TubeNet

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

S.G.F. wrote: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.

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).

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

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.