Blokepiece Symphony

[scottw]

That is what struck me most---the immediate difference in clarity, response and the absence of "blatt" when I put some air into the Mirafone. Immediate as in first note; never has a mouthpiece been that much of a difference right away and still for the 2 weeks I've played it.Impressive engineering.

[jamsav]

yeah baby !!!! The large bore of the St pete really responds well to the aformentioned BP Symphony- the deep funnel works its magic, the rim enables bite and clarity- all good here !!

[imperialbari]

I will be getting one of these pretty soon and look forward to driving it around town in both of my tubas. I will post back here sometime after that.

That posting will be interesting considering it comes from a person experienced in coordinating multiple events:

[scottw]

It took over 2 weeks, but I finally managed to over-blow my 186 on Sunday during a warmup run-through of the StSaens Organ symphonyin a large church. With just 2 trombones and my 186, up against a powerful organ, those FF passages finally got me the hand from the conductor, who advised me I was a little too blatty. I,of course, backed off just a bit and the performance went very well. So, it is possible to still bark with this mouthpiece, but I really have to push more air than I ever have before to do that. It's nice not to have to work so hard!

[mshores]

I tried it in my 186, and it works ok. Don't get me wrong, it adds some umph to the sound as all large MP's do, but I find the #2 cup a better match for my 186. (if I need more umph, I pull out the Alex/Hoton) I get a touch more edge with the #2, high range intonation (for me) is better, along with ease of slotting. YMMV

I believe (...??) were I a one-tuba (186) player and owned a "Solo" threaded underpart and a "Symphony" threaded underpart, I'd use the "Solo" for quintet playing (or when on tour playing tuba concerti ) and use the "Symphony" for large ensemble playing.

I have been emailing bloke about ordering a Symphony mouthpiece. Now I am confused because I am a "one-tuba 186 player" that primarily plays in quintet. Any suggestions?

[Dylan King]

I received a Symphony #2 yesterday from Hauser, and so far I really dig it on the 291. It is warmer than the Baer I was using before, and hits the low notes with a tad more punch. To me (someone who has been playing exclusively G&W for quite some time now) it is something in between the Bayamo and the Baer MMVI CC mouthpiece.

Bloke did a great job designing this mouthpiece.

[T. J. Ricer]

In general, I suspect that $tandard shank mouthpieces stuck into €uro shank receivers don't work out very well, even if they "fit".

I'm with the Bloke on this one. I never really thought it made much of a difference until I got a Euro-receiver tuba and spent several months playing on a mouthpiece with paper around the shank, then another couple months with a mouthpiece adapter, and, finally, with my Euro shank #2 Blokepiece, which has been the clear winner on my 6/4. Having the "proper" shank size seems to really help the intonation on the big horn.

Certainly makes me wonder about those adjustable gap receivers and finding the "sweet spot" for each horn/mouthpiece combination. . .

[Dylan King]

I'm (finally) getting some face time with the "Symphony" on a 6/4 CC (one of those German-made ones with a very large-bore mouthpipe and a euro shank receiver). The "Symphony" (...and I went through a bunch of other "very good" mouthpieces that I own with an open mind - frankly expecting a couple of other mouthpieces to work better than the "Symphony") ended up working the best (for me), but only the euro shank version in that euro shank receiver. The "standard" shank version (dropping down into the euro receiver very far) was too "dead" sounding.

In general, I suspect that $tandard shank mouthpieces stuck into €uro shank receivers don't work out very well, even if they "fit".

Are you trying to get me to buy another Symphony for the Yorkbrunner? I'm very close to being convinced that it is a good idea. I'm digging the American shank in my 291 more and more each day.

[T. J. Ricer]

I'm (finally) getting some face time with the "Symphony" on a 6/4 CC (one of those German-made ones with a very large-bore mouthpipe and a euro shank receiver). The "Symphony" (...and I went through a bunch of other "very good" mouthpieces that I own with an open mind - frankly expecting a couple of other mouthpieces to work better than the "Symphony") ended up working the best (for me), but only the euro shank version in that euro shank receiver. The "standard" shank version (dropping down into the euro receiver very far) was too "dead" sounding.

In general, I suspect that $tandard shank mouthpieces stuck into €uro shank receivers don't work out very well, even if they "fit".

Are you trying to get me to buy another Symphony for the Yorkbrunner? I'm very close to being convinced that it is a good idea. I'm digging the American shank in my 291 more and more each day.

It's a slippery slope. . . I currently have both shank versions of the Blokepiece Solo and can say that having the right MP for the right receiver makes a noticeable difference (I'm playing them on all four keys of tuba). Joe should be getting my order for a #3 in the mail soon!

--T. J.

[skeath]

Has anyone taken a measurement of the width of the Helleberg rim for the Symphony model?

...and are they really flat, or just "moderately-rounded"?

[stainlessmpman]

Just an extra 2 cents on the Helleberg rims offered, the "Modified" rim is slightly rounded, the "large" and "small" versions are flat.

Dave H

[cjk]

Has anyone else noticed something like this or am I just weird?

B.

[ken k]

I believe (...??) were I a one-tuba (186) player and owned a "Solo" threaded underpart and a "Symphony" threaded underpart, I'd use the "Solo" for quintet playing (or when on tour playing tuba concerti ) and use the "Symphony" for large ensemble playing.

I am leaning towards this approach with the blokepieces and my Boosey Eb.
k

[cjk]

Has anyone else noticed something like this or am I just weird?

B.

B. ???? I don't get it. What does B. mean?

Ask your teacher.