Cheater Mouthpieces

ASTuba · Post by **ASTuba** » Fri May 26, 2006 6:13 pm

I'm going to be playing in a new tuba quartet, where part of what I'm going to have to do is play 2nd euphonium parts on my F tuba, as we have only 1 euphonium player in the group.

I'm going to order a G&W Churada mouthpiece, but does anyone else have any suggestions on a mouthpiece to use to help cheat and play these higher parts? Thanks.

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Fri May 26, 2006 6:24 pm

No such thing as cheating. YOU still have to play the music, it's not like some machine is. Do what you have to do to get the results. When I thought I "needed" that small mouthpiece for high stuff, I would play on a PT-60. Good luck!

Ralph

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Fri May 26, 2006 6:26 pm

You might want to try a Bach 30E or 32E ... also a Marcinkiewicz ST4 (about the same depth as the Bach 'pieces, but larger ID). I have a 30E and an ST4, and have used them both (to good effect) for much the same purpose as you have in mind (3rd 'bone parts on a CC, in my case).

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri May 26, 2006 6:41 pm

Warning: Too small, and you will not sound like an euphonium at all, more like a wounded mellophone. Use the strengths of your instrument, don't create new weaknesses. If you have to, what's the problem with dropping the part an octave until you're up to speed?

ASTuba · Post by **ASTuba** » Fri May 26, 2006 6:49 pm

Look, it's not a range issue, or a cheating issue. I am sure I can play whatever comes up in the music. What I'm looking for are examples of mouthpieces that may help me stamina wise in the upper register, not critiques of the language used in my posts.

I know it's not cheating, but it's being asked to do something that new, and it's a challenge.

Thanks for the suggestions on mouthpieces so far.

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Fri May 26, 2006 6:52 pm

windshieldbug wrote:If you have to, what's the problem with dropping the part an octave until you're up to speed?

No problem at all -- that's an effective technique!

ASTuba wrote:I know it's not cheating, but it's being asked to do something that new, and it's a challenge.

Sounds like fun -- hope it goes well!

ASTuba · Post by **ASTuba** » Fri May 26, 2006 6:56 pm

Kevin Hendrick wrote:
windshieldbug wrote:If you have to, what's the problem with dropping the part an octave until you're up to speed?
No problem at all -- that's an effective technique!

Except that it kind of messes up the orchestration.... but I understand it.

J Stowe · Post by **J Stowe** » Fri May 26, 2006 6:57 pm

I use a PT-36 gold, and I can usually play for a good while on F's, G's, and even A's. I'm not sure if this is considered a small mouthpiece. It also doesn't limit my low range, either.

XtremeEuph · Post by **XtremeEuph** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:02 pm

windshieldbug wrote:Warning: an euphonium at

For some strange reason that pisses me right off........

ok im done venting now carry on.

Jonathan Fowler · Post by **Jonathan Fowler** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:24 pm

I'll second the ST4...used to use it as my Bydlo mouthpiece but found that I need a larger diameter MP to play anything high or low so something like the Laskey 30C was a nice compromise for the extended high stuff.

The Wicks would also be a good choice except for the fact that they tend to wear one out faster than other mouthpieces.

As far as endurance goes I think Hetman's is now making some special lip treatment called "Cream and Clear"

jon

Arkietuba · Post by **Arkietuba** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:30 pm

I can play super high on my PT-83...like the C in the treble cleff (with a good tone)...so I don't think the size matters in this case...the PT-83 is one of the larger mps.

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:49 pm

try a helleberg 7B I second the Wick 4L recommendation also.

ken k

Gorilla Tuba · Post by **Gorilla Tuba** » Fri May 26, 2006 10:00 pm

Andy! Look what you started.

I have a bunch of shallower mouthpieces you can try. I personally don't think they make it any easier to play high. I use a Yamaha 67B4 for f tuba. It's shallow... but not too an extreme.

BTW, I don't know if you've noticed the sudden upsurge in repairs yet, but I have started referring band directors to you. You are making a solid impression.

ASTuba · Post by **ASTuba** » Fri May 26, 2006 10:04 pm

Doug,

Thanks, I've got that Churuda coming, so hopefully that and the few others that I have will be ok. I just want something smaller for endurance purposes.

Thanks for the referrals... let me know when you want to send yours in...

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Fri May 26, 2006 10:19 pm

Seems like an awful lot of fuss for a tuba quartet...........not the original post, but everything thereafter....

Chuck"who thinks this is post 600 and can finally bid adeiu to all my tuba playing friends because of a need to keep everything even and who won't miss the absolutely inane posts
that are becoming more and more of the mainstay of this once illustrious board but who will miss the arbitrary repartee with Rick and Joe and wishes everybody would stop fussing so much and remembering that it's just music and the tuba for goodness sake and who has come to realize that the most dangerous person on the face of earthly music is an amatuer with some money burning a hole in his pocket and who still believes that a fiberglass sousaphone can be played with a good sound if you have the right concept and why the hell do people own BAT's just beacuse they can and they'll be collecting dust while some MUSICIAN is shedding on a POS and will rock the world someday so I hope people realize that equipment questions are a panacea for poor playing habits so good bye, good luck and have fun in all your various musical endeavors and stop envoking the name of Carol Jansch before she comes to the realization that tuba players are no better, or better comported, than......gasp.......horn or trumpet player"Jackson

P.S.- no one under the age of 21 should be allowed to post without the disclaimer that they are children playing in an adult world and anything they may say is fodder for an open season mindest.

Tubadork · Post by **Tubadork** » Fri May 26, 2006 10:25 pm

Chuck Jackson wrote:P.S.- no one under the age of 21 should be allowed to post without the disclaimer that they are children playing in an adult world and anything they may say is fodder for an open season mindest.

HA!

Bill "who turned 21 eleven years ago" Pritchard

Naptown Tuba · Post by **Naptown Tuba** » Fri May 26, 2006 11:43 pm

ASTuba wrote:I'm going to be playing in a new tuba quartet, where part of what I'm going to have to do is play 2nd euphonium parts on my F tuba, as we have only 1 euphonium player in the group.

Ok. I'll be the dummy here and ask the obvious: "Why not play the 2nd euph part....................on a euph? In my tuba quartet, I switch back and forth all the time between my 5/4 (Wick 1L) and my euph (Bach 6&1/2 AL). It's fun, and I don't seem to have any problem switching between mouthpieces.

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Fri May 26, 2006 11:46 pm

Chuck Jackson wrote: Chuck"who thinks this is post 600 and can finally bid adeiu to all my tuba playing friends because of a need to keep everything even and who won't miss the absolutely inane posts...

Say it ain't so Chuck, Don't Leave!!!

bort · Post by **bort** » Sat May 27, 2006 11:15 am

You're already using an F, rather than a CC or BBb. Isn't that enough 'cheating' already??

bort · Post by **bort** » Sat May 27, 2006 5:50 pm

bloke wrote:
The Greatest City in America
So...What do you guys in New Orleans mostly use...CC or BBb?

Oh, trust me...listing my city's official slogan was done purely tongue-in-cheek. It used to be "The City that Reads," which was just as bad. There's a new one coming out soon, but it's so catchy, I've already forgotten it.

TubeNet

Cheater Mouthpieces

Cheater Mouthpieces

Re: Cheater Mouthpieces