Goldilocks mouthpiece
Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2024 8:26 am
After playing euphonium in our local community band for a couple of decades, I started doubling euphonium/tuba to fill a need in the band. I bought a Mack Brass TU210 rotary valve 4/4 tuba (I didn't want to invest a king's ransom in a tuba since I'm retired and I wasn't certain I would be able to make the switch--really nice horn, by the way).
I've been trying mouthpieces that would work with this horn. Last night at practice I was trying out a Conn Helleberg 120. I liked the range and how it sounded, but my articulation was sloppy. The player who sits next to me told me that the funnel-shaped Helleberg doesn't work as well with a rotary tuba and that I should look in the direction of a bowl-shaped mouthpiece. I've also been trying out a Schilke 69C4, which is bowl-shaped. The articulation is better with this mouthpiece, but anything below a Bb is hard to reach.
So I'm open to suggestions for the Goldilocks mouthpiece: the range and depth of the Helleberg and the improved articulation of the Schilke. Any thoughts?
Thanks, David
I've been trying mouthpieces that would work with this horn. Last night at practice I was trying out a Conn Helleberg 120. I liked the range and how it sounded, but my articulation was sloppy. The player who sits next to me told me that the funnel-shaped Helleberg doesn't work as well with a rotary tuba and that I should look in the direction of a bowl-shaped mouthpiece. I've also been trying out a Schilke 69C4, which is bowl-shaped. The articulation is better with this mouthpiece, but anything below a Bb is hard to reach.
So I'm open to suggestions for the Goldilocks mouthpiece: the range and depth of the Helleberg and the improved articulation of the Schilke. Any thoughts?
Thanks, David