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Hi all,
recently, I've a Yamaha YBB 641, a BBb tuba but haven't decide on which mouthpiece is able to fits to the tuba. The desired sound would be a big broad sounding with clear articulations.
Suggestions?

I'm looking into Perantucci's German Bowl mouthpiece, the PT66, 68, 70, 72, 80 and 82, or Helleberg.

I've found that the PT88 works really well on these tubas. The helleberg also works rather well. Really, it's up to you.

Hi tubadood5150,
thanks a lot for the reply and recommendation.
I'll take that into considerations.

Many thanks!

I've a YBB-641 and I'm using the Laskey 30H. This is a Helleberg mpc... on this horn works better the Euro shank version. IMHO is a good mouthpiece: "big broad sounding with clear articulations"!

I use a Conn Helleberg, and I find that that is a good match

Hi guys,
Thanks for replying.

Davy,
my sentiments to the Helleberg. i, too finds it matches well with the horn. Big organ like tone and clear articulations.

Pozzie,
can i know more about the IMHO?

How about the German bowl Perantucci? Does they fits the horn as well?

I believe IMHO is just an acronym for "in my honest opinion".

Joseph

I second the vote on the Helleberg mouthpieces as well.

Oh, alright...
hahaha.

Thanks Joseph

Well, these horns are based off of a German design. I use a PT88 because it provides a huge, thick, German sound. I use a helleberg on things like Sousa marches. The sharper rim provides for clearer articulations. The PT88 has a rather round rim and is very deep. It gives a very dark tone. I don't know much about the other PT mouthpieces but I've had the most success on these horns with a PT88. I'm allergic to brass so I use a LOUD LM4 which is essentially a stainless steel PT88. IMHO (in my humble opinion) if you are comfortable enough with one mouthpiece, you should be able to do just fine with whatever you are using. Oh, I almost forgot. The Bach 18 mouthpiece works AMAZINGLY well with this horn. I have no idea why. On every tuba other than this I've tried, the mouthpiece just didn't work. But with this tuba, the bach 18 is DEFINITELY a keeper. Happy Playing!

Rich "just uses what is comfortable" Carlton

I used a Miraphone TU-33 on mine. I also tried a MF3B. I was trying to find a used PT-88 to try, but never found the right deal. I generally do not like the way a Helleberg sounds on a German style rotary horn; I find the bowl mouthpieces give some needed color.

Eric "whose dream horn is a Rudy 5/4 BBb" L.

So it shall be for German bowl types?
Which can it fit for an big orchestral sound?

The reason a Bach 18 works so well on this horn is because it is basically a cupped mouthpiece more like the "German" PT series rather than the more funnel "Helleberg" type mouthpiece.

But if you're going to try an 18-style mouthpiece, use a Blessing instead, "The best 18 Bach never made," or possibly a Faxx, which both are made more akin to the Mt Vernon 18's rather than current production.

Another mouthpiece to try is the PT82, which is kind of a hybrid between a bowl and an funnel, and works really well on large-throated instruments like a B&S PT605 (GR51 in Europe) and "grand" or "jumbo" souzys like the 38K. For me the PT82 is smoother and more consistent from register to register than the Bach or Bach clones are.

Say, Davy and zbag,

Which Conn Helleberg do you use, the large one, or the 7B version?

Thanks,
David

large (120)

Could someone please explain the differences between Hellebergs? I know that they were designed by August Helleberg back in the day, and whenever he got a new horn, he would make a new piece for it. Does anyone know what mpc's he designed for what individual/type of horns?
Also, what is the difference between these mouthpieces? I have about 4, and they all feel really different; a "Conn-Helleberg 7B" (the engraving on it), a "Helleberg 7B" (made by Conn, but doesn'tsay conn on it), a Kellyberg, and a Schilke Helleberg 2 (that I found in a brown paper bag in the tuba room..go me). Is there really a difference between these, or is my mind making it up? I mean, I've always heard that no two mouthpieces are identical, but...yeah. Even between the two Conns, the one that doesn't say Conn on it feels bigger

I realize I am boring... but I really like the mouthpiece that comes with the horn. The Yamaha 67c4. Its not fancy, but works well.

After three months of alternating between Conn-Helleberg 7B and the larger Helleberg 120 I find myself spending more time on the 7B. For me, both Hellebergs work much better than Bach 12, Bach 18, Yamaha 67C4.

Does anyone here use one of the Giddings and Webster mouthpieces on the YBB-641?
The Stofer-Geib?
Others?

Tuba Guy wrote:Could someone please explain the differences between Hellebergs? I know that they were designed by August Helleberg back in the day, and whenever he got a new horn, he would make a new piece for it. Does anyone know what mpc's he designed for what individual/type of horns?
Also, what is the difference between these mouthpieces? I have about 4, and they all feel really different; a "Conn-Helleberg 7B" (the engraving on it), a "Helleberg 7B" (made by Conn, but doesn'tsay conn on it), a Kellyberg, and a Schilke Helleberg 2 (that I found in a brown paper bag in the tuba room..go me). Is there really a difference between these, or is my mind making it up? I mean, I've always heard that no two mouthpieces are identical, but...yeah. Even between the two Conns, the one that doesn't say Conn on it feels bigger

The 7B has a shallower cup. The 120S, Kellyberg and Schilke H & HII all have similar deeper funnel cups. Due to manufacturing differences between companies and through the years, there may or may not be any rim differences. The Schilke claims to be based on an "actual" mouthpiece that August Helleberg played. But -- on what instrument, in what ensemble, and for what repertoire? And was it a primary mouthpiece, or a spare?

August Helleberg had his mouthpieces made in a more intuitive fashion, to get the tone he wanted out of the instrument at hand for a particular application. Don't take these reports about "having a mouthpiece made for each horn" at face value. We don't know if he took others along and asked a mouthpiece maker to "try this...," and we don't know how many of them were discarded in the trash or melting pot as being unsuitable after being made, and how many may have been even further modified later. And since there has always been variation as to shank and receiver size, even today with at least four common receivers, small old Eefer & British, "Standard" "American" .520, "European" slightly larger, and old Alexander, and then even within these main varieties different mouthpiece makers make variations to get different gaps, and the list of variables approaches infinity.... It is even conceivable that he had to have a different mouthpiece made just so it would fit the receiver of the particular instrument at hand, if for no other reason.

I don't pretend to be anything but an amateur hack, but even I can tell the difference between how different mouthpieces play on different horns. My advantage is the market is so huge and there are so many makers and models now that once I decided on a primary cup diameter and general rim profile, I was able to match a mouthpiece or two to each of my instruments for its particular application or applications also, with some good advice here and there from the guys who know their stuff and do it for a living. Most players do that now, they just don't call it that. We all now call it a "mouthpiece safari." If August Helleberg were alive today, I'm sure he would do about the same thing, but be able to do it more readily out of the various manufacturer's stock offerings rather than have each one turned on the lathe to order.