F tuba mouthpiece suggestions for Miraphone

[RoosterTuba]

Hello tuba friends.

I'm currently in possession of a Miraclone F tuba (copied exactly like the Miraphone Elektra, 4+2 valve system). I really enjoy this horn! Plays well in the graveyard range, the 6 valves make the lower range really fun. However, I'm having problems finding a mouthpiece I like. I'm looking just for suggestions.

It's about a 5/4 F tuba, and currently am using a borrowed Floyd Cooley mouthpiece. I originally had a PT-65, but my tone sounded very stuffy with it. The FC Helleberg is a step in the right direction...but perhaps I'm missing something amazing that I hadn't thought of.

Have at it! I could use any suggestions at all for what might have worked in the past! Especially to those of you who own Miraphone Elektras.

[thevillagetuba]

What do you not like about your current mouthpiece? What sound are you trying to get? What kinds of music/in what kinds of ensembles do you usually play?

[rudysan]

Sellmansberger Solo 1 or 2. That's what I use with my Miraphone 181. If you like the sound of the Floyd Cooley, you can try the Sellmansberger Imperial.

[arpthark]

Hi Stefan. Is this a newer, more in-tune clone? I remember playing a 6v Chinese F tuba 5 or 6 years ago and F in the staff was about 20-30c flat and no amount of mouthpiece alteration would fix that. I remember having to play that note 2-3. I wasn't aware there was another 6v F tuba clone out there.

I've found Sellmansberger Solo to really open up the low range on F tubas in general and mitigate any perceived stuffiness. That was a great choice on my German-style F. I used the Solo #2 with the euro shank.

[S.G.F.]

Try a miraphone rose. I think their high end products are designed with that mouthpiece in mind.

[RoosterTuba]

So to answer questions:

1. The FC Helleberg is actually really nice, but I'm wondering if I can sweeten up my upper range with something else?
2. The horn is amazingly IN TUNE except the high G in staff (I usually compensate with 1-3 or 4)
3. I'm going to be attending grad school this fall, and playing plenty of solo rep, orchestral rep, and quintet rep.

I really like the sound of the Floyd Cooley, but I just want to try some other mouthpieces out there, or if there is something very similar (FC hellebergs don't float around very often). I really want to find a fantastic F tuba mouthpiece for this horn.

[thevillagetuba]

I will agree with all of the others here that the Blokepiece Solo would be a great one tof try out. I use it and have both backbores to give me a lot of flexibility (the 1 adds a lot of color to the sound and is brighter than the 2, but the 2 is clearer for me and darkens the horn, which makes it blend better in chamber groups).

I have found that G to be a common problem on many Fs and doubt you'll get a mouthpiece that will fix that note without making others worse. Your best scenario would be to find a piece that didn't change the intonation and gives you the color change you want, which the Solo might just do.

[rudysan]

Try a miraphone rose. I think their high end products are designed with that mouthpiece in mind.

I second that. The TU27 is the Rose Solo model. TU28, which is I think the mouthpiece that comes with the Elektra, is the same as the TU27, but with a thinner and flatter rim. I personally prefer the TU28.

[arpthark]

re: that G, I've always considered 4 to be the "normal" fingering for that note. That's how I learned F tuba, at least.

bloke solo is what I used for years on my German style F (JBL).

[Roger Lewis]

Sellmansberger 1 with semi flat #2 rim or Rose solo TU27.
Roger

[Slamson]

As I recall, the Petrushka ships with a TU27, but Matt Walters (Mr. Nice Guy!!!) swapped mine out for a TU21, which I've been using for quite some time.