The PT64

[tubaplyer]

Dear F/Eb players,

I have recently purchased a PT64 mouthpiece to use on my Besson Eb. I have read and heard that this mouthpiece is one of the more popular F-tuba mouthpieces on the market and I figured why not give it a try.

I am not sure if it is my horn or me but I consistently blow out of tune with this mouthpiece on my Eb horn. I admit, I have a small Besson 700 3 valve Eb. But with another mouthpiece (bobo solo, conn-helleberg) I blow just as true as can be.

Do you have any advice? Is this mp really more for the F player than the Eb guy? I'm just curious.

Thanks,

A

[Ben]

It is all pot luck with MP's. If you have a piece that plays in tune, keep it! Some horn's don't care what you stick in it, you may notice other horns are very picky with intonation vs. MP's.

I don't have a suggestion for you as to what is optimal for your horn. I can say, when I look for a MP, I look for a few things

1. Intonation
2. Uniform sound through the register
3. Clarity of articulation (uniform across range & dynamics)

If it meets these 3, I will stop and be happy... Rim shape tends to influence #3 for me, so I start with the shapes I like. My ears tell me the rest.

[bort]

I tried a PT-65 for a while on my F tuba. I liked the response and sound, but intonation was a little "off" with it. I figured that was more a mismatch of me, mouthpiece, and tuba, so I decided to not use it. I sold it because I like the G&W Baer F better.

[Ben]

Aside here: (as Bort is wont to provoke )

I have a range of PT MP's. I have found the 64 & 65 are not at all similar as advertised on the web. Most descriptions I have read imply the 65 is a 2nd generation of the 64. I have found the intonation of the overtones and response factors to be quite different... Neither is a bad piece. I use the 64 with my F, 64XS with my 184, and the 65 with my 163 (I also use a certain bloke's pieces on these horns if I desire other playing qualities). I used my above posted guide to get to this point. It is very handy to have many MP's around. Find a friend close by and go to town!

[ppalan]

I can't really speak too much about F-tubas as I've only played a few and not for very long. I got a PT-64 when I bought my first Eb, an old Amati with 4 clockwork rotors. I really liked it and it caused no intonation problems. The horn itself had some pitch and centering issues. The issues remained with other mp's I tried. I later purchased a YEB-321 and continued to use the 64 until I discovered "bloke's" Solo #2 and Symphony models. The sound on both horns but especially the Yamaha really opened up and there was a much greater "clarity" and "breadth" to the sound than I'd ever felt. Again, no intonation issues. I asked several friends to try both the blokepieces on their F's (They both use/used 64's) and they were very impressed by them. FWIW, I'm sold on the bloke's pieces. On the downside though, I can't blame the equipment now for any problems.

[hugechunkofmetal]

Could be that the shank on the PT64 is too large for the receiver on the tuba. How far does it stick out?

[Wyvern]

Could be that the shank on the PT64 is too large for the receiver on the tuba. How far does it stick out?

I would think an 'S', or 'even 'XS' shank would be required to fit a Besson 700 properly. The standard shank is made for German tubas with larger receivers than a Besson.

[tubaplyer]

You may have a point but it is only negligible the pt64 goes in just shy of 1" and the bobo solo for comparison goes 1"&1/8
I'll try to get the pictures up