TubeNet

Perantucci PT-88
Perantucci PT-50
Perantuci PT-44
Laskey 30H

Giddings and Webster Bayamo for large tubas and Bora for F tubas. The stainless steel innovation should not be overlooked. They are fantastic. My Mirafone, Marcienkowitz, and Schilke Helleberg II have all found a nice place on the shelf next to my accordian.

is the Giddings and Webster worth the cash?

If I needed a mouthpiece, I'd select one of the following:

• * Richard "Racehorse" Haynes
  * Barry Scheck
  * Vincent Bugliosi
  * David Boies

Wick 1L

Go with the universal standards:

Bach 18
Conn Helleberg
King 26
Laskey 30H

I only put the Laskey in there because his is a modified Schilke Helleberg type mouthpiece and it is very different from the Conn version. You should be able to acquire all four mouthpieces for around your $250.00 budget though the Laskey will constitute almost half of that.

G & W are well worth the price. I would have paid $250 each for those terrific blowers.

Jay Bertolet wrote:Go with the universal standards:

Bach 18
Conn Helleberg
King 26
Laskey 30H

I only put the Laskey in there because his is a modified Schilke Helleberg type mouthpiece and it is very different from the Conn version. You should be able to acquire all four mouthpieces for around your $250.00 budget though the Laskey will constitute almost half of that.

I would second this recommendation. I would possibly suggest sustituting the Marc H1 for the Conn Helleberg, since the Marc. have a little friendlier rim.

The other thing you could do is ask what WW&BW sells (or any other tuba warehouse) the most of. They could probably help you put together a "Greatest Hits" list with no duplication.

When I was in college and the Band Director let me pick out the two mouthpieces to buy for the new incoming sousie players, I said a Conn Helleberg and Bach 18. So if you wanted to spend less than $100, there you go.

Schilke 67 $63
Bach 18 $49
Conn Helleberg $54
RS Helleberg II $80
Total $246

Watching people recommend their favorite hardware...priceless!

Speaking of mouthpieces...

If anyone cares, mouthpieceexpress.com has a half-price clearance going on with their Marcinkiewicz mouthpieces.

Just an FYI.

Atkinson H-2 (Schilke Helleberg II Copy) @ $65
Atkinson C-4 (Miraphone C4 Copy) @ 55
Dillon M1C @ $60 (demo from Dillon Music's website)
Conn Helleberg @ $53.95

Total of $233.95

Use the left over $16.05 to pay for shipping or to buy some mouthpieces pouches for your new collection.

For quite some time we have been thinking about putting together a mouthpiece sample package for College, and University teachers and students to test.

However there are many problems to such an idea. After reading more than a few posts about a desire to have such a product test I'm torn between making a sample kit, or just letting people give the return policy a chance.

What would be the best way to make a sample kit succesful in this situation (keeping in mind we can't give free mouthpieces out and stay in business)

Just fishing for some ideas here

Ivan

Ed Jones wrote: Bach 18 $49
Conn Helleberg $54
RS Helleberg II $80
Total $246

What sizes does Kelly make now? At least Back 18 and 25 plus a Helleberg.
At $25-30/ea I'd start with them and the get metal for the missing sizes. You migh want.
Maybe a less expensive Helleberg II.

My Bach 18 got me through college and the Army Band. A 24AW is much hated but is an excellent Sousaphone mp. I have a Laskey 28G now that has set all the others aside, (I have had "affairs" with Marcinewiczs).

So the correct term is "affairs." I'm glad to know that. In that case, I have had a few affairs through the years. Not many, though.