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What would be a good solo mouthpiece for small eb tubas with a small receiver (like the small York eb's). I've heard the Wick 3 is good but 8.78 bore seems a bit big.

Contrabass trombone mouthpieces are the best mix of shank size and availability. They can be used with a bigger mouthpiece (though the shank size becomes an issue) but the smaller one seems to maximize the horn- think of it almost like a bass euphonium.

My King has a receiver inbetween American and small so I swap between a Bach 18 and a Kanstul 2A. The Kanstul is a heavier copy of the 30mm Josef Klier 2A; I also have a JK 2C. The 1 series is 31mm and if they come in a wider bank would be the one you'd probably like best as it'd be big enough to make you think you were almost playing a tuba. The 1 is kinda hard to get in the US though, I had to wait quite a while to get my 2C. The Kanstul 2A is probably the most common one in the US. I haven't heard good things about the Marcinkiewicz series of contrabone mps.
My 2C was about 50 bucks from Dillon Music and my 2A came with the contra. I emailed Dillon's about a 1A but I think they replied that they need more to make it an order; I cannot remember.

It's not large at all. A friend of mine has a small bore Martin eefer, and after trying several other mouthpieces, on my suggestion he got a Wick 3 and it sounds fantastic on it.

I do know there are others who have reported intonation issues with the Wick 3 on a small bore tuba; in that case contact Mike Finn. Some years ago he ran a batch of MF4's with a .500 shank that fits the old receiver very well. If I played eefer on a regular basis, I'd get another one because it had great consistency and intonation throughout the range.

I have a 1940 king with the small shank (reciever).
I started out with a Schilke 66, then bought another one in gold.
tried a Kelly 24AW and finally wound up with a G&W Diablo in stainless steel.
the two Shilkes are for sale.

I contacted G&W about getting a small shank and they said they didn't make them. I don't know where you got the diablo. I do use a Wick 3 on my rather large Eb and it works fine. I do like the little larger Bach 18 which I turned down from the standard American shank. I did order a PT-84 which should be 32 mm like the Bach but have the deep cup of the Wick with a slightly smaller bore. I think for me, it would be perfect.

bloke wrote:If it's a really small Eb (c. 13" - 14" bell / c. 16mm bore / small mouthpipe w/small shank) Doug Elliott is probably the guru in this dept (ie. "contrabass trombone/cimbasso" mpcs, etc.).

It has a 15in. bell and its 28in. long.

I can make small shanks for any of my mouthpieces. No problem.

I have a Warburton 30M with a bass bone shank that works well with antique horns with small receivers. I also occasionally use a Wick 2S (shallow cup) with a small shank, and it works nicely with small, old horns. Both give a fairly full, dark tone with peashooter Eb's.

And, of course, Mr. Elliott is a master of matching custom hardware to the needs of the player.

I like my Wick 5, but honestly I don't think that's any help. Anyone else is going to have a different face than mine, different tuba (anyone have an Orsi Eb?), different skills and background, different repertoire and style ... what's left? The only ways I know are 1) try a bunch, or 2) get someone like Doug Elliot to match you up with one.

If the Schilke 66 mouthpiece(s) mentioned above will fit your receiver, that's one I use (and the G&W Diablo is the only mouthpiece I ever sold, though I suppose I have a couple others that I'd happily be rid of if I thought anyone wanted one.) I'd say the 66 is less a solo style, though, than a general purpose mouthpiece (making certain assumptions about the normal role of a tuba.)

I've always thought the low register was the hard part of eefers. I have a mouthpiece from Ellis Wean that works great there.

Doug Elliott is my favorite overall, though.

Donn wrote:Anyone else is going to have a different face than mine, different tuba (anyone have an Orsi Eb?), different skills and background, different repertoire and style ... what's left?

I remember Chuck (G) had one, though yours might not be the tiny bass baritone thing his was.

Right, I think I remember that discussion. Mine is smallish, but maybe it's really just the natural size for a bass tuba. Like those small Yorks? I have no idea how big they are.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I would venture to say that even if we had the very same Eb tuba, there is not, and never was, a perfect mouthpiece for any tuba. As each person who plays Eb tuba writes in to recommend the mouthpiece he or she uses, we'll gradually see every mouthpiece ever known added to the list. (Or every mouthpiece ever available in a small shank, in the present case.)