Tuba player: need advice on a bass trombone mouthpiece

[kprinz]

My primary instrument is tuba, but I'm now teaching applied low brass, including trombone, at a university. I would like to develop my bass trombone chops. (Played low trombone in HS/undergrad decades ago and took some lessons this summer) I'm looking for a mouthpiece that would be comfortable for someone who plays mostly tuba but would be able to produce a decent characteristic sound on bass trombone.

Current Tuba mouthpieces: G & W Baer 2006 for CC and F (not the solo)

I have been using a Shilke 60 on the Bass trombone (trombone teacher's recommendation this summer). Good tone, but the rim is very narrow and sharp, at times it is pretty uncomfortable. Lower register, the tone seems to wobble slightly, and of course it feels a little small.

I would like to avoid spending an large amount of money on a mouthpiece, but any suggestions you might have would be wonderful and will be given serious consideration.

Read some other posts about the Bobo TT signature and possibly a Self signature mouthpiece by yamaha that might fit the bill. Wasn't sure what to look for on the Self, but I did find the Bobo TT. Any experiences on these? Any others that might be out there? Thanks for your help.

[Ben]

I use a Schilke 59, smaller than your 60, but I could be wrong.

I have also messed around with a PT-64 (XS shank), this makes the Btbn sound like an unholy terror - quite satisfying at times. (Conn 72H) - Quite possibly a slide cimbasso pitched in F/E with an ascending valve

As you have mentioned, you do not like the sharp rim - I have no other experiences other than the above craziness.

and.... BUMP

[Duane]

As a tuba AND bass trombone player for Navy Band New Orleans the best answer I have to give is… … … find what works for you. LOL

With that being said, I REALLY liked my Greg Black 1 ¼ mouthpiece in my Yamaha Bass Bone. It also sounded and responded well in the bands Edwards. The Doug Yoe isn’t bad, particularly for the price. It also sounded great and blended well with our band. The biggest advice I can give you is find a mouthpiece and just stick with it.

[jwjeffrey]

Interesting, I started playing Bass Trombone I was using a Schilke 59,wanted something bigger and move to a Schilke 60.Started playing Tuba and switch instruments after the 1st year of College.My Tuba Mouth piece is a Old Perantucci #12.

[MartyNeilan]

The Loud LM31 is a large bass trombone mouthpiece that will give you a big clear projecting tone with a little sizzle when called for, and not a spread unfocused sound that is the bane of many oversized bass trombone mouthpieces. It appears they are back in production.
http://www.loudmouthpieces.com/SearchRe ... p?Cat=1835
and
http://www.loudmouthpieces.com/ProductD ... tCode=LM31

[Donn]

My experience when fooling around with the bass trombone is that the rim makes a big difference to me, more so than tuba. If the Schilke 60 doesn't feel right, you wouldn't be the first person to notice that, and there are a handful of mouthpieces that are made on larger blanks so they don't have to choose between a large cup and a normal rim.

I did kind of a survey of mouthpieces as wide or wider than the Schilke 60, and turned up a couple dozen currently produced models, between maybe a dozen makers. On the wide end they'd be more in the contrabass trombone range, which is like a small tuba mouthpiece at 30 or 31mm. I have tried my Denis Wick 5 tuba mouthpiece, and it stinks.

Of course any currently produced mouthpiece will have a few players who think it's the greatest. I eventually happened upon a Joseph Klier mouthpiece in the 1 1/4G range (though shallower) that was miraculously better for me, but I have weird teeth and who knows what other peculiarities.

[PMeuph]

My bass trombone mouthpiece is the Doug Yeo replica. For a while I was using my euph mouthpiece (MF PS Solo), but I have found that it just didn't work well.

I have also tried the Rath 1 1/4w and really enjoyed the wider rim that it has. (Compared to a regular Bach 1 1/4)

Personally, the only time I tried the Bobo TT, I absolutely hated it. But then again, I'm a Euphonium player who moved to Bass trombone and Tuba and not vice-versa.


If you happen to be anywhere near Doug Elliot, it might be wise to check out some of his mouthpieces. He might even be able to recommend something based on what you use already.

[imperialbari]

Yamaha Yeo Signature. The replica version is less costly.

