Olds O-99 Mouthpiece Choice

[ParLawGod]

I have an Olds O-99 that I use for quintet playing (I am primarily a trombone/euphonium player, and tuba would be my secondary instrument). I currently have a Helleberg 7B that I'm using (used it for several years on a Conn 20J, then on a King 2341 I was using, but I'm finding it to be too large for that particular horn). I also have a Bach 24AW that I've tried out, but that is on the small side. I plan on getting a couple more mouthpieces to try out in the next couple of weeks - anyone have suggestions as to which mouthpiece sizes generally work well on these 7/8 size tubas? I would appreciate being pointed in the right selection so I can get a few to try out. Thanks!

[Paul Scott]

I've found that a Laskey 30G works fairly well with the Olds 0-99 model.

[Donn]

If the 7B otherwise suits your taste in mouthpieces, Schilke 66 is a similar design that's just a notch narrower. It looks to me like it's the same depth as the 7B, not quite as funnel shaped as the Conn (but you won't find anything else that is either.) I'm not sure if it's a special match for the Olds, but should work fine. When I had one (my first tuba), I used a Conn 2, which I think measures out about the same as the 7B.

[bort]

I used a Bach 18 when I had one.

Then again, a Bach 18 was all I had, and I used that for *everything* for about 8 years (it was fine on the PT-3 I used, too!).

[Dan Schultz]

Most anything works on those...depending on what sort of sound you want...but it's not particularly easy to make those tubas sound different from "the way they sound".

Huh?

[tbn.al]

I too an a tbone doubler using an O-99 for quintet. I played a Yanaha Self for many years to good effect but recently borrowed a blokepiece from a friend(Solo #1 with a 1A rim). I found it really opened up the basement region for me and that is where I needed help. It didn't change the sound but really improved the response and flexibility. I have had my own now(#1 flat rim), and I like this larger rim. My bone chops take care or the upper register for me but the larger rim really helps the low stuff. YMMV.

[iiipopes]

No, it's not much, but sometimes a deeper mouthpiece can help the low register not be so grainy. I'd start with a Conn Helleberg 120S and go from there. The tuba just isn't going to benefit from any larger diameter or cup depth mouthpiece, and a larger throated mouthpiece may cause intonation issues.

[Donn]

If you take the inquiry at face value, and accept that the 7B is already too large, that narrows the field quite a bit. Conn 120 is larger, Laskey 30 is larger, Bach 18 is probably larger? Laskey 28F would be close, maybe smaller?

Are we saying that regardless of what he thinks, he ought to be playing a larger mouthpiece? If so, it might be interesting to discuss the reasoning behind that.

[iiipopes]

If you take the inquiry at face value, and accept that the 7B is already too large, that narrows the field quite a bit. Conn 120 is larger, Laskey 30 is larger, Bach 18 is probably larger? Laskey 28F would be close, maybe smaller?

Are we saying that regardless of what he thinks, he ought to be playing a larger mouthpiece? If so, it might be interesting to discuss the reasoning behind that.

I don't believe the 7B is too large. It is moderate for this horn. The deeper cup of the 120S will help the tone of the low register. Both are only @ 1.27 cup diameter, and that is sufficient. Any shallower, like the Laskey 28F, or a rounded moderate cup like a Bach 18, and it can get grainy in the low register.

My undergrad used to have two of these in the basement, and I've tinkered with them over the years. Unfortunately, they had a spring flood a few years ago, with the particle board (yes, unfortunately) shelving giving way, and they went away in a crash.

[wonderbread403]

Having a Conn 2J for over a decade now, I've used a Tommy Johnson C4-style mouthpiece, several Hellebergs including the 7B, Laskey 28G, Dillon M1C. I've settled on a Blokepiece Symphony with a Helleberg II rim. Deep cup with slight bowl at the bottom with a comfy, but not too cushy 32.6 mm rim.

[opus37]

Based on your usage and thinking you want a slightly smaller mouthpiece, you should consider the Giddings and Webster Bora.