TubeNet

The only sure-fire way I know to find a good mouthpiece is to try a bunch yourself. Everyone's face is different.

tubaplaya76 wrote:Thanks for both of the replies but it seems that my biggest problem is that I don't have anywhere to test out the new mouthpieces (unless I drove a couple of hundred miles, you know?)

I'm with you, I'm not going to drive even 20 miles to try a mouthpiece - hate driving, and anyway I don't really have a lot of confidence in my first impressions.

A couple months back, one Joe Doodeward's estate sale included online auction of over a hundred tuba mouthpieces. Personally, that auction it changed my world. Not that I bought any of those mouthpieces, but it struck me that life is not too short to get all the mouthpieces you want, and then some. I was hoping to make up for lost time at a rate of 1 mouthpiece per month, but have slipped a little lately. But even if you just ask for mouthpieces for Christmas and birthday presents, 20 years of that could put you over the 100 mark with a little luck.

Don't pay too much attention to the Eb/F thing, it's a simplification.

tubaplaya76 wrote:Thanks for both of the replies but it seems that my biggest problem is that I don't have anywhere to test out the new mouthpieces (unless I drove a couple of hundred miles, you know?)

There are no tuba players in the Ithaca, NY area?

I'll often talk to another local tuba player and find out that s/he's trying to find a better mouthpiece and I'll lend a couple of them out for trial. Networking is what the world's about and that doesn't necessarily mean the type that travels down wires.

As is usual, if someone lends you a mouthpiece, return it when agreed upon, clean and in as good or better condition than when you received it.

Hey,
Helleberg 7b is a good starting place for a high school tuba player for high range stuff. I still have mine and use it on occasion. BUT, I would say to try out as many as you can with a local. I bet there is some local pro whenever you are and they would be more than happy to help out a young tuba player (we've all been there).
Good luck,
Bill

Everyone's face / lips are different -- previously noted. Personally, I don't find a huge improvement in high register playing with a smaller mouthpiece unless it is much smaller. And then, due to the smaller mpc volume and the reduced amount of my lips that "fit" into the mpc (and can therefore add to the buzzing) I seem to end up with a smaller sound.

My suggestion is to avoid the "HUGE" mpcs (say 33.5mm) and avoid the "BIG" mpcs (say 33mm) and try something "standard" -- say between 32 and 33mm, for your first attempt. This could be a Conn Helleberg, a Helleberg 7B, a Bach 18, Bach 12, Wick 1L, Wick 2L, etc.

As an adult amateur player, the highest written note I have in any of my quintet music is the Eb above middle C, which is a little easier with my Eb tuba than my CC -- for me. But more importantly, it sounds better on the Eb tuba in that range. If you can comfortably get up to around middle C on your BBb tuba, I would spend more time on accuracy, intonation, dexterity (lip slurs, tonguing) and other general playing skills than on upper register range anyway. Also, work on the low register and see if your upper register doesn't "magically" improve.

Cheers,

tubaplaya76 wrote: It also seems that the Hellebergs are getting some good praise. Are there any other differences other than the 1mm diameter difference?

And lastly, who said I'm from Ithaca? Nice place and all, but good 'ole Georgia is where I reside. Specifically, Norcorss, which is near Atlanta.

Sorry, Sam I read the location from the wrong post. But being near Atlanta, there should be a whole mess of tuba-playin' folks out there to help you. C'mon, guys!

It'd be a lot harder if you lived, say, in Rome--Oregon.

The Conn Helleberg is a decent enough mouthpiece, although it's not for everyone. The old "it comes with the tuba" mouthpieces used to be the Bach 18 or 24AW.

But try a bunch. My favorite on a BBb is a Tilz M0, which is just about right for me, but probably too big for other folks.