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Why do some people put tape on their mouthpieces? Someone said it helps with projection but how exactly does this work? I just don't see how some tape on a mouthpiece could do anything.

Fans of the Red Green show put duct tape on everything.
Quando omni flunkus moritati

I find that a dab crayon on the de Broglie node of the mouthpiece really helps.

I'm a little lost.

On issues like this, there will be the believers and the non-believers. I'm a non-believer. I suppose there might be some scientific basis for using tape to fiddle with the gap after the end of the shank -- if that is what the player is truly doing; but I'm so much an non-believer that I woud be skeptical of even that.

However, if one were using a Bach-shank MP on a Miraphone 191, tape on the shank would serve as protection against the MP falling out. Usually, I just try to be careful (although a MP has hit the ground a time or two).

If they are putting tape somewhere on the cup, then refer back to my crayon advise.

james gourlay uses tape on his denis wick 3 so it fits his besson 982. he could use a 3l but chooses not to for whatever reason.

Tulanetubaboy wrote:I'm a little lost.

Here's a little map:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Green_Show

Tulanetubaboy wrote:Why do some people put tape on their mouthpieces? Someone said it helps with projection but how exactly does this work? I just don't see how some tape on a mouthpiece could do anything.

On what area of the mouthpiece have you seen folks putting tape on?

TubaTinker wrote:

Tulanetubaboy wrote:Why do some people put tape on their mouthpieces? Someone said it helps with projection but how exactly does this work? I just don't see how some tape on a mouthpiece could do anything.

On what area of the mouthpiece have you seen folks putting tape on?

gourlay puts his on the shank.there is a video of him with les neish called double trouble where you can clearly see the tape. if i can find the video on you tube i will send you the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFWDkv_xIGY" target="_blank

eeflattuba wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:

Tulanetubaboy wrote:Why do some people put tape on their mouthpieces? Someone said it helps with projection but how exactly does this work? I just don't see how some tape on a mouthpiece could do anything.

On what area of the mouthpiece have you seen folks putting tape on?

gourlay puts his on the shank.there is a video of him with les neish called double trouble where you can clearly see the tape. if i can find the video on you tube i will send you the link.

I was addressing tulanetubaboy.

I can't confirm it, but this sounds like malarkey to me. You could change mouthpieces and have a different sound, but tape on the mouthpiece itself shouldn't change much. Just my opinion.

The horn community has members much interested in the relative placements of the end of the mouthpiece shank and the venturi. Saying it affects response and intonation and thereby overall security and efficiency. I am not so sure about the importance of those aspects in a tuba context.

As for the tape in the Gourlay video I am quite puzzled. In the comments about another upload of the same video, James Gourlay replies to a question about equipment: Both players play the Besson 980 with a DW3L mouthpiece. Mouthpiece and receiver should fit very precisely with this constellation.

Aside of jury rigging mismatched mouthpieces and receivers for emergency purposes, I only have seen one sensible usage of tape on mouthpiece shanks. A couple of Copenhagen brass stores put tape on mouthpiece shanks before letting players test play them. Only done to avoid scratch marks on the stems of the mouthpieces not sold in connection with the test.

Wild guessing only: Mr. Gourlay may have forgotten his mouthpiece and loaned one in a store. Not very likely, but has happened to me. The loaned piece was better than my regular one, so I bought it.

Klaus

HI!
Do Red and his nephew use duct tape on their MP's? I've seen 'em playing their Tubas, didn't pay attention...
Al

imperialbari wrote:The horn community has members much interested in the relative placements of the end of the mouthpiece shank and the venturi. ....

This is why I asked the original poster where he thought about putting the tape. It's not unusual for folks to modify a small-shank MP by wrapping tape around the shank to act as a bushing. Fooling around with the insertion depth of a mouthpiece will have an impact on 'the gap'.... something that only that only a few folks have been able to offer reliable opinions about.

I have an AGR (adjustable gap receiver al la Matt Walters) on my Miraphone 1291 5V BBb. I'm sure adjustments will do something but I haven't really had time to fool with it much.

I have also seen the cellophane tape/plastic wrap on the shanks of store stock to prevent scratches. But if a regular player feels like he needs tape, then the receiver should be evaluated for diameter, depth and taper to make sure it fits properly and doesn't have to be replaced.

I have used lead tape to good effect with one wrap around the throat of my Kelly 18 mouthpiece to stabilize the throat so the mouthpiece does'nt frazzle at dynamic extremes.

Some people wrap tape around the beginning of the shank, and the area by the rim of the mouthpiece. I'll see if I can find a picture.

I figure I should elaborate a bit more ...

Since the stated purpose for the tape is an unqualified "helps with projection", nothing about fixing a bad shank to pipe fit, just a universal claim (apparently) of projection, then the assumption here is that they mean wrapping the mouthpiece in some way to dampen vibration thus causing more sound to go into the horn.

From a purely technical standpoint, wrapping tape around a mouthpiece does modify the vibration ...
about the same as you modifying the flow of the Columbia River by sticking your hand in it.

Something like this:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=45107

I've used tape on mouthpieces because they have a tendency to fall out during crazy stuff we do during marching season. But I've also used silver duct tape to cover up my blue kelly mp for parades.

I can think of another reason to put tape around the shank of a MP....

If the shank or receiver is slightly out of round or the taper is off a bit.... tape would provide a way to fill any voids and make the MP seem to fit tighter. I suppose it could even provide somewhat of a more rigid mechanical connection. In that case... I can see where there could be some acoustical benefit.