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I want to know what's your opinion on the PT-88 on a sousaphone. Like how is it on highs and how is it on lows. I'm thinking about getting one, but I want to here a couple of opinions. Thanks.

I've got a PT-88, not for a sousaphone, but I'm familiar with the mouthpiece. It's a deep big deep bowl, so it will have full sound and good lows. Compared to a Conn Helleburg or Bach 18 high notes will pop clearer and more accurately; I found articulations are not as clean. Good mouthpiece for tuba, probably not sousaphone.

I would go something smaller, which will help with projection. That huge fuzzy concert doesn't carry as well. Try a C

Actually, I would use a Kelly 18 or a Kellyburg... believe me, NO ONE except beside you will ever notice a difference in the sound, not even the director. What you will notice is the price... $100+ vs maybe $35. And the weight. And how often the PT-88 will fall out, and the featherlight Kelly won't. And if it does fall out, it bounces off of the pavenment and doesn't a scratch. I would never march anything other a Kelly.

My opinion: Too small.
Get a cheap mouthpiece of the chunky kind. Or a used one.
Find someone with a lathe and have it machined to 10 mm bore and 35+ mm inner rim diameter. Have fun in the process.
With a little luck Yoü´ll get yourself something You might consider having it silverplated.

Worked for me.

tubeast wrote:My opinion: Too small.
" 10 mm bore and 35+ mm inner rim diameter." Worked for me.

Still laughing...

blahblah1017 wrote:but I want to here a couple of opinions. Thanks.

Maybe you need to have your here-ing checked???

TubaMusikMann wrote:

blahblah1017 wrote:but I want to here a couple of opinions. Thanks.

Maybe you need to have your here-ing checked???

Lol, I seen that when I posted it. I pressed the wrong word on the autocorrect menu. I figured you guys would know what I mean.

The PT88 is a niche mouthpiece originally deisgned solely for low and loud playing. Tuba players being what we are, a bigger is always better mentality fueled the popularity of the PT88 for many years. Many great players had success on it back in the day despite themselves. Most of those players have since moved to something more sensible. It really only works as a mouthpiece IF you practice 8 hours a day without taking a day off.

Frankly, the combination of deep, bowl, overly round rim, and large throat is a bit of an odd design choice. At least part of the popularity among the youth is that the large size and cushioned rim allows a player to mash their face and use poor form without it hurting while still producing a relatively pleasing sound.

How's that for one guys opinion?

Unsolicited opinion: buy a Kelly 18 for your sousaphone. It works great.

Good luck!

http://tubamania.com/Mouthpieces.htm#PT-88

Model PT-88 was primarily intended as a special applications mouthpiece for low register playing. However, it has found considerable acceptance for use on medium-large and large bore CC tubas. It serves very well on any BBb tuba, providing a very full and strong tone. It is recommended for advanced players.

That was the original description when the mouthpiece was first released.

I know they designed it for loud low playing initially but Willie Clark plays(ed) one while we were at Disney and he could play anything on it. Most remarkably, up high. I played on them for about 20 years(but not so much up high) before going to the PT 50 and Pt50+ plus to get a little more focus.Alot of guys down here still use the 88 and it's variations for everything. I think it would be worth trying if you can borrow one for a few days.Ed

In regard to the PT-88, I discussed this once with Bob Tucci. All PT mouthpieces are made under his personal supervision. He agrees that it is a mouthpiece for those who practice daily and maintain good playing habits; said that it works nicely for most orchestral literature, his personal mouthpiece in fact. Bottom line on that mouthpiece, again according to Bob, is that this and the PT-50 are the best-selling Perantucci BBb and CC-tuba mouthpieces, followed by the PT-48.

BTW: he is very good on correspondence (bob@perantucci.com" target="_blank" target="_blank).

Gene