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(I know everyone will have their own opinion on this.) What, in your opinion, is the loudest mouthpiece?

I'm playing a Conn 20K Sousaphone in a band where volume is the top priority.

Right now, I'm using a borrowed Conn #2 mouthpiece, and I like it, but its owner needs it back, so I'm wondering what to purchase instead. Another Conn 2? A Conn-Helleberg 120? Something really special?

Whaddaya think?

schleifdog wrote:(I know everyone will have their own opinion on this.) What, in your opinion, is the loudest mouthpiece?

I'm playing a Conn 20K Sousaphone in a band where volume is the top priority.

Right now, I'm using a borrowed Conn #2 mouthpiece, and I like it, but its owner needs it back, so I'm wondering what to purchase instead. Another Conn 2? A Conn-Helleberg 120? Something really special?

Whaddaya think?

Tuba Exchange had this mouthpiece back around 2000 called an H2 (not like the other ones)


It looked like a Helleberg on the outside and was really really thin walled, and HUGE. It was the biggest, loudest mouthpiece I have EVER SEEN OR PLAYED.


Someone stole it from me, or I'd sell it to you. If you can find one, it is a marching band/drum corps gem.

LOUD LM-12. I can guarantee your band director has never heard anything like it. I used the "blueprint" for this mouthpiece when I marched a 20K with the USC band, and it was pretty unbelievable sounding. As slightly less brutal option might be the LOUD LM-10.

If you try something and don't like it, I do have a return policy.

...Dave

The loudest I've ever played is the G&W Caver. It was a little too blatty for the smallish horn I tried it on, but if I were playing a sousaphone or BAT, it would probably be my choice.

tubashaman wrote:is loud better?

In this instance, it would seem so, according to the OP:

schleifdog wrote:I'm playing a Conn 20K Sousaphone in a band where volume is the top priority.

He may be the only one in the section (been there, done that) ...

Yes, in this case, louder is better!

I have a Dillon F2 for those cases where tone is the priority!

Here's another vote for the LOUD LM12.

i prefer powerful over loud, but i do like my LM-4 i use, it is a lot easier to get a more powerful sound out of it than my other mouthpieces.

now, what exactly do you mean by loud?

you'd probably want a smaller mouthpiece if you want a brighter sound that has a little more edge and cut to it

However, if you want to be loud, a large mouthpiece will also make you dark

so, bright and loud, or dark and loud? on a marching field I would actually want something smaller than my BAT mouthpiece just because it will cut a little more, but thats just me.....

LOUD Mouthpieces(the company) are amazing. I have an LM-7, and I would highly recommend LOUD Mouthpieces.

A lot depends on what your mug can do before the embouchure blows apart. For plain old loudness, I think something with a thick rim that is not too big and gives your luscious lips extra support.

For a nice, deep, ballsy tone (not necessarily the loudest, though), I'd have to vote for the Yamaha Jim Self.

I just ran a test. Wick 2XL is the Master Blaster for me.

I use an MF3 as my 'loud' mouthpiece. It has alot of fundamental to hold down the bass and I add a little bit of blat to help pierce through the rest of the band.

alot of people at my high school use the conn helleberg 120. thats what really gives our section the loud sound we need. but thats just us.

I like the PT-83 for a big mouthpiece, centers nicely

schleifdog wrote:(I know everyone will have their own opinion on this.)

Not me. But I believe if you like how a Conn 2 sounds, you would probably like a Conn 7B. The rim is different, though.

I don't know, maybe everyone means the same thing by "loud", but maybe not. Large shallow mouthpiece (LM 12?) will have a characteristic tonal quality that is easy to hear. If you want the same sound as a Conn 2 but just more of it, then I'd be surprised if the large shallow design is the right direction. Maybe large throat?

while i haven't played a souzy in quite a while, but on my horn i find i honk the loudest on a GW bayamo

This is an issue where you're going to have to play mouthpieces until you find what is best for you and your desired sound. We can't help you much, for there are so many variations in homo sapiens that no two people are guaranteed similar results with a given mouthpiece. Another suggestion - never give up your best tone quality for sheer volume. Once you pass the loudest that you can play with a great tone, the law of diminishing returns closes in quickly.

In the Army, I found that I could move a lot of relatively dark sound down the parade field with a Conn 20K sousaphone and a Tilz M-9 (newer number, PT-88 ) mouthpiece. I did/do have a mouthpiece that is quite a bit larger than that, that will push more dark sound, but it is an antique mouthpiece no longer available, so I can't really recommend it. To most people, my Habolowitz mouthpiece is just an un-playable curiosity, but it works for me.

Any mouthpiece that is pressed up against Warren Deck's face.

Rick "thinking the mouthpiece can only go so far" Denney

djwesp wrote:
Tuba Exchange had this mouthpiece back around 2000 called an H2 (not like the other ones)


It looked like a Helleberg on the outside and was really really thin walled, and HUGE. It was the biggest, loudest mouthpiece I have EVER SEEN OR PLAYED.


Someone stole it from me, or I'd sell it to you. If you can find one, it is a marching band/drum corps gem.

Mirafone used to have a mouthpiece called the H2, although it was not especially big. My mid-70's Mirafone Mouthpiece catalog describes it thusly:

Rim- Medium, well-rounded
Cup Diameter- 1 14/64" (just a hair under 31mm)
Depth of Cup- Medium-deep
An authentic copy of the famous medium-large Helleburg mouthpiece. An all-time favorite of many tubists. Produces a timbre of tone like a large organ.

My old Bach catalog describes the 24AW with the words, "Sonority like that of a grand organ." I'm not sure which is better, large or grand, and I apologize if it takes this tread into the gutter.