Yamaha Jim Self and Roger Bobo MPC question.

[smurphius]

Greetings fellow tubists. I was just wondering if anyone could tell me roughly what the Yamaha Jim Self MPC and the Yamaha Roger Bobo MPC would compare to in size. While I'm at it, what about the Yamaha Canadian Brass replica MPC? I'm curious to see what these mouthpieces are like. Thanks!!

[Paul S]

Greetings fellow tubists. I was just wondering if anyone could tell me roughly what the Yamaha Jim Self MPC and the Yamaha Roger Bobo MPC would compare to in size. While I'm at it, what about the Yamaha Canadian Brass replica MPC? I'm curious to see what these mouthpieces are like. Thanks!!

I have all three of these and they each give a different sound to my Yamaha Fs.

Specs
Jim Self 32.86 inner Diam 8.00mm throat
BoBo solo 32.2 inner Diam 7.5mm throat
CB replica 32.28 inner diam 8.55mm throat

All three would feel a bit smaller than a Conn Helleberg or PT-50 rim and a tad bigger than a PT65 or PT64 and with more open throats than those two. The Self is bigger and feels even more so due to more rim cushion. The CB has the least mass (almost a light weight feel) and the Self has the most but I would still call it average and not a heavy weight.

The Bobo is a bowl, the CB is a funnel and the Self seems more funnel but with some bowl to it. True to the bigger throat, the CB offers less restriction than the other two.

The rim is flat and thin on the CB, a bit more rounded and thicker on the Bobo and even more rounded and thicker on the Self.

For me, the CB makes my little Yamaha F sound more like a CC but I really like it the best of the three. It allows me the easiest low register and the most confidence of centering. I also feel confident on the Bobo but it makes me work slightly more when heading down past the C below the staff. It has a truer F sound in the upper range and feels "mellower" in my mind. The Self seems to be better on a bigger F and as an all around mouthpiece but the thicker rim has been its drawback for me.

These are just my thoughts and I am starting to prefer the Mike Finn 4 (brighter, easier projected F sound) and the Giddings & Webster Bora (very mellow F sound) as heavy weight alternatives.

[tubacdk]

The Bobo Symphonic is very close to the old Miraphone C4 mpcs. I think the rim might be a little different on the inner bite, but I'm not exactly sure. I sold my Bobo Symphonic in favor of my C4, though I remember them being very similar. The Self, if I remember correctly, was created by Norm Pearson by combining the the cup & throat of a Miraphone C3 with the rim of a C4. I like the Self as an all around CC tuba mouthpiece, and I also liked it on the Yamaha 822 F I used to own, as it made it sound like a small CC. It's the mpc I use on my RM-43 for all-around type playing.

I think the Self & Bobo Sym mpcs are very complimentary, with the Bobo being more of a bass tuba mpc and the Self more of a contrabass.

-ck