Euphonium mouthpiece for a tuba player

[Rick F]

Schilke 60?

I think that's the largest made by Schilke for large shank.

[Kevin Hendrick]

In terms of size change, Yamaha's Roger Bobo Tenor Tuba ("TT") mouthpiece is essentially a shallow tuba cup (32 mm I.D.) on a bass 'bone shank. As far as pocket change goes, a Kelly 1-1/2G would probably set you back less than anything else (and works well, too -- that's what I use).

[Bob Kolada]

The biggest mouthpiece designed for euph (whatever THAT's worth) seems to be the Wick SM2. I believe it is in the 1.5/2G range.
As a smaller alternative to a TT mouthpiece, you could look into a Josef Klier bass or contrabass trombone mp. I have not yet tried my KBP2C in a euph, though it rocks as a low range bass trombone mp.

[RRW]

*****

[GC]

A mouthpiece that's too large for the instrument is going to make it harder to play. In particular, it'll compromise tone and intonation in your high register. You're better off using a medium to large euph mouthpiece rather than a tuba-sized one.

Even though I favor fairly large tuba mouthpieces, the biggest I've used on euph that responds well is a Bach/clone 3G. The 5GB is pretty good, too, as a middle-to-large piece. Of course, you need to try out several to find what works best for you. Try playing through the full range of the horn and don't concentrate on the low register when trying them out. After all, euphonium parts go all over the range of the horn.

[averagejoe]

The pt2 baritone mouthpiece might be worth looking in to. It has a 32.5 mm rim diameter, but has the depth and shank of a euphonium/trombone mouthpiece. Here is a link to a catalog: http://www.tubaforum.it/Perantucci/Pera ... pieces.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
The pt2 is on the bottom, just scroll past all of the tuba models. I haven't played it myself, but it seems worth looking into.

[oedipoes]

I'm looking into picking up the euphonium. What type of mouthpiece could I use that would require the least amount of change from a tuba embouchure?

I would not aim at having the least amount of change...
It are different instruments anyway, so treat them differently.

I personally started on euphonium, and added BBb tuba and that works pretty fine.
On euphonium I use the SM3 and on BBb a Bruno Tilz WH-B2, the switch from one to another is manageable.

I would advice a starter on euphonium to start on Denis Wick SM3.5 or SM4.
SM3 is pretty deep for starters, the high range and sound will suffer from that in the beginning.

Wim

[b.williams]

Time for my 2 cents. Once upon a time I paid the bills playing trombone, tuba, and euphonium. Now I play for fun. My advice is to play each one in the most musical way possible. I like to use a Wick 4 or a Bach 3G on euphonium, a Wick 1XL on tuba, and a Bach 1G,1.5G,3G, or a Schilke 60 on trombone. Whatever you end up playing, concentrate on what is coming out of your bell. Have patience and have fun. It is way cool to play both tuba and euphonium.

[Doug Elliott]

I'm looking into picking up the euphonium. What type of mouthpiece could I use that would require the least amount of change from a tuba embouchure?

It is absolutely true that if you want to be a euphonium player you should use something close to a typical euphonium mouthpiece - and that covers a very wide range of sizes, from 6-1/2AL and 51D on the small end to the biggest bass trombone sizes on the large end. A 1-1/2G is a totally workable size for something pretty big that would be a relatively comfortable switch.

However, in answer to your question about "the least amount of change from a tuba embouchure," I make a very shallow cup exactly for that purpose, that fits my tuba screw-rims. It is in my TU series, the G cup which is the depth of a trombone 5G mouthpiece, and it works quite well as an occasional euph doubling setup, with whatever rim size you normally use on tuba. You can get a small, medium, or large shank for it - they screw on and can be changed. http://www.dougelliottmouthpieces.com" target="_blank

[euphomate]

I made the change in the opposite direction to all the other contributors. I dropped the euph two years ago to concentrate on EEb tuba. Now I've gone back to 90% euph, only picking up the tuba on one band rehearsal night. I found it took a good hour to re-adjust to the Wick 3L tuba mp after blowing on a Wick SM4 euph mp all week. The euphonium is too sweet a horn to compromise on sound, so it had to be the EEb. I went down to the smallest Denis Wick tuba mp, the 5L, which I adjust to immediately in terms of centering, volume and intonation. Yes, a tone compromise, so I drilled out the 5L throat one drill size. The result is a satisfactory EEb sound and playing ease, and a euph tone and range I'm happy with. But there again, I'm now primarily a euphonium player again (and loving it).