Mouthpiece for King 2340?

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:18 pm

Hi:

I just picked up a King 2340 in reasonable condition with cases and recording bell for $430 on eBay. It looked like a "deal I couldn't refuse" (you know how it is) and I have a friend I'd like to get going on the tuba again. Would be nice to have a 'duet buddy' who played as well as I do or maybe a little better. The horn looks pretty good- the bell has some wowies in it and the body has a bump in the bottom bow but no major bashes... I'll see what it is like when it gets here.

I'm going to need a mouthpiece for it. I've been using a Conn Helleberg with my King 1140 which has a fairly small bore. The 2340 has a larger bore. Would the Helleberg be a good match or should I give something else a try?

I'm not sure I'm developed well enough to be able to tell much of a difference. I like the sound I've been able to get so far with the Helleberg and the 1140- my teacher praises my tone and intonation. My first thought would be to plug the Helleberg into the 2340 and call 'er good- I can only play one horn at a time. But it would be nice to have a mouthpiece for each horn.

Can anyone support something other than another Helleberg for this larger bore horn?

Jeff

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:39 pm

Unless a horn and a mouthpiece don't get along for some reason, my experience has been to use the mouthpiece that works best with my face and gets the closest to the sound I want. If it works with my face, then it will probably work with whatever horn I use.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:55 pm

Your Conn should do just fine with your new King.

trseaman · Post by **trseaman** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:13 am

Another horn huh??? Sounds like your hooked for good!!! I've got a Helleburg and a Mike Finn 3 and both work just fine in my 2341 but personally I prefer the MF3... Like was said before, what works for you is what is key. Just have fun right???

Tim

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:28 am

In my opinion, the MF3H is very similar to the Conn Helleberg--only better.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:08 am

Unless there is something in particular about your Conn Helleberg that you don't like which would cause you to go on a mouthpiece safari, it should sound fine on your King, and will probably sound better than most others.

pulseczar · Post by **pulseczar** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:59 am

trseaman wrote:Another horn huh??? Sounds like your hooked for good!!! I've got a Helleburg and a Mike Finn 3 and both work just fine in my 2341 but personally I prefer the MF3... Like was said before, what works for you is what is key. Just have fun right???

Tim

I'd caution about getting the MF3. It's a huge toilet bowl mouthpiece and the rim's extremely round. When I switched from the Helleberg to MF3, my mouth sorta went into shock because of the contrast between rim contours. I haven't tried the MF3-H so I can't say much about that.

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:13 pm

I guess it's settled:

A Helleberg and more practice time!

I guess I'll worry about core centeredness and toilet bowls when I actually can remember all the fingerings.

Thanks all.

trseaman · Post by **trseaman** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:04 am

I was searching for an old thread (always fun in this board!) and stumbled across this one again... I was incorrect in my recommendation because I actually have an MF2 which is smaller and more appropriate for my King... Sorry for misleading anyone! Tim

pulseczar wrote:
trseaman wrote:Another horn huh??? Sounds like your hooked for good!!! I've got a Helleburg and a Mike Finn 3 and both work just fine in my 2341 but personally I prefer the MF3... Like was said before, what works for you is what is key. Just have fun right???

Tim
I'd caution about getting the MF3. It's a huge toilet bowl mouthpiece and the rim's extremely round. When I switched from the Helleberg to MF3, my mouth sorta went into shock because of the contrast between rim contours. I haven't tried the MF3-H so I can't say much about that.

WakinAZ · Post by **WakinAZ** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:02 pm

My $0.02 a little too late:
I tried my various Bachs (18, 7, 12) on my 2340 and liked the warm, American sound, but the articulation sounded muddy to me. I would put in "Toh-toh-toh", and out would come "Wub-bub-bub". I have always strived to have good articulation, so I tried a mouthpiece I have tried and later gave up on several times in the past: the ubiquitous Conn Helleberg.

It was like someone (me?) flipped a switch. Everything started sounding like I wanted it to - clean, round, good compromise between dark and bright. It's a good thing nobody bit when I've casually offered this mp for sale in various threads. I now have a used Curry 130 DH on the way courtesy of a fellow TubeNetter to see how that goes. I guess you never know from horn to horn what mouthpiece will be just right.

Eric "accidentally following his own advice that Bachs and Conn Hellebergs are always good starting points" L.

Jeffrey Hicks · Post by **Jeffrey Hicks** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:35 pm

My personal preference on the King 2340 is the King 26. This is a rare mouthpiece these days. However if you talk to Mike Finn you would find out that the MF1 is very close to being one. YMMV