Small Ensemble Mouthpiece Question

[tyrell1111]

I am about to start my second year of college and I really enjoy playing in the concert band on campus. At the beginning of this past semester, I started playing in a brass quintet with some of my friends in the band. I am currently playing a school provided instrument (I really wish I knew what kind...) and using a PT-50 mouthpiece. One of my professors mentioned something about having a different mouthpiece for the quintet for a brighter and crisper sound as compared to a darker sound for concert band. I really like my PT-50, but I have no idea what to get for this other mouthpiece. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[toobagrowl]

Mouthpieces are a very personal thing, so you just have to test 'em yourself. Maybe give a Bach 18 (and it's clones) a try, a Blokepiece 'solo', a PT-68 or 65? Just throwing some out there....

[Heavy_Metal]

In general, a shallower cup will brighten the sound. Your PT-50, which is basically a Helleberg type, has the following specs (all info from http://www.tubaforum.it/Perantucci/Pera ... pieces.pdf" target="_blank ):

Rim inner diameter- 33.0 mm
Rim width/type- 7.5 mm, flat with a sharp inner edge
Bore- 8.3 mm
Cup- deep, funnel-shaped

Since you're playing a Perantucci, you might want to stay within that line and rim diameter, and try playing a PT-38:

Rim I.D. 33.0 mm
Rim width/type - 7.5 mm, rounded inner and outer edges
Bore: 8.3 mm
Cup- moderately deep, funnel-shaped, moderately round at bottom

or a PT-44:

Rim I.D. 33.0 mm
Rim width/type - 7.5 mm, rounded inner and sharp outer edges
Bore: 8.4 mm
Cup- moderately deep, funnel-shaped

Good luck!

[EMC]

Try a Yamaha C4, those are very good moderate sized mouthpieces that will definitely offer a brighter tone than a pt-50 and they are very easy to play on in most cases and usually work well with most all horns.

[eupho]

since your professor made the recommendation ask him what he would suggest.

[eupher61]

Or, ignore that advice and play the dadgum tuba. If you don't know what the instrument is, you must not have it with you. No mouthpiece will work in that situation.

[eupho]

Really? Really??

An opportunity to educate a student obviously in need and that's all you have to offer? Sarcasm?????

Not what this site is about.

[tyrell1111]

Thanks for the great answers! I will certainly be looking into this before the school year starts. I"ll probably stick to the Perantucci line, for consistency's sake, but this gives me a solid starting point! Thanks for the help!

[k001k47]

Disclaimer: my opinion is far from "expert" *see signature

The "small ensemble" mouthpiece is a murky topic. While, as your teacher stated, a "brighter", or more brilliant tone is desirable, a penetrating laser-like solo voice is out of place. The tuba plays a supporting bass role in these ensembles (and, IMO, the tuba should ALWAYS play this role. A tuba player trying to showcase the agility of a fiddler usually sounds comical) ; it is a foundation, and is not competing with other instruments to be on top of a sound pyramid. Taking this load of crap into consideration, a mouthpiece somewhere in between those marketed as solo mouthpieces and, well. . . big mouthpieces should fit the bill well. My advice is to find a beater "solo" mouthpiece which has a rim that you are comfortable with (and maybe?:help you play with the agility of a fiddler) and bore out the throat of it to give it a little more frijoles.

Take the preceding words with a grain of salt. I've never actually thought of any of that when I look for a new mouthpiece. I just try stuff and use what sounds good.

[jpetty24]

I've got a PT-32 that I'm selling that may fit your bill. Although the rim is different, it may be worth considering. I like the sound it gives, being a little on the lighter brighter side, but it wasn't the all around fit I needed. My only complaint was that it didn't play high volumes as controlled as my Helleberg, but that may be a personal issue, especially as I'm not the experienced tuba player yet. I'm primarily a Euphonium player but picking Tuba as my serious double. Range is good as far as I used it, lows to highs.

Cup: 32.5 mm diameter / Medium-large. Funnel-shaped.

Rim: 8 mm / Rounded inner and outer edges.

Bore: 8.3 mm.

Model PT-32 is similar to Model PT-30 while slightly larger. It provides substantial middle and low register volume with easy high range accessibility. For contrabass tubas.