Mouthpiece question -- Alex F

[Chris]

You've got a vintage Alex F tuba...what mouthpiece do you use?

--Chris

[fifthnotules]

I've been using the Floyd Cooley Helleberg. I'm told it's basically a 7B with the throat/back bore opened up. For what its worth, every time I try other mouthpieces I always end up coming back to this one.

[J.c. Sherman]

Miraphone C4 (TU23). Bar none. 18 years proof.

The G&W Baer F mmouthpiece is darn near the same, if you want to spend more... The Yamaha 67C4 works well too.

J.c.S.

[tubagirl5]

PT-65 is what I use

[j1007hc]

I settled on a Perantucci 9 when I first got my Alex F (sold everything else, had a Laskey 28C, PT65, etc.). Stayed on this for quite a while.

I popped in my friend's Schilke Helleberg (not the II) one day and really dug the sound (I got a used one off TubeNet). I kept it in the gig bag for a couple of months; didn't start to use it until I had sold my CC at the time and was down the just the Alex F. I was subbing in a youth orchestra, and felt that I could blend better with the Schilke (which was darker). However, I felt that my dynamic range down low had shrunk. After a month or so on that, I came back to the PT9 (which is on the brighter side, and more 'soloistic'). Still using it now.

I had tried my teacher's Baer F. Because the rim of that mouthpiece is exactly the same as the CC version, I felt it was too big (was having to put more effort for the higher range). Also tried the Baer solo F (not the Beltane), which is shallower but still I found the rim too big for my taste (perhaps this is my lack of chop strength!). I do want to give the Baer MMVI F and the new Beltane F mouthpieces another spin because I've found that the MMVI CC mouthpiece is amazing!

I got a Floyd Cooley Helleberg... went back to the PT9. I recently got the Floyd Cooley 2, so I will go back into experimentation mode!

[ad4m]

I don't own an Alex F but I know the dimensions of an early Alex F mouthpiece is:

Rim outside diameter 41 mm
Rim thickness 8 mm
Cup depth (to throat) c. 32 mm
Shank diameter at point where it enters receiver 11 mm.

I know people who've changed the shank size to fit there Tuba and like the clarity through the smaller mp, just a thought....

[Ulli]

For >me< is the Original SSH from P. Sidey the best mpc on all my BBb, EEb and F Tubas. That's after testing more than 20 different mpc.

Uli

[MackBrass]

I have had a lot of success with the old style PT9, since they are hard to come by I took some measurements the the bloke piece solo with the c4 rim would be very close.

Nice problem to have.

Tom

[Ben]

I have used various with good effect:
A shallow Alex piece
Pt-70/64/65 (preffered the 70, but the 65/64 worked well)
Wedge Solo-SG both work with different effects. *currently using something customized in this vein.

as with all things personal: YMMV

[bububassboner]

I have played a lot of different alexander F tubas. If I bought a vintage alexander F tuba and needed a mouthpiece I would do the following.

1) buy modern alexander leadpipe and have it installed. Alexander F tubas (well all of their tubas really) have larger than normal receivers. The old F will take a modern mouthpiece but it was designed with a larger shank in mind. In 2001 they changed the leadpipes on all of their tubas to accept euro shank mouthpieces (PT mouthpieces specifically)

2) buy a blokepiece solo cup with both styles of shank in euro shank.

3) make beautiful sounds.

[Jay Bertolet]

I'm a later-in-life F tuba guy.... I've gone through various mouthpieces with my Alex F, and without naming other names the one that gives MY little tuba the most even response, clearest sound, and gutsiest low-range is a Laskey 30F.

+1

I'm currently using a 30F on both my cimbasso and my Willson Eb. I expected the Willson to be a very good match for that mouthpiece. Finding that 30F worked well on my cimbasso was pretty shocking...