Low register mpc?

[jon112780]

What's a good low register mpc. for a German style 4/4 rotary CC tuba? Not necessarily broader, just looking for a bit more edge down there.

[pierso20]

Are you playin on a CC now???? wowwwwwww

[jon112780]

Only on Saturday while I watch Winnie the Pooh.

[imperialbari]

What's a good low register mpc. for a German style 4/4 rotary CC tuba? Not necessarily broader, just looking for a bit more edge down there.

To my surprise a new mouthpiece bought for my smaller tubas proved itself strong in clarity all the way down through the range on my old German Martin rotary CC. It must be said that I do not strive for the same fat sound as on my piston BBb contrabasses.

That mouthpiece is the blokepiece version #1.

Klaus

[bill]

I find your question really fascinating because I believe, if left near the top of the TubeNet list long enough, you would get different answers from everyone who cared to answer. Most people think the mouthpiece used at the moment is the next to the best one in the world and the best one is the new one they change to. My own take on it is that, for the horn you are mentioning, a Yamaha 67C4 will not work well and almost anything else will. But I can give a definitive answer to your question in this way. The mouthpiece I find works best on a CC 4/4 sized tuba is the one I spend the most time with playing the Gregoriev 78 Études. To this end, I have found a Conn 1, Conn2, Conn 7B, Conn Helleberg, King 26, Bach 22, Miraphone C3, Yamaha 65, G & W Churada, G & W Diablo, Denis Wick 4L, and most of the other 40 or so mouthpieces I own all will play the the low register wonderfully well if I spend several hours a week on the Gregoriev 78 Études. It is a lot cheaper to buy and use these études than it is to buy another mouthpiece or another horn.

If an infinite number of tuba players with an infinite number of mouthpieces . . .

[tubatom91]

I have found that my PT-88(standard and heavy) are my all around mouthpieces. I like them and keep going back to them. I have been fooling around with the latest version of the blokepiece and have been growing fonder of it day-to-day it's an excellent mouthpiece. But if you want to try a mouthpiece on the larger side of things try a PT-88 it's a big ole bowl-cup, they seem to work well with "german style" tubas.

[poomshanka]

OK, call me a broken record - LOUD LM-10. If you're looking for something that'll put some bite into the basement, that piece will do it.

...D

[Tubaguyry]

G&W Bayamo works great for getting that "bite" in the low register. (The old style, anyway. I've not played the new style). I use it on my Miraphone 186 for pieces in which I'm mostly in the very low register. All the old style G&W mouthpieces are good for getting that "bite" in any register. It makes notes more clear, but at a price. You end up losing some of that minute control over the color of the sound. But they definitely help with attacks.

Hope that helps.

[Matt G]

I bought a PT48 to use in a 4/4+ rotary Bb based upon reports that it lead (because it doesn't have anything ) to a more "hyperactive" low register. Well, after a few months I am happy with the sound and clarity in the mid register but I am still having problems down there which ticks me off because I could play in that range (low G to lower C) BETTER on my bass trombone AND my old 3 valve Eb. I am also experiencing some weirdness around low G that doesn't seem to be a typical low range problem,

The horn seems to be working fine mechanically, so I dunno.

Off topic:

The 187 (IIRC that is what you have, and it is bigger than what a 4/4 used to be) will generally respond to a mouthpiece that has a bit more of a bowl shape. The Bach 7 was a good match for the 188, IMO.

Also, the approach to the low register on the 187 and a bass 'bone are worlds apart. Similar to Joe's postings on the F tuba "low C", I would suggest rethinking the embouchure formation in that register. Often the little Eb's respond well to a very loose set up, and bass 'bone does as well. These typical German BBb/CC contrabasses require a firm "super-structure" to keep the air focused. Some of the loudest and "edgy-est" playing recorded in the registers you reference were on Mirafone 184/186/188 CC contrabasses.

Maybe seek out a person who studied with Tommy Johnson. They might have some great insight on how to work the register of that horn better.