that the one Schilke acquired, years after the fact, is one of his primary pieces? Or not? Conn was making them much closer to the actual time and place, almost as a contemporary.

Schilke are fine mouthpieces, however. Eventually, I'd like to get a 67 to try, and I use a 50 on my King 3B, as I like a little deeper cup than most trombone mouthpieces.

[LoyalTubist]

I prefer the Conn Helleberg (actually, I use another brand's copy, but it's the same mouthpiece). It's been virtually unchanged for over 100 years. I figure if it worked then, it works now. I wouldn't use it on a smaller tuba. For that I use a Conn H2.

[prototypedenNIS]

Kellyburg

www.kellymouthpieces.com

[Donn]

I prefer the Conn Helleberg (actually, I use another brand's copy, but it's the same mouthpiece). It's been virtually unchanged for over 100 years. I figure if it worked then, it works now.

See pictorial evidence of a change in rim shape between 1977 and 2003. If you keep reading, you might begin to wonder if there are any two identical Conn Hellebergs.

[Jeffrey Hicks]

Giardinelli Helleberg gets my vote.....

[windshieldbug]

Sear-Helleberg

[ParLawGod]

I use (and prefer) a Conn Helleberg on the Yamaha 641 I play.

[hurricane_harry]

R&S heeleburg II heavy wall

VIVA LA RESISTANCE

[iiipopes]

Wick 1: Helleberg style cup with a Bachish rim.

[Steve Inman]

Could the survey actually just be an indication of the price of the mpcs in question?

Hmmm ....

[windshieldbug]

OK, I give up. On WHICH specific horn, with WHAT bore, rotary or piston, silver or lacquer, brass or stainless steel, with WHAT kind of ensemble, playing WHAT kind of music, in WHAT register?

What is the BEST kind of poll?

[tofu]

Well, I seem to be the first one to have voted. I personally don't like the traditional flat Helleberg style rim with the sharp inner bite. It is too uncomfortable for me. But I do like the funnel cup for most applications, so I play a Wick 1, which has the deep funnel cup, but a more Bach-ish rim, on my Besson. I voted Conn/BBbCC because I've been around more of them and they just fit together better with a lot of instruments. I know Schilke supposedly has a "real" Helleberg, i.e. one that August himself actually used, but bear in mind that he had a different mouthpiece made for each of his instruments, and who knows, maybe more than one, and to his personal specs in relationship to the horn. How do we know that the one Schilke acquired, years after the fact, is one of his primary pieces? Or not? Conn was making them much closer to the actual time and place, almost as a contemporary.

Schilke are fine mouthpieces, however. Eventually, I'd like to get a 67 to try, and I use a 50 on my King 3B, as I like a little deeper cup than most trombone mouthpieces.

In case you don't know it the original Schilke 67 was built very similar to the Wick 1 with the deep funnel cup and a bach type rim but has a smooth flare to the cup. I have one of these 67's and alternate between it & the Wick. I prefer the 67 because it has a wider more flexible range on the horn & allows better articulation and really punches out the notes. I use it when playing with German style/sounding horns like Miraphones, MW and Rudy Meinls. The Wick 1 gives a broader and deeper more organ like sound and seems to blend better when I'm playing with a section of American sounding horns.

If you can find one of these old 67's I think you would like it on your Besson - I sure do on my New Standard. I bought mine originally for my Rudy and had Schilke shave it down for the Besson receiver. If your horn takes the larger shanks you won't need to do this. Mine still has the original small receiver on it.

[iiipopes]

Hey, Tofu -- I agree totally with your assessment of the Wick 1. The community band I'm in has two guys with Miraphones and a guy with a VMI stencil, so your assessment definitely piques my curiosity. Thanks for your perspective on the Schilke 67. Do you, or anyone else out there, know where I can find one without having to drop the bucks to get a new one and have the shank turned down for my old Besson receiver?

[tofu]

Hey, Tofu -- I agree totally with your assessment of the Wick 1. The community band I'm in has two guys with Miraphones and a guy with a VMI stencil, so your assessment definitely piques my curiosity. Thanks for your perspective on the Schilke 67. Do you, or anyone else out there, know where I can find one without having to drop the bucks to get a new one and have the shank turned down for my old Besson receiver?

The new ones look like the Conn Helleberg with the thin rim. You'll need to find an old one. Once in a while decent looking old ones show up on flea bay.