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i used to use a yamaha and now i use another mpc i dont know the name of.

My first three years, I used a standard Helleberg, last year I used a gold-plated pt-88 someone sold me for 25 bucks. That pt-88 got a lot of sound. Now I'm considering a Dr. Young mouthpiece for my pep-band.

Bach 18; I suppose that means I don't exist since I get paid to do marching stuff.

Also sometimes a PT-48 for low range, outdoor, not necessarily marching but usually outdoors, F tuba stuff. It's not my favorite rim but I've already got it!

I'm using a Bach 18, my first year on Sousaphone with Marching band (usually play euphonium). It seems to be working out for me just fine.

This!!! A Reynolds 12 Great MP!!!

Kelly 18. I drop it a lot.

I used Bach 18 Megatone for 4 years in high school (which was also my concert band mouthpiece). Got to college, did half a semester on the Bach Megatone 18, and then switched to a Loud 4 (which is a stainless steel copy of the PT88 with some subtle differences in rim). I found I could get more volume out of the LM4.

My good friend (who was a couple of spots down the sousaphone line) used the LM 12 (which is pretty much the opposite in regards to the depth of the mouthpiece). He was the "bass trombone" of the section, and I was the "tuba."

I know many players like to use something smaller. For volume reasons, I prefer the bigger mouthpieces. I don't think there is a specific need to buy a sousaphone specific mouthpiece, just use whatever you use on your concert horn.

For college band, I currently use a Kelly 18, but my friend isn't doing marching band this year so he is letting me use his Loud m12. The Kelly gets a lot of debate, but it is really nice on the chops, especially if you have to play loud a lot or if you have a season that goes into late October or November.

I used a Conn Helleberg for all 8 years. I thought it paired really well with the Conn 36K (Fiberglass, std bore) and with the Conn 20K (Brass, Large Bore) I used in college. For the guys in the college section, the Bach 18 (or was it 24AW?) was the other standard choice.

We never had anyone try anything special, like those 'Loud' mouthpieces while I was at NCSU. That's possibly because we don't have a Music major and some of the guys didn't even own a mouthpiece, much less a Tuba.

I only marched in High School and graduated almost 40 years ago, but at that time I used the only mouthpiece I had for everything, which was a Conn 2. Knowing what I do now, and especially with my experience with spins and other moves, I would probably use a Kellyberg if I had to march the way I did then. I do plan to march with my college alumni band for reunions and I am planning to use a Kellyberg for that.

Lew wrote:I only marched in High School and graduated almost 40 years ago, but at that time I used the only mouthpiece I had for everything, which was a Conn 2. Knowing what I do now, and especially with my experience with spins and other moves, I would probably use a Kellyberg if I had to march the way I did then. I do plan to march with my college alumni band for reunions and I am planning to use a Kellyberg for that.

Similar. I used a Bach 18 for everything, no matter what, through my sophomore year. Then I started taking lessons with the local college teacher who wanted me to get a Perantucci MP, which I think was a pretty new thing then (early 80s). So I got whatever he said get and used it for everything, no matter what. After I quit playing I gave both of them to the new section head at my old high school.

Radar wrote:I'm using a Bach 18, my first year on Sousaphone with Marching band (usually play euphonium). It seems to be working out for me just fine.

Actually I discovered that the mouth piece wasn't a Bach, although it is marked Mt. Vernon it appears to be a cheap Asian made MP not at all like a Bach 18.

Our son usually uses a Helleberg (on all concert tubas). His tuba teacher is adamant that he shall always use the same mouthpiece, and not switch mouthpieces (or at least rim shape and size), so his embouchure can be stable. So …

On the sousaphone for marching band, he didn't want to bring his good Helleberg from home, because high school means mouthpieces occasionally fall down (sometimes on concrete). So we got him the stainless steel Kellyberg, which looks and plays just like a Helleberg, but seems indestructible. It has fallen down several times, and doesn't even get nicked. In his school locker he keeps a red plastic Kellyberg, for emergencies.

Bach 18 (Mt. Vernon) through high school and one year of college marching band. It's a little larger and deeper than any other 18 I've ever seen.

HS=King 26
College=Bach 18

I believe if I were doing marching band, today, I'd use a Kellyberg. As most of us know, marching band can be very hard on a mouthpiece. The Kellyberg can better take a beating, and is more versatile when it comes to extreme temps.