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For about a year and a half I've played a Giddings & Webster Churada mouthpiece on my 4/4 CC tuba (Dillon 410). I've gotten really great results with this combination so far. I'm happy with my tone and I'm comfortable with the rim diameter.

Recently, I checked the G&W website out and I found out that the mouthpiece is listed as follows:

"This is the smallest of our F/Eb mouthpieces designed for solo playing."

I was shocked to find out I was playing on a bass tuba mouthpiece this whole time, especially a small one at that (1.255 rim, .310 throat diameter, very shallow bowl cup). My only complaints that I have while playing this mouthpiece is that I don't feel like I have enough room for the low register and beyond. Obviously this is because I'm playing on one of the smallest sizes of tuba mouthpieces.

So, to get to the point of this article: does anyone else have experiences with playing small/bass tuba mouthpieces on their contrabass horns? Or vice versa? I think I'm going to look for something that's a little bit bigger than my Churada to make up for the lack of room for the lower register, but I just don't like playing on big mouthpieces. I've been borrowing a Mike Finn 4 and might go grab one of my own.

Honestly, if you like the rim diameter, get a deeper cup with the same rim. You could probably ask Giddings himself.

If it gives the sound you want, there's nothing wrong with it. I often use a Blokepiece Solo 2 with my bigger Rudy (5/4 CC) to provide some clarity, or when I need to put the trombones in their place, or if I have a part that really needs to be out there in the sound of the ensemble.

Just because it is "intended" for a use does not mean that it is exclusive to that use. There are so many different sizes of Eb F BBb and CC tubas.

If it works, keep using it.

tbonesullivan wrote:Just because it is "intended" for a use does not mean that it is exclusive to that use. There are so many different sizes of Eb F BBb and CC tubas.

If it works, keep using it.

This. I utilize a PT-62 and RT-64 on my BB-flat contra and Holton copies of Bach models 7 and 12 on my E-flat tubas.

I also have thick, fleshy lips and play a Schilke 7B4 mouthpiece on trumpet.

These setups are all less than optimal according to mouthpiece guides and prevailing logic, but they're the ones that work the best for me. I have shoeboxes full of mouthpieces supposedly correct for my instruments and embouchure type that don't work at all.

If your setup reliably delivers the results you're after and doesn't require unreasonable levels of effort to do so, how can it be wrong?

There’s nothing wrong with a small mouthpiece. I know someone who held down the “Chicago” broadway chair with a Bach 25 for many years and I have switched to a smaller and smaller setup the pst few years. In general the smaller cup and rim will make it a little harder to achieve the tone you desire at first, but once you adjust the smaller MP tends to give you more flexibility and control

The Miraphone 188, which looks like your 410, comes with a TU23 mouthpiece, often use as a F tuba mouthpiece (shallow cup, small throat, 32.5mm rim). These horns can take whatever mouthpieces you want to use. John Fletcher was not playing big mouthpieces on his contrabass tubas, a Conn 7B I think, and he sounded huge. If you want to stay with Giddings and would like to open a bit the low range while keeping the rim diameter on the small size, you may try the Matanuska (or Kronos, but the rim might be a bit sharper on that one).

If you decide to go to a larger MP, don't go whole hog to a giant. Take it a step at a time till you find the largest one you're totally comfortable with.

The standard Conn Helleberg mouthpiece that Jake used with the York has an inside cup diameter of 1.26" but has a very deep funnel shaped cup and a very open throat. He described using a mouthpiece with the brass quintet that had a shallower cup that blended very well with the quintet, so he decided to take it into rehearsal with the orchestra. During rehearsal, he said Reiner was scowling because he didn't like the sound. Jake said that the shallower cup reduced the amount of fundamental in the sound and increased the overtones resulting in blending too much with the trombones. He switched back to his normal mouthpiece with the deeper cup and all of a sudden Reiner was all smiles. The increased fundamental supported the sound of the trombones instead of being swallowed up by them.

When Floyd Cooley was working with Walter Nirschl on the York model tuba, Floyd designed his version of the Helleberg to go with the York. It has an even narrower cup diameter than Jake's Conn Helleberg, but still has a deep cup. These "smaller" mouthpieces work very well with the contrabass (i.e., 6/4 size) tubas.

If you listen to the recording posted here of Jake's presentation to the 1973 TUBA symposium, he spends quite a bit of time discussing (along with plenty of playing demonstrations) just how much we can change our sound by switching mouthpieces.

Hi...
I can guarantee that I have tried many, but many mouthpieces ...
My lips don't work with big mouthpieces, an internal diameter of 32.2mm is already something huge for me (it's the limit of the limit).
I currently use a JK 5B, a Vincent Bach 24 AW and a Yamaha 67C4, in both tubas. Depending on the sound I need, I can vary the mouthpiece regardless of its purpose. I seek the sound ...
I currently have a Miraphone 1292 CC and a Miraphone 1281 F and with these three mouthpieces I play in orchestra, band, quintet, solo.
I understand that a mouthpiece is like shoes. It's not because it's your number that looks good ... looks good because it's comfortable and functional!