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Hi everyone,

I've been recording myself on my Miraphone 1292 using a Mike Finn 3b. Its a great mouthpiece and I can get a huge sound out of it, but I've noticed that my articulations sound find of woofy and undefined. Someone suggested that I get another mouthpiece because the Mike Finn may be too big for me and the horn. I've tried out a couple of my old mouthpieces, Schilke Helleberg II, standard Conn Helleberg, GW Original Alan Baer. After recording myself again, I feel like my sound was much clearer and articulations were MUCH better. I would use the Schilke, but the silver plating is wearing off and its really banged up. And I don't like sound I get out of the other two. A few people have suggested Laskey mouthpiece but I really don't have experience with them. How are Laskeys compared to the Schilke Helleberg II (I know there are different sizes like 30b, 28h, 30G, etc.)? Maybe if Laskey has something maybe just a teeny tiny bit bigger than the Schilke. Or does anyone have any experience with Laskey on Miraphone? Any advise would be greatly appreciated

I believe the Laskey 30H is very similar to he Schilke Helleberg II.

I think I remember using a 30G on this same model tuba that I tried out...seemed to work pretty well. Sounded nice and the low register was great.

How about the 30B? I've read thats its supposed to be kinda in between the H and G as far as cup shape. Anyone have any opinions on the B?

Ever tried any of the Perantucci Mouthpieces? a PT-48 or 50 is just enough mouthpiece for that horn, and would provide you a small enough cup size to still articulate. Or, if your your really ambitious, try a PT-88 and blow everyone out of the room with your HUGE sound

I played on Schilkes for years on my Cerveny, but when returning to playing recently have switched to Perantuccis -- and from Helleberg style to the German bowl style. I notice a much easier and cleaner articulation with these and like the sound better on this horn. One of the guys I play with (who regularly plays both a 186 and an old King recording bass) also feels that the German style mouthpieces (ones by Perantucci or Miraphone, for example) are what his Miraphone likes better than the Hellebergs. I've experimented a lot over the past few months with several Hellebergs and several of the bowl style mouthpieces over the entire range and now definitely think that the bowl style is better sounding and provides for better articulation on my horn. You at least ought to give these a try. Also, don't be afraid of going to a smaller diameter mouthpiece since it may actually fit you better and give you better articulation and sound. But try a few.

I *think* that Miraphone supplies a TU-31 with those tubas when they sell them brand new. That's a usually something worth trying out, if you haven't already! (It's a very Helleberg-like piece, as well.)

They seem to supply a TU-26: Deep, 1.614" Cup Depth, 0.323" Bore, 1.295" Cup Diameter, Stainless Steel -- at least according to WWBW.

the referenced TU 26 that the horn has shipped with is actually a G and W manufactured MP that looks and feels like an Alan Baer- the rim seemed to roll back and away from the inner diameter and made the MP feel larger than its measurements. The 1292 should respond well to it- I preferred the Laskey 30G or Blokes Symphony -I benefitted from the more defined inner rim and both made that horn sound crisper and brighter in my experiences ...

Jack Hoeksema wrote:Ever tried any of the Perantucci Mouthpieces? a PT-48 or 50 is just enough mouthpiece for that horn, and would provide you a small enough cup size to still articulate. Or, if your your really ambitious, try a PT-88 and blow everyone out of the room with your HUGE sound

The OP has already said he finds the MF too big. And he wants to downsize and find something similar to SH II. If you are going to recommend a Perantucci at least have the courtesy of recommending something that fits the bill, like the PT-36, PT-42, or maybe PT-44.

To OP: look no further: 30H is it. Make sure you get the right shank (either American or European) for your tuba, then you can play some music and forget about mouthpieces.

This makes me crazy!!! Find a mouthpiece that BEST suits your needs, then stick with that one mouthpiece only for 2-3 months. After that time, you can analyse what you like, or don't, then you can go from there.

Good luck!

I'm using the PT-48. It's bigger than I would like, but it blew the best in tune (with the chosen instrument) at Custom Music when they let me try the whole stock on hand. So I work a little harder to control it, but the pitch consistency directed the decision.

I have not tried a Laskey, but I admired the one I heard....