Continental Tuba - shank?

[Biggs]

I recently purchased an old Continental Colonial Eb tuba. The instrument is an old clunker, but everything works fine and, most importantly, sound comes out the bell.

However, I found that my Helleberg and PT-83 mouthpieces do not fit the receiver very well. They stick far out of the instrument, causing it to play a half step lower (i.e. D as the open note). I knew that euphoniums suffered from confusion caused by multiple shank sizes, but this is the first time I have come across a tuba that required a smaller-shank mouthpiece. Is this commonplace?

Most importantly, what mouthpiece would be best for this situation? I plan on trying a few common "American" mouthpieces with the tuba.

Also, I apologize for thinking D-Eb was a whole step. Apparently music theory only applies during the school year.

[XtremeEuph]

I can't quite answer your question but D is only a half step lower BTW

[Chuck(G)]

I think you've got two (and maybe three or four) things going on.

First off, I'll bet that this instrument was made before WWII. Things were a little spotty as far as tuning goes back then, but standard pitch was generally A4=435 for low pitch instruments--not our modern A4=440. So, okay, there's 20 cents worth of tuning right there. Unfortunately, if this is the big problem, the only way to fix it is to shorten the horn a bit. Best professionally done.

Second, your leadpipe takes the old American small shank mouthpiece (roughly the same size as a modern bass trombone shank). You can find them in collections, on ePay, in technician's hellboxes. You can also order a stock Denis Wick tuba mouthpiece (say a DW2 or DW3) without the "L" suffix on the size number and that will fit fine. Other makers, such as Schilke, will allow you to special-order a small-shank tuba mouthpiece, but don't count on speedy delivery. Generally, the manufacturers tend to get around to these special orders when they get around to them.

Third, most old Eb mouthpieces were pretty darned shallow, so an "heirloom" mouthpiece may help quite a bit, as opposed to a deeper modern one.

...now for the weasel words:

You may also have leaky valves or other leaks in the horn that need professional attention. It's probably best to exhaust the mouthpiece issues yourself, then take the horn to a good brass tech for the rest.

[imperialbari]

The Denis Wick "NON-L" series would have the potentials to fit your instrument.

Perantucci and other makers also can supply small shank mouthpieces. Be very exact in taking measurements before ordering.

I am all into older instruments and instruments with non-standard (as of today) receivers. I never happened to meet a tuba, which was taken down even a semitone by a too large mpc-shank. Your instrument may also be of the lower pitch standard used in some contexts after WWI (A = circa 435).

When it comes to turning older instruments into players, one always has to assess, whether they are worth the combined costs of specialty moutpieces and of repairs or modifications.

I found the brand name slightly funny and suspected it being some stencil out of Kraslice. However I have photos of a Continental Colonial BBb sousa in my galleries:

Thumbnails of a Continental Colonial BBb sousaphone 3P:
http://launch.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group ... rowse/810a

Group to be joined via
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Yo ... cPhotos35/

I still think it is a stencil, but it certainly is US made, possibly by Conn.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

[iiipopes]

Yeah, what these guys said. I have a Wick 1 and a Wick 2 for my Besson, which has the same small shank, and I'm considering getting a Wick 3 myself for an ancient stencil Eb I'm borrowing.

Perantucci makes the small shank to order, put an "S" after the model number, and most other boutique makers will shave a shank down for you; it just depends on how much money you want to spend.

Regarding a shallow cup, Denis Wick (yes, that's with one "N" in Denis) also makes a 3S, which is the 3 diameter with a shallow cup. If your local store can't get it, his website is http://www.deniswick.com