Mouthpiece Advice Requested

[Outawind]

I'm an amateur tubist, and my weapon of choice is my five-valve conical-bore Scherzer ("Jhn Sandner") CC horn, red brass, 16-1/2" bell, 0.770" bore. The only two mouthpieces that I have ever used are a Miraphone Rose Solo and a Helleberg, for no good reason. The instrument is a little on the small side for large wind-band, and I would like to find a mouth-piece that is more conducive to large ensemble work. I realize that one can't turn a small 4/4 horn into a 5/4 machine with just a mouth-piece change, but I would think that I can get something that would open up the low end and provide a little more sonority.

Any comments / suggestions would be appreciated.

[fairweathertuba]

Maybe a PT 50? It's all a personal thing really, a Bach 12 might do it as well. It's really a difficult call until you just try them, which of course can be more than a little expensive.

[DenzelRichTx]

If you want a larger fuller sound go with either a laskey 30H or a Giddings & Webster Alan Baer MMVI model. You can project better on any of those mouthpieces than the Helleburg.

[DenzelRichTx]

LM-5 or LM-7 I forgot which one is deeper, but either are good, too bad the website is under construction.

The Loud brand is good but it can get extremely rough in the low end of the tuba range.

[TheHatTuba]

If you want a larger fuller sound go with either a laskey 30H or a Giddings & Webster Alan Baer MMVI model. You can project better on any of those mouthpieces than the Helleburg.

Agreed. I like my Baer but it only sounds the way I want it to on my 52j. It sounds "different" on my Sonora and that is why it uses a different mouthpiece. Just experiment if you can

[cjk]

I'm an amateur tubist, and my weapon of choice is my five-valve conical-bore Scherzer ("Jhn Sandner") CC horn, red brass, 16-1/2" bell, 0.770" bore....

Could you possibly post pictures of this instrument? It sounds really really interesting.

[Outawind]

Thanks very much for the excellent suggestions. At least I have some targets now, rather than complete trial and error.

Used to have some pics of the Scherzer, but I cleaned house. I'll take a few in the next day or so and post them for anyone that has interest. It is an unusual instrument.

[Outawind]

As requested, pics of the Scherzer attached.

Anybody else own one of these?

[imperialbari]

There are at least 3 makers of the name Scherzer. The most famous one is the trumpet maker in Markneukirchen, who also has his name on a few horns and apparently also is the one behind this tuba. Scherzer of Augsburg is more versatile, but with a smaller output. Scherzer of Krefeld appears even less produktive.

This present Scherzer tuba (CC I guess) looks like made from B&S parts. This design obviously was prepared of a sixth valve (the straight tubing above the 5th indicates that). I have a trumpet from that Markneukirchen maker. Excellent craftsmanship, but some old-fashioned design elements.

Klaus

[iiipopes]

From what I can see of the tuba, it looks like the Miraphone Rose Orchestra would continue to do very well for you. I disagree that it is a "little on the small side" for wind band. Now, if you're the only tuba player in a 50+ piece band, then the director should be finding you some section mates instead. You have a very fine tuba, indeed.

Now, most of the mouthpieces recommended above have a larger cup inside diameter than what you are used to, which can mean problems in centering proper pitch. Moreover, some of them even have a larger throat which equates to bigger breath support necessary to get the most out of them. At some point in each of our lives, the breath support, and despite our best efforts, the muscle tone (pun not intended) of our embouchure muscles start to deteriorate. Just one more fact of aging. For this reason, for my tuba, I contacted Matt @ Dillon Music for a proper mouthpiece for the most efficient match to my horn and my embouchure & breath support, as well as the repertoire and ensembles I play with.

I encourage you to call Matt, Roger, or Jeff and discuss the matter with one of them. The mouthpiece Matt recommended for me, a Curry D, has turned out to be absolutely as perfect a match for my mouthpiece/player/tuba/repertoire combination as can be. Your mileage WILL vary. Only you are you. Only Matt @ Dillon music, or Roger Lewis, or Jeff Rideout, have the experience to properly match a mouthpiece to a particular player/horn/ensemble/repertoire combination.