Kelly mouthpieces Turbo-blow mpcs

[Jose the tuba player]

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[NCSUSousa]

The LM 12 is pretty much the polar opposite of what I am looking for. My interest in this model stems from looking for a Lexan mouthpiece (I find Lexan to be more comfortable) with the projection of a metal mouthpiece. I am looking for a deep Helleberg style mouthpiece in the 33mm range.

Why not take a look at Doug Elliot's offerings? My brother-in-law has a Doug Elliot mouthpiece he uses on his Euphonium.
Lexan rim, metal body, metal shank. I think that matches your description above.

Here's the link (if it's allowed for a non-sponsor): http://www.dougelliottmouthpieces.com/cbtuba.html

[Michael Bush]

So here’s the deal with this mouthpiece. I bought it because of this thread, to “take one for the team” and just see what it was. I never expected to keep it. Then I forgot to come back here and say what I found out.

When I listed it, I took it for granted that it was the “shallow” version, because it is, you know, shallow. (I have no memory of making a decision about this when I bought it.) When I looked at the web site to see if they had a special name for it, I just didn’t pay close enough attention and picked up the wrong number. Or the right number, depending on how you look at it.

Today, cktuba messaged me on ebay for clarification. I still didn’t question that it was shallow, and just went back and checked Kelly’s site to get the model number right, and revised the auction. Then it occurred to me that I would still have the receipt from Kelly in my email, and in fact that listed it as an S3 deep cup. So, assuming the receipt is correct, rather than revise yet again, I cancelled the auction and relisted it with the information on the receipt.

Now to give the information I got it to be able to pass along: Like everyone else, I’m highly skeptical of the rifling in the shank. That is just marketing. But having said that, this piece stands head and shoulders above the Kellyberg. Undoubtedly it is overpriced at retail and the idea that any little rotation it puts on the air column would still be in play by the time it reaches the first valve (or would make an audible difference if it was) seems ludicrous.

But if no one wants it, I won’t mind keeping it. It’s as responsive as you expect a smallish mouthpiece to be, and as has been mentioned here, you can put out some decibels with it without losing focus. It’s easily the best all-plastic mouthpiece on the market, as far as I know.

So there you have it. Or at least there I have it.

[Donn]

Now to give the information I got it to be able to pass along: Like everyone else, I’m highly skeptical of the rifling in the shank. That is just marketing. But having said that, this piece stands head and shoulders above the Kellyberg. Undoubtedly it is overpriced at retail and the idea that any little rotation it puts on the air column would still be in play by the time it reaches the first valve (or would make an audible difference if it was) seems ludicrous.

I probably missed something, why do you need the air rotation to go all the way to the first valve?

There has to be all kinds of turbulence at the throat, of any mouthpiece. Any change in the shape of the throat is going to affect that one way or another. This mouthpiece has a feature there that clearly ought to have a somewhat unique effect. The mouthpiece turns out to work well; why couldn't that be due to the rifling?

[Michael Bush]

I probably missed something, why do you need the air rotation to go all the way to the first valve?

There has to be all kinds of turbulence at the throat, of any mouthpiece. Any change in the shape of the throat is going to affect that one way or another. This mouthpiece has a feature there that clearly ought to have a somewhat unique effect. The mouthpiece turns out to work well; why couldn't that be due to the rifling?

Could be. You no doubt know more about it than I do. It just seems like too small a lever against too big a rock to me, but I could be wrong.

[Paul Scott]

Lol! The Herco Professional (in glorious rhodium) was my first tuba mouthpiece when I began on Eb tuba nearly 40 years ago. My horn was a Symphony Professional so how could I go wrong (don't answer that. ....)?

[Donn]

Could be. You no doubt know more about it than I do.

I doubt that - nothing can't be more than anything!

[Michael Bush]

Thanks for the info Talleyrand. It sounds interesting, it's just too bad that they don't make a mouthpiece of this design that actually has a deep cup (comparable to said Kellyberg or the Kelly 18). Of course if there is no model number on the mouthpiece itself, it's always possible that you received the S4 by mistake (although unlikely).

I just noticed that the depth is about the same as my Sellmansberger Solo #2, though the cup is more funnel shaped.

[Michael Bush]

Sounds to me like that should be the S4 shallow. If not... Wow.... Not what I would call a deep mouthpiece.

I don't think you're doubting me at all, but just for the sake of letting everyone see what I see, here is a screen shot of the relevant portion of my receipt from Kelly.

kelly receipt.gif