My mouthpiece discovery

[Radar]

As most of you are aware I've only been playing tuba a little over a year now, coming from trombone and Euphonium (for over 40 years), I thought a smaller Tuba mouthpiece would be better for me as a doubler on Tuba. Well the small probably Asian made Mt. Vernon (not a Bach Mt. Vernon) 18T mouthpiece I got because it had a small rim and was cheap to start with worked OK for playing Sousa on the Street. I was recently asked to sub on Tuba for the Christmas season for a local community concert band. I've been practicing Tuba like a fiend lately to prepare for the concert band performance on Tuba. I went to rehearsal last week did pretty well except a lot of the music was in the lower register of the horn. I was having a problem getting the lowest notes to speak well. I picked up a Blessing 18, and a Conn Hellberg model to try. With Both of these mouthpieces the lower register of the horn just opened right up, and I'm getting more volume out of the Tuba than I ever had with the smaller mouth piece. Wish I hadn't decided that smaller would be better for doubling when I first started. My tuba playing has improved 10 fold with all the practicing and the change in mouthpiece.

I would like some opinions on something: The Helleberg gives me more bite to the attack, and with the thinner rim I get a little more flexibility. The Blessing 18 gives me a nice round tone, and because of the rounded rim shape is more comfortable to play for longer times. My question is should I pick one and stay with it, or do you think it's OK to switch back and forth depending on who I'm playing with and the sound I'm going for. I was thinking for the Sousa stuff and what we do with the fire department band the more cutting attack of the Helleberg might be a good thing, but for concert band that might not be the most desirable thing and the 18 might be better. Wanted to get your general opinion on this.

Thanks!!

Ray

[Pat S]

I can't help with your questions, but do appreciate your post. I'm facing the same "doubler from euph" question and got lots of help in my "another mouthpiece question" post. Looks like going larger is going to be the best ticket for me as well, then sorting it out with lots of practice.

[Untersatz]

I thought a smaller Tuba mouthpiece would be better for me as a doubler on Tuba.

I went to rehearsal last week did pretty well except a lot of the music was in the lower register of the horn. I was having a problem getting the lowest notes to speak well.

If you want your tuba to "sound" like a tuba............then by all means, use a tuba sized mouthpiece.

[gregsundt]

Unless you are changing horns a lot, find the one mouthpiece that serves you best in the settings you play most often. I only change mouthpieces if I find the tuba of the week doesn't repond well / play in tune / sound quite right on my big Tilz M1 (Helleberg).

[Radar]

Unless you are changing horns a lot, find the one mouthpiece that serves you best in the settings you play most often. I only change mouthpieces if I find the tuba of the week doesn't repond well / play in tune / sound quite right on my big Tilz M1 (Helleberg).

Basically I have 2 Bass Horns I alternate between, a Yamaha YBB-321 and a Holton Sousaphone.

[iiipopes]

The Blessing version of the 18 is the best 18 Bach never made.

[ken k]

dont try to make it similar to your trombone/euph. It is a different horn. play it like a tuba not a trombone/euph.

treat it as the different animal it is.

k

[gregsundt]

Unless you are changing horns a lot, find the one mouthpiece that serves you best in the settings you play most often. I only change mouthpieces if I find the tuba of the week doesn't repond well / play in tune / sound quite right on my big Tilz M1 (Helleberg).

Basically I have 2 Bass Horns I alternate between, a Yamaha YBB-321 and a Holton Sousaphone.

You might fnd that the Helleberg cup works really well with the Yamaha, and the 18 with the sousaphone. Or vice versa. In either case, find the combination that works best most of the time, and stay with it/them.

[Radar]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. At this point at least with the Yamaha the 18 seems to work well for me. I haven't tried the sousaphone yet, because I'm working on prepping for a couple of concert band concerts.