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I've got a couple of weeks off before starting a new job, so I'm practicing a lot while catching up on the honey-do list. This has brought to the top of my mind an issue I've noticed before without having enough time to focus on it: It seems that the best sounding mouthpiece varies from day to day.

For a while now I've had four mouthpieces on the shelf: 2 blokepieces (symphony and solo), a PT-50+, and a Yamaha Bobo Symphonic. (Yep, four very different sets of specs.) 6 or 7 days out of 10, the blokepiece symphony is the one I use. Some days, I get better response in the mid-range with the PT-50+, and I have an idea this is because of the rim shape, but I could be wrong. But some days the shallower pieces give better sound in my judgement. (I actually check this with a recording and not just by playing.)

Today is a blokepiece solo day. I've played all four today, and it's giving me what I want.

Maybe I should just go with the flow. But I keep thinking I'll center on one or two of these mouthpieces and sell the others.

Is this whole thing just a subjective, unresolvable mess, so that I might as well just pick a mouthpiece and play it through thick and thin, or is this "mouthpiece of the day" phenomenon rooted in something more objective, in your experience?

I am not sure constant shifts of especially mouthpiece rims are furthering any playing progress. Yet I understand your question, and I think I have the answer, which is different than your assumption.

I have no lack of different mouthpieces, but I have currently ended up with 3 of the 4 main blokepiece variants (#1, #2, and Symphony - all with the #1 rim). I prefer these models, because they allow me getting my sound potential out on my best playing days. They don’t restrict me.

The flip side is that especially the Symphony is absolutely unforgiving on a bad day. If ones air supply isn’t generous and relaxed, then the sound goes dull. As the blokepiece comes in 4 variants with the option of constant rim dimensions and shape, I find the better solution for the lesser days is about using one of the underparts which are less demanding to fill with air.

Klaus

That's most interesting, Klaus, because it is exactly what I did. I put the big rim from the Symphony onto the smaller Solo underpart, and played with satisfaction for quite a while. In all likelihood I'll be back to the Symphony underpart tomorrow. So it may just be that I stayed up until 1:00 am watching one episode of House after another last night.

(Do you all get to see House over there? It's a show about this anti-social doctor. He's even worse than the BBC's "Doc Martin.")

I think many of us like to "experiment" with diff. mouthpieces cuz it's fun to change up the sound or response every once in a while.
Sometimes I do settle on a mouthpiece for a while, but sooner or later I get curious and want a diff. sound so I will change to another 'piece.

In my practice area I have a chair, a music stand, my trusty DEG tuba supporter, and a small table! What's the table for? you ask...THE @#$##$%&^ collection of mouthpieces... never know which one...

Harvey Phillips and Arnold Jacobs played one mouthpiece for 90% of their career. Maybe that's a direction to consider.

OK, OK, I didn't do it but maybe you should consider it.

Yeah and Arnold or Harvey I aint....maybe that's the problem?

After playing around on my PCK with a PT88 and a GW original Baer, I have switched to a PT50L. I wasn't even aware that there was such a model, but it has really opened my horn up. Weird since I never cared for a 50+

What the heck is a PT-50L? I have heard of Pt-50, PT-50+ but the L escapes me.

tubaplyer wrote:What the heck is a PT-50L? I have heard of Pt-50, PT-50+ but the L escapes me.

If my memory is right about a 1999 buying experience the PT series a one point of time were marketed with 4 different shanks. The L related to the shank.

Klaus

I Found it !!! Custom Music updated their website:

NEW!! Model PT-50L – Something Great Gets Even Better

Reworked PT-50. The outer shape is slightly different, rim a bit thinner, bell-shaped part of the cup a bit longer. The result is a bit more stable tone, perhaps a different way of centering and capacity of more volume. “L” stands for slightly long(er) outside cup shape.

http://www.customtubas.com/products.php?cat=34&pg=2" target="_blank

I find the PT-50+ to have an awful low register once you get below pedal B. I think it sounds 'artificially dark' to my ears, i much prefer a PT 50 or the cream of the crop for me is the PT-88