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I've recently acquired a CB50 which I'm absolutely loving as a first horn! However, now after having in for a few months I am to the point where I would like to start shopping for a mouthpiece. My question is, what have you been most successful on with these horns? I know mouthpieces and sound vary player to player, I would just like to get a feel for where to start.

My second question is a bit more straight-forward, which is where can I find/how can I decipher the serial number? There's a very long number on the first valve slide, but I don't know what indicates "what number" this horn was in production. I would just like to know a little more about my horn now. (Number on slide is MN00200R2-473968519)

Thanks for any help!

sdnk4 wrote:I've recently acquired a CB50 which I'm absolutely loving as a first horn! However, now after having in for a few months I am to the point where I would like to start shopping for a mouthpiece. My question is, what have you been most successful on with these horns? I know mouthpieces and sound vary player to player, I would just like to get a feel for where to start.

My second question is a bit more straight-forward, which is where can I find/how can I decipher the serial number? There's a very long number on the first valve slide, but I don't know what indicates "what number" this horn was in production. I would just like to know a little more about my horn now. (Number on slide is MN00200R2-473968519)

Thanks for any help!

The serial number is on the back of the bell--it's hard to see, but it's there.

As far as mouthpieces, I really liked the GW Szentpali with my CB50. I also had success with a LOUD LM-4, Sellmansberger Symphony, GW Caver.

Those are almost all of the mouthpieces I had whenough I owned one, but it led me to believe that these horns are not very mouthpiece sensitive.

Best of luck!

A PT88 works well.

I own the horn that was a prototype for the G/CB50, and have loved it. I've also played a handful of G/CB50s, and I'd suggest that they are a good bit less mouthpiece sensitive than my horn, but I still am a believer that certain mouthpieces are better fits for certain horns (there are different camps on this, so I realize that not everyone would agree).

Bloke raised a good question about what you want to do with the sound of the horn; and I'd suggest that should be at the beart of how you make your decision.

In my case, I wanted the richness but was looking for a little more clarity without blattiness. I went with a slightly smaller, more funnel-shaped mouthpiece, and it's given me the best blend of what I want. I've borrowed and/or played on a number of mouthpieces over the past year to help me refine my search but I'm not disappointed that it took me a little while.

I hope this helps and good luck on your search!

Schilke Hellberg II or Laskey 30G.

Some of the pieces suggested in this thread were not available back when I was playing a G50 or I might have tried a couple of them, but I think the SH-II worked very well.

Like everyone else has been saying, these horns are great in the sense that they aren't necessarily mouthpiece sensitive. Personally, I use a standard Helleberg.

On a side note, I found that the Getzen G-60 is the same way. I have not found a mouthpiece yet that doesn't work decently with it.

The CB50 is still my go-to tuba. It'll sound good with anything, but I have to do the least work with a stainless steel Helleberg (or Kellyberg). Or a G&W Diablo if I need to peel some paint off the walls...