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Do any of you have recommendations for music shops in the seattle-tacoma area with a good inventory of tuba mouthpieces? I was recently stationed here and am not too familiar with the area. I recently bought a ZO Thunderbird 6/4 tuba and would like to try out some different mouthpieces with the horn. Thanks!

Well, there's Oberloh, that's the only retail I know of that would have more than the minimum required for school band students. Not that there couldn't be others. Ted Brown is the only possibility I can think of in Tacoma, might call them and see what they have and if they know anyone else - they've become kind of a regional chain, but they've been in Tacoma a long time. Seattle's going to be paralyzed for a few weeks with road construction.

Doesn't seem realistic to depend on Oberloh's list being up to date, but I see a Schilke 67 on there. If you try that and like it, you might ought to try my James R New C-1 copy of the old Conn 1. I mention that because your tuba puts me in mind of the old Holton 6/4, and while I like the C-1 on whatever, it's especially appealing on my Holton 109. Very deep funnel, rounded rim, nothing else like it.

Not SeaTac persay, but Ivan Giddings is located on Anderson Island. By appointment only, but certainly a range of ‘pieces to try out!

Kennelly Keys is another one in the Seattle area. Not sure how many locations and what their selection would be, but another option none the less.