TubeNet

Good morning all,

I am a brand new member, and recently bought a H.N.White American Standard tuba, serial number 75188. I believe this is an Eb Alto, from looking at the catalogue page on their web site, but was told when I bought it that it was a Bb Baritone, so I am not certain. Can anyone suggest a mouthpiece for a brand new beginner? I would appreciate any information.

Thank you,

Bob

The safest bet would be to find out what it is, and then use that knowledge to get a mouthpiece made for it. An alto horn mouthpiece will have a smaller shank than a baritone horn mouthpiece, they aren't interchangeable.

Once you have decided to get an alto horn mouthpiece (or tenor horn, as the English call it), you just need to decide what size. Yamaha mouthpieces are fine and reasonably economical.

Once you have the instrument in hand, if it still isn't obvious, you may be able to identify it by the length of the "bugle", i.e. from the mouthpiece receiver to the end of the bell, excluding valve tubing. A baritone horn should be around 9 feet long.

Donn wrote: Once you have the instrument in hand, if it still isn't obvious, you may be able to identify it by the length of the "bugle", i.e. from the mouthpiece receiver to the end of the bell, excluding valve tubing. A baritone horn should be around 9 feet long.

You can also "thunk" the receiver with the palm of your hand -- listen carefully and you'll notice that the pitch that comes out is the fundamental of the instrument (a little sharp because no mouthpiece, but still...)

Thanks to you Donn and Ginnboonmiller both for this information which I will follow through on.

Bob