Kelly Plastic Mouthpieces-Any Opinions?

[Jacob_R]

I need to buy a new mouthpiece for my 1947 Conn BBb recording bass. My teacher lent me his Bach 24W, which I like, although I also like my Blessing 18. I was thinking about getting a Kelly 24W, and wanted to know what people think about them?


Thanks!


Jacob Russell

[BAtlas]

I'm going to address this separately since I see two things here...

#1 Plastic Mouthpieces: I like them for informal outdoor gigs, but myself and a few colleagues have found that the sound changes especially in the louder dynamic ranges. Even when outdoors I'll only use it in extreme weather (cold/hot).

#2 24W: I think this is a mouthpiece that many players use only because they haven't explored the other options. There is a vast amount of different mouthpieces out there. If you can I'd recommend trying a couple and bringing a good ear with you to offer feedback.

Have you looked at Helleberg Style Mouthpieces? If you are really sold on Lexan, Kelly makes a plastic version of the Helleberg called "Kellyberg". Also, look into the Perantucci line of mouthpieces.

I hope something in there helps you!

[imperialbari]

Kelly in Alta.jpg

A situation where the Kelly mouthpieces are right. The photo is from May 17th 2011, Norway’s Constitution Day, as celebrated in Alta, which is a few degrees further to the North than is Kotzebue - AK. But you can drive your car all the way to Alta from southern Norway, which is what TubeNetter Jan Viggo did when he took on the position as teacher at the music school in Alta.

Jan Viggo joined the community band for the parade playing his Norwegian made ‘tema’ helicon. Not too obvious from the photo, but it snowed while they marched, so Jan Viggo was very happy with is red Kelly mouthpiece.

I have the Kellyberg and the 18, which I rarely use for the reasons told by the above posters. If you want to use a Kelly, I have no biases against that at all. Only I find the 24AW a very odd choice for a BBb tuba. Whether you prefer the Kellyberg or the 18 is a matter of taste, but these two are ones matching BBb tubas.

Klaus

[imperialbari]

The you was for the OP, Schleppy. I had no suspicion you involved yourself with a 24AW. It can hold far too few decorations and would limit the scope of your creativity.

Klaus

[DonShirer]

I wish Kelly had been in business when (a googol years ago) I almost froze to my mouthpiece at an icy Thanksgiving football game. As others have said, they are a lip-saving option in cold outdoor gigs.

I found to my surprise that a Kellyberg was the best overall choice for my YEP321, but when I switched to a 2141, it dropped to second choice and I now only use it indoors on quiet smooth passages. So I suppose it depends on how it fits you and your tuba.

[Bandmaster]

I keep a Kellyberg mouthpiece in my car for warming up the chops on the way to a rehearsal or a gig. It comes in really handy if you're running a little late and will lose some of your warm up time. It doesn't get hot or cold sitting in the car. It also means you always have a mouthpiece handy if you're invited to play with a group and you don't have your horn with you. They might have a horn for you to borrow and you have a familiar mouthpiece in the car.

[Jacob_R]

Hi Folks,


Thanks very much for all the responses. That's why I asked here first! As I mentioned my teacher lent me his Bach 24W, which he used with his sousaphone or his Miraphone rotary valved upright. I have the 24 on long-term loan, and I like it. I have only used it and the Blessing 18; I had another mouthpiece that my teacher gave me but I lost it. I don't remember anything about it except that I used it to practice buzzing when at work (I drive a bus).

I like the "oomph" that I get with the 24. I can feel that the cup is deeper, but I have found it hard to push out quick low register Es and Fs with it-especially now that I am practicing scales with a metronome.

I am open to suggestions and I haven't been playing long enough (less than two years) to be close-minded about mouthpieces! I am searching for a really dark, sonorous quality, as exemplified by the playing of Ernest "Bass" Hill with the Chocolate Dandies on "Cloudy Skies" from 1930:


http://www.redhotjazz.com/chocolate.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


But could this tone be a function of the horn-a sousaphone, likely-rather than the mouthpiece? I am ready to hear any and all advice about a reasonably priced mouthpiece that will give me a strong, deep tone. My horn already produces a good tone with either the Blessing or Bach. Thanks very much for the feedback! And yes, that's my horn in my picture-thanks, eBay!

[tubaforce]

Hi!
My default MP is a Helleburg. I like 'em with gold rims(ala Gold Chops,ebay). Number 2 is a good old Bach 18. For EEb I have had success with a 24 AW. I have each of the above MP's in plastic, by Kelly(wait for a promo sale if you're not particular about color...). I have protective pouches for ALL my MP's, even the Kelly's! Generally speaking, a funnel sharpens one's tone, while cups seem to darken your sound and take a bit of "edge" off...Unfortunately we tuba players don't have the luxury of trying expensive MP's with our Tubas, tuner in hand, side by side. Remember too that the sound you hear may change dramatically 20 feet away from Tuba, room size and ceiling height depending! Rim shape also determines ease and comfort, sharper rims aiding articulation at the expense of (some) comfort. I hope this helps!

Al

[iiipopes]

I agree that a Kelly probably is not a choice for a primary mouthpiece, unless 90%+ of your gigs will be outdoors throughout the year. OTOH, everybody should have at least one as a spare to the primary mouthpiece, for outdoor gigs in inclement weather, to keep to buzz in the car, etc. I have two Kelly 18's for just such purposes. The only criticism of a Kelly as a player is that occasionally a note or range of notes will not center the same as on a conventional mouthpiece. Finally, the dynamic response of all Kelly Lexan mouthpieces is improved by taping the throat with a circle of golfer's lead tape to stabilize the mouthpiece at this critical point.

