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I just finished playing in my old city band. A very old friend, who I hadn't seen for years was playing a Conn 12J with a Bach 24AW mouthpiece. He said that's what came with the horn so that's what he uses. We I had a heavy weight Kanstul Eb mouthpiece with me (32mm I.D.) and let him try that. The horn really liked that mouthpiece. I think he has too small a mouthpiece for that BBb Conn. So my question to you folks is what came with the Conn 12J originally, and what would you suggest he try. I'm thinking Bach 18 because he seems to like the rim. I let him try a Giddings and Webster Manuska, but he didn't like it and it sounded bad on that horn. (Not a clear sound and lacked color).

I have a friend in my jazz/dance band who played tuba in college, and has a 12J. One day I took several of my mouthpieces over to see how they sounded.

By far, the best mouthpiece in terms of intonation and consistency was the old standby: Conn Helleberg 120S. No need to get anything else. Cup mouthpieces like the 24AW made the tone grainy. Too large a funnel or backbore and it went woofy on the bottom, just as with your experience.

Another friend that sits in band occasionally has a 5J. He used a Bach 18 and sounded grainy and thin. I suggested he use his 120S, and is tone and intonation immediately improved. His only criticism was that it seemed to take a little more air. That's because he was playing more confidently, and you could tell it out front.

I believe the Conn is @ 32mm diameter or so, so it should feel good to him, especially one of the newer ones that have a slightly rounded rim.

iiipopes wrote: believe the Conn is @ 32mm diameter or so...

I agree that a Conn 120s should work well with a Conn 12j. However, I believe its diameter is closer to 32.5mm or 32.6mm, not 32mm.

Having tried a bunch of different mouthpieces on my son's 12J, I believe the best mouthpiece for that horn is a helleberg variant, specifically a stainless steel Kellyberg. That short leadpipe/narrow bore/American style instrument really needs a larger funnel shaped mouthpiece. I agree with the above suggestions of the Conn 120S (not the smaller 7B), but do prefer the SS Kellyberg over the Conn original.
In my opinion, the medium sized cup shaped Bach 22 and 18 mouthpieces do not even remotely do that horn justice, and even the Bach 12 is less than ideal on that specific instrument.
http://www.kellymouthpieces.com/kmstain ... /index.asp

Thank you for your comments. I will see my friend this next week and let him know the consensus of this question. He is a very good player. I think he will benefit from a new mouthpiece such as a Conn 120S or a Kellyberg.