TubeNet

Whilst experimenting with my mouthpieces for a particular sound for a particular piece, I recently tried the Kellyberg mouthpiece with my MW Thor. My colleague said he liked the sound this resulted in, so I have decided its time to get a Helleberg mpce for a trial marriage.

A very quick search on the internet reveals Schilke and Conn versions.

What other Helleberg mouthpieces are out there? What are people's opinion of all these various versions? Any pros/cons?

Thanks in advance,


Simon McCauley
MW Thor
Besson 982 (the old work-horse!)

Sidey SSH ! http://www.angus1.com/ssh/index.html" target="_blank

I haven't look at Paul Sidey's webpage in a long time . He's updated it and it looks great !

Then besides an actual Conn Helleberg 120S, there are also the Wick 1L, which had a very broad tone which might compliment the Thor, but it takes a lot of air. Then there is the new Alliance H1, which was developed for the new Bessons and play tested by Jim Gourley and the Grimethorpe band:

http://www.rogerwebster.co.uk/store/ind ... duct_id=36" target="_blank

The Schilke line includes in a Helleberg style not only the Helleberg & Helleberg II model, but the model 67 is also a funnel, which may also be a good compliment to a Thor in that it is very smooth in its response from the middle on up, and very controlled in the lower register.

In addition to the Sidey SSH, the LOUD LM-7 has very precise intonation as well.

And there are a ton more out there. Even PT has a couple of models they advertise as their version of a Helleberg.

I've a Laskey 30H. In my opinion, this is an excellent Helleberg mouthpiece for contrabass tubas. Looks a Schilke SH-II, but with a stronger rim.
Visit http://www.laskey.com/Tuba%20Line.html for more info

tuben wrote:There are literally dozens of "Helleberg" type mouthpieces on the market. The Helleberg term has been taken to mean any funnel or V shaped cup.

And that funnel cup profile has been interpreted liberally. None of my mouthpieces is truly, literally conical, but some are more than others, and some so much less funnel shaped that you have to wonder if the person who wrote the ad copy had ever seen a real Helleberg.

I prefer that shape, and have a dozen or so mouthpieces that claim to be funnel shaped or Helleberg type. Of them, the most unambiguously funnel shaped are the Conn 7B and the Conn 2 (quite similar but with different rims) and the Conn 3. I'm sorry to say I don't have a Conn 120S. If you're interested in funnel shaped mouthpieces, I think it would make a lot of sense to have a Conn 7B or 120S, for perspective if nothing else. I believe the 7B is closer to the dimensions of one of the early production Helleberg models, it's smaller than the 120S.

I'm not sure about the Kellyberg. I'm not crazy wild about mine, but there could be a defect in it and others might be better. The Marcinkiewicz H1 (and H3 & H4) are nice, with a "normal" rim and a throat/backbore that to me feels very open. Since you mention Schilkes, the model named simply "Helleberg" would be one of my last choices for a Helleberg mouthpiece, but the 66 is OK, and the 62 has some merit as a small mouthpiece. I'm sure the Schilke Helleberg is good for someone, I'm not saying it's a bad mouthpiece, but for me it's one of those mouthpieces that were sold to me as Helleberg or funnel shaped but don't look or play like it (others include Denis Wick 2L and GW Diablo.)

I've been playing lately on a Warburton 28D that I really like. It has an extremely deep cup and gives a characteristic "American" sound on my big Conn that's both bright and resonant. It's like what the Rudy Meinl 10 meant to be but didn't quite accomplish.

I still want to try a Stofer Geib, though.

I have an old one that says "Giardinelli New York Helleberg" on it, and it is in three pieces. I've never really played on it much

If you like the Kellyburg, they make a stainless mouthpiece as well... Plus the Canadian brass mouthpieces they sell are copies of older Helleburgs (well, the non-solo one is).

I tried a Faxx Helleburg, and I love it. Plating is good, it's a little heavier than a stock Helleburg since it's made from a Bach-style blank. Really nice mouthpiece! And incredibly inexpensive! My standard mouthpiece now on a couple horns…

J.c.S.

PM me if you would like to try an "as new" SSH at a very reasonable price.

Keith,
Toronto