[Art Hovey]

Every student who has come to me using a 24AW or the equivalent with a BBb tuba has had difficulty with the low register. I always advise them to get a Kelly 18, and when they do they start to get a big sound and they start hitting the low notes. One might expect there would be a price to pay in the high register, but I have not found that to be the case. One kid was sent a Kellyberg by mistake. I let him use it for a couple of years while he was small, but when he finally did get an 18 he agreed that it sounded much better. If you prefer silver-plated brass, get a Blessing 18.

[Donn]

I am searching for a really dark, sonorous quality, as exemplified by the playing of Ernest "Bass" Hill with the Chocolate Dandies on "Cloudy Skies" from 1930:


http://www.redhotjazz.com/chocolate.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


But could this tone be a function of the horn-a sousaphone, likely-rather than the mouthpiece?

I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's playing a tuba a lot like yours, in the picture.

(Whoever he is - I'm getting broken links at the page you link to, and when I searched for that band and tune elsewhere I got a 1930 Odeon recording with, ostensibly, John Kirby on tuba. I'm guessing Hill really played mostly string bass, in the '40s Carter version of the band. One '30s Redman band tune with some tuba going on is "That's How I Feel Today", with the illustrious Cyrus St Clair. Anyway, I like your taste in tuba role models in any case, these guys were the cream of the crop in a time when the tuba was a very mainstream instrument in American popular music.)

Those forward facing bells used to be called "recording bells" because they were a little more present in the early recording equipment. I don't know what people used for mouthpieces back then. In general, I have the impression the average size may have been a little smaller - for example, I have read that the Conn Helleberg of that era is more like the current 7B than the larger Helleberg "S".

But of course mainly it's about how they play - that dark, focused sound with just enough edge to give it some outline. I suspect within the limits of the recording technology of the time, you'd never be able to tell the difference between different mouthpieces they may have used.

[Jacob_R]

Hi Folks,


Thanks for all the input, which I sincerely appreciate. I saw a Bach 24W on the Sale Page that I think I'll pick up in the short term, and also pick up a Kelleyberg for further experimentation. I'll also look for a metal Helleberg, and take it from there. Any other thoughts on mouthpieces to consider, and why?


Thanks again!



Jacob

[Jacob_R]

Whoops, now that I think about it, I do have a Blessing 18. Why would this mouthpiece be better in the lower register?

[Art Hovey]

The 18 has a bigger cup than the Helleberg or the 24. Try it and see what you think.

[J.c. Sherman]

Seemingly always the contrarian, I like the Kelly mouthpieces. The 18 and Kellyburg cuts are excellent, and I used a Kelly 18 with a tone ring as my main mouthpiece on my Conn 52J. They don't always perform well on their own at extreme professional dynamics, but they are very comfortable and sound wonderful. At a tone intensifier ring like I did and they are even more useful, since you gain back much of the mass.

YMMV. I keep a Kelly 18 in my car for emergencies, buzzing, and trying out instruments.

[TubaRay]

But there are better mouthpieces out there when controlled precise playing is required.

And, exactly when would this NOT be true?

[Kevin Hendrick]

Seemingly always the contrarian, I like the Kelly mouthpieces. The 18 and Kellyburg cuts are excellent, and I used a Kelly 18 with a tone ring as my main mouthpiece on my Conn 52J. They don't always perform well on their own at extreme professional dynamics, but they are very comfortable and sound wonderful. At a tone intensifier ring like I did and they are even more useful, since you gain back much of the mass.

YMMV. I keep a Kelly 18 in my car for emergencies, buzzing, and trying out instruments.

Agreed -- my main mouthpiece is a Kellyberg. As with Groucho Marx's principles, "I have others" (for extreme dynamics and range), but more than 90% of my playing is on the Kelly. Works well for me!

But there are better mouthpieces out there when controlled precise playing is required.

And, exactly when would this NOT be true?

The third set at an Oktoberfest?

(as our announcer has been known to say, "Drink up, folks! The more you drink, the better we sound ...")

[toobagrowl]

I use a Kelly 18 as a practice & outdoor mouthpiece and have another Kelly 18 that I sometimes use for indoor concerts/gigs. Very light and responsive mouthpieces.

[tubatooter1940]

I used a Kelly 24AW in my Eb tuba. The plastic caused me to lose some edge from my sound but I don't think anybody noticed but me.
I'm old and have a problem with the Kelly plastic late in a four hour gig.
At the end of the evening, the natural oils get leached out of my lips by saliva, water and beer so the plastic starts sticking to my lips - pulling the skin off.
I replaced the Kelly with a G&W Diablo in stainless steel. I really like it.
I carry my Kelly 24AW with me in case I need a backup piece.
toots

[Jacob_R]

Thanks again for all the useful and informative feedback and advice. I am happy to say that I "won" a Helleberg mouthpiece on eBay last night for $18, which I regard as money well spent. I will compare my Besson 18, my teacher's 24AW Bach, and the Helleberg, and see what works best.

Please send me more suggestions. I'm still interested and open to more ideas and comments. Only today it occurred to me to start scouring pawn shops and musical instrument shops for mouthpieces to experiment with...


Thanks , folks!