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I really like the focus and sound (in general) that my Conn Helleburg brings to my 983 Eb, but I find it to be not as efficient as I would like. My main issue is that the pressure difference between open notes, and notes with a couple valves down, I don't know how else to describe it. I played a 1291 CC (totally different from my 983 Eb) a while back and there was very little difference in the pressure between open notes, and notes with a couple valves (while using a Conn Helleburg mpc).

I've been fishing around on this issue for years, but just couldn't put my finger on it until now.

I do like the 'funnel' cup mpc's as opposed to the 'bowl' ones, mostly because of the focus. The bowl cups are a bit brighter and respond a bit quicker, but I can't find one that gets a good focused sound on my 983 Eb (to me).

Has anyone happened upon this? I know using the any/all valves is going to make the horn feel a bit/a lot stuffier than no valves (duh), but anybody have any reccomendations on mpc's that might 'slightly diminish' how the pressure changes?

I do realize the Conn Helleburg is usually considered a CC/BBb mpc, but I really like the sound, as well as the rim and inside diameter, but the pressure changes are much too noticable (to the player- me ), and would like opinions about any other mpc's you might be using...

Like Greg, and I'm sure you as well Jon, I've tried way too many mp's and continue to try more as I get my hands on them I don't believe either of these are funnel but I offer my opinions for whatever they are worth. I had a Conn Helleberg when I first got my 983 and it just didn't work at all. No clarity of sound and very out of tune. I settled on a Monette 95 that I purchased for pennies on the dollar from a buddy of mine that has worked very well for me. I recenlty purchased a LOUD LM-12 to try out for BBb playing and threw it in the 983 for grins & giggles. To my surprise it worked very well for me. It has a larger diameter than the Monette but has a very shallow cup depth that helps me to make to notes speak more clearly. It has also given me a brighter sound compared to the Monette that I like on some pieces.

I don't claim to know anything but these two work well for me.

Greg wrote: Wow! That's the first time I've read the description of the LM12. I want to try one in my THORbut not in public.

I bought it with that description in mind figuring that I'd wind up in the marching or pep bands at some point during my graduate studies so I figured it'd be a good one to try out in a school sousaphone Little did I know what I was getting when I ordered it. Like I said above, it works very well for me in the 983

jon112780 wrote: Has anyone happened upon this? I know using the any/all valves is going to make the horn feel a bit/a lot stuffier than no valves (duh), but anybody have any recommendations on mpc's that might 'slightly diminish' how the pressure changes?

The temptation here is to write this off as a breath support problem or something of that nature, but you clearly associate it with the Conn Helleberg, which implies it's better in your experience with one or more other mouthpieces? You might compare throat sizes, between the Conn and the ones that work better for you. Throat and backbore of a mouthpiece could have a lot to do with how well it matches a particular tuba.

If you'd like to try a smaller version of the same thing, Conn makes a 7B with similar rim and cup shape, but a little smaller and shallower, and it's pretty easy to find.