Klaus

[tubalamb]

If you happen to be anywhere near Doug Elliot, it might be wise to check out some of his mouthpieces. He might even be able to recommend something based on what you use already.

+1

This is exactly what I did this summer when recommitting to play Bass Trombone after some 10-12 years away. I had the luxury of trying a bunch of mouthpieces with the bass trombonist I work with. There were aspects of some of the mouthpieces I liked, but not a single one stood out above the rest. I then emailed Doug with what I liked and didn't like about each, what I was looking for, and he sent me a mouthpiece combination based on my input and his recommendation. He pretty much nailed it with the mouthpiece he sent me.

Being a tuba player (and keeping that my day job), I've never felt comfortable with the narrow and sharp rims that seem to be on most bass trombone mouthpieces. I'd come away from practice sessions feeling beat up and recovery for tuba playing would be in question. Through some trial and error, the answer for me was a wider bass trombone rim.

FWIW, all of Doug's rims come in a few different widths (I ended up with the widest). Another rim that really stood out to me was on the Shires Vintage series (specifically the Shires Vintage 1G). I've also heard good things about the Ferguson rims regarding comfort/width, although I have yet to try any.

I don't know if any of my recommendations will help you avoid spending a large amount, however, it's just my recent experience.

Good luck!

[Gilligan]

Just a thought...

I was dealing with a bad wobble in my attacks until I deepended my mouthpiece cup. Try using a cup exender or a deeper mouthpiece and see what happens to that wobble.

[MackBrass]

I played around with the Bobo tenor tuba mpc on the bass bone and did not like the sound. After that I tried the Schilke 59 then moved to the 60. Although the 60 is about a big as they come for bass bone the rim is on the small side, I have gotten used to it. I have to admit that I only play bass tromebone when I am teaching, although I can get a good sound my slide control sucks. Good luck.

[tbn.al]

I am primarily a Bass Trombonist. I 've been playing a 60 for decades and have learned to enjoy the narrow rim. However when selecting a tuba mouthpiece I always gravitate towards a wider rim with rather sharp inside rim shoulder. I got a tip from Willis Howell of "Spiritual to the Bone" fame, some years back as to mouthpiece selection for the bottom parts of trombone choir, basically normal tuba range. Willis uses an old Eb tuba mouthpiece and said I wouldn't lose the trombone timbre but gain flexibility in the extreme low range. He was right. I use a Bach 30E that I cut the shank down to bass trombone size and love it for that kind of work. However I still use my 60 for normal stuff, symphonic/band etc. Check out track 7 to hear Willis rock the low range.

http://www.salvoaudio.com/bands/spiritu ... voices.htm" target="_blank

[Doug Elliott]

I make bass trombone rims in three different widths. The Wide option is exactly the same as my standard tenor rim shape, and is what many doublers prefer. Also, I make CB series contrabass mouthpieces in several rim sizes and several cup depths, some of which apply well to bass trombone and can sound entirely normal on bass trombone while giving you the comfort you need.

[elihellsten]

I also use a Schilke 60 when I play bass trombone. I'm very fond of it, especially the sound it produces. The narrow rim can be a bit uncomfortable at times, though.

[glangfur]

A wide rim is probably the key for you, and with that in mind I'll add to the chorus for Doug Elliott. His system works better than anything else I've tried for the hybrid mouthpiece of a doubler, and it works great for a lot of people with more mainstream needs as well. He will be able to fit you with a rim that will feel comfortable and familiar to you, and a cup that will get the bass trombone sound you hear in your head.

There are a couple of other makers that regularly produce wide rim bass trombone mouthpieces:

Giddings and Webster do it for most of their models, although the contours are not right for everybody (and I still can't get used to the sound of stainless mouthpieces on any brass instrument, sorry).

Josef Klier (JK) bass trombone mouthpieces have wide rims, but I found them odd in other ways that just didn't fit my horn.

The Ferguson copies of Larry Minick mouthpieces (made by Kanstul) also have wide rims. The LS is probably the one most likely to feel big enough for you. It's a pretty good mouthpiece.

But Doug Elliott is my first recommendation for sure.

[tclements]

Bach 1G
Schilke 60
Doug Eliott 116 Rim; M cup; 8 or 9 backbore
Ferguson/Minick Jeff Reynolds Model