Mouthpiece Selection

[Doug Elliott]

Factual data is nothing without personal opinion, because various aspects of mouthpiece dimensions will affect players differently - not to mention different tubas. One player might need a small mouthpiece to have a good high range, and another may not be able to play on that size at all but has an outstanding high range on a large diameter mouthpiece. You said you have a naturally dark sound, and that would often go along with having a naturally easy low range... so you might or might not really need a large diameter mouthpiece.

A lot depends on your particular chops and abilities, and your instrument.

[swillafew]

That answer is very good.

Start trying others' mouthpieces when you get the chance; you'll save a few bucks.

[toobagrowl]

I'm sure there are threads regarding how mouthpiece dimensions can affect different aspects of playing, but I seem to be having trouble finding any. I'm looking for a large diameter cup with a shallower bowl and possibly a smaller bore diameter. I can't do a Helleberg style rim, or bite, so I'm looking for a rounded, wider rim. The goal I am trying to achieve is a strong low range, as low as Db (two octaves below Dd in the staff) but better articulation and response. A brighter sound is OK because I have a very dark timbre now. Am I on the right track? Any advice? I'm looking for more factual data and a bit less personal opinion.

Sounds very similar to me!!
My former teachers tended to use deep Helleberg mouthpieces and recommended them for me. I never really got comfortable on them. But I found that later on in college that I play and sound better on bowl or cup shaped mouthpieces. Like you, I find the Helleberg mouthpieces to have a sharp rim, too narrow diameter and too deep.
I don't get why so many tuba players love them so much, but oh well...

What I have found that works for me are the Schilke 69C4, PT-68 and PT-88. The Schilke 69C4 has a shallow bowl cup, rounded comfy rim, smallish backbore and wide diameter. The PT-68 is a bit deeper with a slightly larger backbore than the Schilke 69C4. The PT-88 is like a bigger, deeper version of the PT-68.
I find that as I am getting used to the Schilke 69C4 that it centers the low range better than the PT-68. The sound is also a bit more open and pure on the Schilke 69C4. The PT-68 is a bit "breathy" sounding, but still a good rounded compact sound.
What I find interesting here is when tuba players talk about the darker sound of Helleberg/funnel mouthpieces. I find that NOT to be the case for me. I have an OLD PT-0 mounthpiece. It is a large, very deep funnel style mouthpiece with a BRIGHT sound. I used it a few years back when I played in a small regional orchestra on my rotary MW CC because I was like captain midnight (DARK sound) on it and wanted more brightness and bite to cut through. It worked and can hear it on the recording. On earlier recordings, I used the PT-88 on that horn and it was so mellow and dark.
Now I am having fun with the Schilke 69C4 and it's comfy rim and pure clear sound out of my naturally darkish tone and tubas.

[GC]

I've had pretty good luck on BBb playing a lot of low register with a Warburton 32D. It has a comfortably rounded rim with a deep, wide cup. It has a lot of resonance combined with being fairly bright, plus it has just a touch of resistance. Unfortunately, it's really expensive. I'm a big fan of Warburton mouthpieces in general. As I've shifted to playing Eb, it's fairly useless to me now.

Realistically, unless you're willing to spend a ton of money trying out different mouthpieces, you need to stick to try-before-you-buy. What works for someone else may just not work for you at all. If you don't go to contests, trade shows, conventions, or the like where there are several stores that bring a big stock of mouthpieces to try, you may be SOL.

[Chen]

Bobo Symphonic or Marcinkiwicz N4.

[iiipopes]

For starters, I'm playing on a Miraphone 186 Bellfront. Dark and loud. I am using an old King 7 mp. The cup diameter is 33.25mm. The Schilke 69C4 is too small. It feels like I have to stuff my face into it. I'm borrowing a Schilke 67, it's a tic small but helps clean up my articulation. The bite is too hard. I am ordering a Marcinkiewicz W4, wide rim, 33.66mm cup, fairly shallow and a 7.8mm throat bore. My main goal is to find something to help with articulation without sacrificing my low register. I don't have a high range above the staff, so if it helps with that, it would be a bonus.
The issues I have with articulation and range have not been totally remedied by lessons with a pro. I am missing my two front teeth too and that helps put the air through the horn. What I was looking for when I posted this thread is a general idea of what characteristics of the mouthpiece affect different aspects of playing. I know that every mouth is different, and you can't find a good fit by simply looking at specs. I'm just looking at a good starting point to narrow things down a bit.

I have a bell front 186 and you're right: they do better with bowl cups. Reading this thread, before getting to the above post, I was thinking Bach 7 as well. You can try any number of variations on a theme, but this will do as good as any for your preferred cup diameter. You don't want to go too small in the throat. It will only impede airflow and actually hinder articulation. Articulation is as much a function of getting air through the horn so the embouchure will vibrate efficiently, and too small a throat will hinder that, just like putting too small a carburetor on a motor will not let enough mixture in to develop all the horsepower the motor can produce.

[Chen]

I'm not trying to rule out opinion, just looking for known, general characteristics. I value everyones opinion and take them in to consideration. I hope I didn't come across like a turd.

Go to Stork Custom Mouthpieces website; their library has plenty of (IMO very good) information based on years of experience. Pay special attention to the issue of volume.

[toobagrowl]

For starters, I'm playing on a Miraphone 186 Bellfront. Dark and loud. I am using an old King 7 mp. The cup diameter is 33.25mm. The Schilke 69C4 is too small. It feels like I have to stuff my face into it. I'm borrowing a Schilke 67, it's a tic small but helps clean up my articulation. The bite is too hard.

Interesting. I own both the Schilke 69C4 and the Schilke 67. The Schilke 69C4 actually has a slightly wider cup diameter (32.76) than the Schilke 67's cup diameter (32.41)......and I can feel it. It is interesting that you feel the opposite
The Schilke 69C4 is a shallow bowl cup mouthpiece and the Schilke 67 is a deep funnel/ Helleberg mouthpiece: http://www.schilkemusic.com/Products/Fr ... ightB.html

I guess you are just gonna have to research and buy mouthpieces and learn over the years like the rest of us Having an assortment of mouthpieces is fun anyway

[Doug Elliott]

I found that interesting too... but manufacturing inconsistency might explain it.

I would not recommend anything in particular right now, but I hope you will at least take a look at my website to see what I have to offer.

[Donn]

I am ordering a Marcinkiewicz W4, wide rim, 33.66mm cup, fairly shallow and a 7.8mm throat bore.

That sounds like a pretty good bet, given your present objective. With some potential to "blat", but of course that's mostly about how you play it.

The only thing I'd be concerned about so far is that you may not be able to hear yourself very well. It's a quandary for any tuba player, but I think especially sousaphones and bell-fronts are going to sound significantly different in back of the bell, where you are, than in front, where your audience is. "Darker", depending on what that means.

[Casey Tucker]

Just my .02,
The Laskey 30H is a great CC mpc. I used to play on one but found that I couldn't control my playing very well when using it. Then my professor, Mr. Daniel, bestowed on me the Stofer Geib. I don't think I'll play on anything else. When I first played on it I didn't really think a whole bunch of it, but after playing on it for a day or so, I'm a believer. It's a great all around mpc from the way lows to the way highs and everything in between. The rim is slightly rounded with a little bit of bite; just enough to keep your articulations clear and still be comfortable. The diameter is not as wide as the PT88 but I wouldn't necessarily consider that a bad thing. It produces a broad tone but is still focused. Like I said, It's an all around mpc.
I'd recommend at least trying one. And if you don't like it I'll buy it from you to keep as a back-up.

-CT