Bowl vs. Funnel?

[TheHatTuba]

What is the different (besides the shape) between a bowl cupped and a funnel cupped mouthpiece?

[chronolith]

Knowing that the shape affects things like tone, airflow, pitch center, darkness, attacks, and even the ease of tuning, I am also curious what some of the expert TNFJs will have to say.

One usually comes to this knowledge through long hours in the practice room and a heck of a lot of trial and error. Not the best way to go about mouthpiece shopping.

[ThomasP]

I'll bite...

In my experience a funnel cup is less restrictive in tonal palate than a bowl.

I got a band director to switch his beginners to bowl shaped mouthpieces and he told me that he's had less problem with range in his 6th grade tubas.

I feel that a bowl cup assists low register playing a lot more than a funnel. To play a funnel, it is my belief that your embouchure needs to be well developed and you really don't need the assistance of the turbulence that is created when playing a bowl cup.

These are all my own conclusions and assessments. None of this is based on science or anything other than playing and putting it into my own words and theories...

[TheHatTuba]

My own "bowl" experience is limited to a PT-64s. Compared to a Helleberg cup, The PT-64 is more point and shoot and a little more colorful. The other difference is I cannot push as much air through the PT-64, despite the large bore.

[Lectron]

Some anatomy

As you have already experienced, the PT 64 has despite its larger bore, more air resistance.
But it's also a matter of mix and match as different instruments has different back pressure

[rodgeman]

I recently got a PT-50 (funnel) vs PT-88 (bowl). I found the bowl to give me a richer sound and better low range. I started on a Conn Helleberg 120.

I play the PT-88 now.

[Doug Elliott]

There are usually a lot of differences besides just the funnel vs bowl, that can account for the different responses usually attributed to the cup shape.

[ScottM]

The most true funnel shaped mouthpiece is the Fred Young model. There isn't a bowl to it all all -- it truly looks like a funnel. Think of a french horn mouthpiece on steroids. I played one once and you got a really fundamental sound out of it. The rim was quite narrow too. Do any of the other tubenetters have one so they could share a picture of it?
ScottM

[toobagrowl]

The most true funnel shaped mouthpiece is the Fred Young model. There isn't a bowl to it all all -- it truly looks like a funnel. Think of a french horn mouthpiece on steroids. I played one once and you got a really fundamental sound out of it. The rim was quite narrow too. Do any of the other tubenetters have one so they could share a picture of it?
ScottM

KiltieTuba uses a Fred Young model mpc.