Blokepiece vs. MMVI F

[MartyNeilan]

I am looking for something to put a little more zing (or is it zip?) in the sound of my BAF goldbrass 181. I am currently using a Bobo Solo and it is OK, but I think I could find something that works better on that specific horn. I liked the 1st gen G&W F on my small Cerveny, but the Blokepiece fascinates me (but maybe not enough just yet to lay out the $$$ to actually put one in my hands.) Anyone (including the Bloke himself) ever play those two pieces side by side? Any other thoughts? I am staying away from the stock C4 because the backbore is a little too tight for my taste. My other favorite F mouthpiece was the FC Helleberg, but that was on the darker side of F mouthpieces and I am looking to go the other direction. Also, I do prefer the round style rim over the flat/sharp style.

Thanks,
Marty

[joh_tuba]

I don't have much experience with the Bobo Solo or first generation G&W. I've tooted a 181 but not recently enough to have significant memories. My current F tubas are a *really* wonderful PT15 and a PrePT Solo B&S F(smaller initial bore than the PrePT Symphonie model but same bore at the 4th valve as ALL B&S Fs). I have sitting in front of me: Blokepiece, PT65, MMVI F, and Laskey models 28C, 28F, and 30C.

I used the PT65 for about a decade. I never ever switch mouthpieces without feeling a truly serious need. The last year has been a journey. Hence the large collection. I hope to thin the herd soon. I've ultimately settled on the Laskey 30C. It is flat out perfect for me and fits the objective that you claim you are looking for in a new mouthpiece. Honestly, what you are seeking is what I was seeking as well. I wanted more clarity without having to play heavy to achieve it and I wasn't willing to give up a characteristic(zippy?) sound. An F tuba that sounds like a small CC is just plain silly in my mind.

Like you I wasn't so sure about a smaller backbore or sharp rim. The Laskeys are a rough road to hoe on both counts if you aren't used to it. I had tooted Laskey designs many times over the years and it never quite did it for me. BUT, I gave a 28C a run for about a year off and on and really came to terms with it. It's a distinctly different approach but unlike many F tuba mouthpieces it treats an F tuba as it's own instrument rahter than as a small CC. Ultimately the 30C has turned out to be the better fit for most of what I do.

Along the way I tried out the others listed above. The MMVI is very bright and clear but the sound lacked depth for me. It favors the low end a smidge but is *fairly* balanced. I can appreciate why it works for those that like it without quite wanting that for myself.

The Blokepiece is interesting. I think it works equally well on a CC if you want a tight focused clear but still weighty sound. On F, I think if you were wanting a piece that allowed you to do *everything* on just F tuba that it would be a great fit. I would be inclined to think of it as a small CC mouthpiece or an F mouthpiece designed to make a rotor F play a bit more like a CC in terms of blow while keeping many of the positive attributes of an F tuba. It does have the rounder rim and larger backbore that you claim to want. It is pleasingly clean clear and focused. The bottom end is notably weighty and has a nice pop to it but the high end works perfectly well. I would imagine that if i were Bloke and had played this piece for years on end it would very likely feel like an extension of my thoughts. At one point Bloke made a comment that this piece does not provide any 'resonance' it was up to the player to provide that. I think the piece is perfectly resonant, what it lacks is an energetic sound. There isn't much 'zip/ring/depth/character' naturally present. Again, in my mind it's really more of a small CC mouthpiece in terms of the blow and the sound that it leans toward.. you are giving up that zip. That said, if you want that, it's perfectly easy to add that just by giving it a bit of thought. This is in contrast to the MMVI which I felt put me more in a box in terms of the sound I was able to produce. The fact is though, the 30C final product is still better with less effort.

Conlusion:
1) MMVI will definitely give you brightness but I think it lacks depth and character.
2) Blokepiece fits what you say you want and will likely feel great out of the box and put you in the direction that you are wanting without making you feel boxed in. Very plug and play.
3) Try out the Laskey 30C, play it for several months and thank me later.

Parting Thought:
I've read enough opinions on here that I don't even remotely agree with that I personally wouldn't give much weight to anyone's opinion unless I personally knew them and could interpret that opinion within the light of knowing and understanding their playing. For me, I had to just bite the bullet and play them myself. The only observations that ring true are my own. I gave you a back story on my equipment journey to help with that. I hope you find what you are looking for.

Second Parting Thought:
Stainless steel sounds cool but I don't care for it at all. Give me just plain ol' silver. I can't feel the difference between gold and silver but stainless feels all wrong. Also, when is that last time a mouthpiece truly WORE out? really? That's the only argument for stainless that I think holds any water but I'm not convinced it's a truly serious concern.

Good luck!

[MartyNeilan]

I am now about halfway to my desired result. I removed the large leadpipe and plugged the smaller leadpipe back into that BAF, and there is now a lot more "punch" to the sound. It is up to me to add the rest of the punch to achieve the desired result.

[MartyNeilan]

Desoldering about a quarter pound of unnecessary (to me, right now) tuning attachments seemed to let the horn resonate better and got rid of numerous buzzes and sympathetic vibrations. I think I am where I need to be hardware wise, it is up to the player to add the rest.