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I understand that new Conn Hellebergs have more rounded rims than they used to in the 1970s. Is that correct?

I would like one with a really flat and sharp rim. I'd like something smaller to compliment my larger SSH.

If the new Conn Hellebergs have more rounded rims now, there are two Conn Helleberg copies available from the Brasswind, the Faxx and Jet Tone R&S. Do either of these have a really flat and sharp rim?

Faxx Helleberg
http://www.wwbw.com/Faxx-Tuba-and-Sousa ... 3701.music

Jet Tone R&S JETUH Helleberg
http://www.wwbw.com/Jet-Tone-R-S-Tuba-M ... 3160.music

The Faxx is pretty flat with a sharp bite. Buy mine and see for yourself (shameless plug).

viewtopic.php?t=23221

Have you tried the Yamaha Canadian Brass/Chuck Daellenbach mouthpiece?

My two year old Conn compares favorably with my recently acquired (used) SSH: sharpness and flatness of rim seems about the same. I think the sourcing of the UMI Conns might have changed in the last few years. I also like my Curry 130DH.

If you want a truly flat rimmed Helliberg, you need to contact the folks at Gemstone Music. The new Helleberg copy they are including with their Meist Walter Nirschl tuba is what you want. I just got one of the first ones, it had amazing response.

The diameter is suppossed to be 32mm, fwiw.

I can put in a good word for the yamaha/canadian brass arnold jacobs hellerberg copy, I'm using the solo model on my F tuba, and then I have the Floyd cooley hellerberg copy on my C, both which have a more standard Hellerberg rim.

Mike Finn also has a model with a flat rim.

I believe you can get a flat rim for certain LOUD mouthpieces also.

And any custom maker will make one for you, for a price.

More sensibly, Matt and Vladimir at Dillon's can take a standard mouthpiece and recontour the rim and replate it for you for a really reasonable price and reasonably quick turnaround. Vladimir recontoured a rim for me that was too wide to be more like an 18 rim, which I find comfortable, on my Curry, and it is a perfect custom tailored fit.

Seriously, if you find a mouthpiece that you like otherwise as far as diameter, cup geometry, throat and backbore, tone and intonation, you might consider this as an option, as it is very, very reasonable, and will probably give you better results otherwise than trying to adapt to a whole 'nutha mouthpiece.

The Kellyberg and some sand paper will get you a Helenberg with about as flat a rim as you want. I've done some sanding on the Kelly 18.