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I've had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with two slightly different compensated E flat tubas. I've never owned a serious E flat before. Unsurprisingly, a mouthpiece smaller than what I would typically use on a CC and larger than what I would use on a normal F tuba is what I graduate towards.

Is there a mouthpiece type or model that people typically use on such instruments which is not a Bach 24 AW?

What do people commonly use on these things?

Some quick google searches point me towards a Wick 2L. Any other suggestions from folks that play compensated E flats?



Thanks,
Christian

The 2L was designed for the Besson 981, I've been told.

When I bought my besson 981 it came with a gold plated denis wick classic 3L.Been using it for the last 20+ years. Works for me. I am told that the newer besson's come with an Alliance mouthpiece designed by british tuba soloist Les Neish.

Another popular mouthpiece that I have seen used a lot is the Perantucci PT-88

On my 983, I use a Conn Helleberg because I get the best overall intonation, tone, and response.

Also, I like a flat, narrow rim.

The 2L, in my opinion, is a little bit large for an Eb tuba.

The Wick 3/3L has been the "standard" for decades, and was even supplied for a short number of years as original kit to Besson Eb tubas. "No Letter" is the smaller shank, "L" is the "Standard" or "American" sized shank. Same rim, cup, throat and backbore.

Yes, try a Wick 3L. Or maybe a Mike Finn 4 (bigger but seems to work?).

The Tilz made hilgers model WH B1 should work too.. Use it currently on my Eb tuba.

The earlier posts are correct the recommended mouthpiece for a 981 is a Denis Wick 3L and I for many years followed this wisdom playing a DW3 with my Besson New Standard about 6 years ago I started using a DW2 with my New Standard and when I got a Wessex700 I moved onto a DW1L.

I went back to taking lessons and my instructors first act was to get me to try a PT88 I liked the sound and the ease of access to the lower register and for me the pairing worked my section mate liked my new sound and so did the conductors.

I now have a PT65 and a PT88 that are my main mouthpieces and a collection of shelf ornaments including all the DW sizes, Yamaha,Joseph Klier,Besson,Helleberg and a blokepiece Imperial.

I could have saved a lot of time and money by taking the shortcut of having a lesson with a professional.

If you can find a local to you pro with a collection of mouthpieces you might save some time and money.

You will have to experiment to find what works best for you and the playing that you do.

For me I play in bands that have over the years shrunk from a four player tuba section to two and quite often just one. So a bigger deeper mouthpiece allows me to provide the bass sound to support forty other musicians with an Eb tuba.

cjk wrote: Is there a mouthpiece type or model that people typically use on such instruments which is not a Bach 24 AW?

Do you feel that the 24AW is not appropriate for a compensated Eb, or is this just a personal dispreference? I have read recommendations for and against this particular mouthpiece with comp. Eb, but no explanation why.

Hup

For the couple who talked of the PT-88, are you talking about using it on en Eflat? I am no way trying to belittle you if you do, but that just seems like a VERY large MP on an Eflat, esp a 981 or 982. I'm interested to hear how that works! I use a Wick 3 for most playing and a 5 if I'm playing screacher stuff like the Madsen.....

Fortunately the Besson E flat tuba works well with a variety of mouthpieces, as long as the mouthpiece also matches you. Which direction do you want to go? Broad ensemble sound with depth and power or a more soloistic sound with a singing high register? The Wick 3L and 2l give the broad large ensemble sound. The Wick 3SL more for the soloistic approach. I've also found that the Conn 7b Helleberg, Schilke Helleberg, and the Conn 3 work quite well and are "middle of the road" clear centered sound with body and you could play just about anything with them.

Cool, it's always nice to see someone recommending a Conn 3, maybe some mouthpiece maker will bring that one back.

bloke wrote:I don't chide players who manage to do well with 24AW mouthpieces. I admire their ability to triumph over adversity.

This sounds like an admonition against the use of a 24AW with the use of, not in particular a compensated Eb, but rather anything resembling a musical instrument.

Hup

How much alike are the 24AW and the Denis Wick 3L that seems to be the most commonly recommended? Dimensions look similar enough, though the rim is not so extravagantly wide.

Faxx does produce both 120 and 7b copies. My Faxx (which is marked FHB) is a 120 copy.

hup_d_dup wrote:

cjk wrote: Is there a mouthpiece type or model that people typically use on such instruments which is not a Bach 24 AW?

Do you feel that the 24AW is not appropriate for a compensated Eb, or is this just a personal dispreference? I have read recommendations for and against this particular mouthpiece with comp. Eb, but no explanation why.

Hup

I personally don't care for the VB 24AW. I prefer narrower rims. The 24AW's rim is comically wide.

The wick 3 does sound like a variation on a 24AW.

sousaphone68 wrote: If you can find a local to you pro with a collection of mouthpieces you might save some time and money.

My own collection of mouthpieces is already embarrassing large.

I believe the Dillon PS3 was designed for the 983 Pat Sheridan model by Pat Sheridan - it works quite well but IMHO it is more of a solo type MP. The Blokepiece Imperial also works very well. PHil

I have had the best success with a Rudolf Meinl RM-9 / 7.8mm backbore mouthpiece, which has also been sold as the Bruno Tilz M-9, Hirsbrunner M-9, Meinl-Weston M-9 and the old Perantucci 9. The rim is comfortable but not too thick, the cup opening wide-enough to get some face into it, and the cup and backbore are designed to minimize the intonation and response problems inherent in bass tubas. It is a wonderful mouthpiece for F-tuba, and has a similar effect with Eb tubas, particularly large compensating Eb's.