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I have a VERY old NY Bach 7 tuba mouthpiece, also stamped "BBb". It's wildly different from a modern 7, or even any other NY 7 mouthpieces I've tried. It ALWAYS works well, but not necessarily the best on every tuba. But it seams to be working beautifully on my Kalison. The rim is thiner and more rounded. The cup is shallower and more cup shaped.

But it's in rough shape, and filing every flaw out of it would be nearly impossible. Anyone know who can copy this thing? Cost is a factor; I am buying this tuba too. Besides, I have and Alexander Mouthpiece, marked #78 that the factory swears it never made, and it's pretty terribly hurt too, and it's the ONLY thing that fits my Alex 164 even remotely or plays well in it.

Thanks for any help you can offer...

J.c.S. (whose 164 has a receiver too big for Doug Elliott's largest shank!)

Have you thought about having them restored? I sent Lee Stofer an absolutely just totally rough Giardinelli Helleburg and he did some serious magic with it. Unfortunately it was stolen out of my car not too long after I got it back. It was maybe a hundred bucks to have it done and it was even gold plated.

If I were you, I'd have the mouthpiece copied first so you have one or two that you're happy with, then have the original restored if you want to.

There's going to be metal removed or pits filled when you have a mouthpiece restored, so it could change a little.

Hope this helps,

Christian

I have, somewhere, an adaptor made for the big Alex shank to receive a "normal" shank, probably a Bach 18 at that time.

If I can dig it out, do you (or anyone else?) want it? A couple $$ for shipping is all I'd ask. I know it fit my undergrad school's Alex just fine, no memory of what model, but it's the large shank from the early 70s era. That adapter has worked in several other Alex's that I've played through the years, too.

Give Dave Houser a look. He has a CNC lathes and should be able to copy most anything.

http://www.housermouthpiece.net/" target="_blank" target="_blank

kurt hammond does terrific work. shoot him an email. here's his site:

http://www.karlhammonddesign.com/" target="_blank

good luck

-CT