What Mouthpiece Did You Start On?

tubarepair · Post by **tubarepair** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:24 pm

With all the latest and greatest $400 mouthpieces, lets here what junker you cut your teeth on and what you use now! Tuba or Euph. (main mouthpiece only, please)

For me it was a very small, yet comfortable E-Z Tone tuba mouthpiece. Now I play a Cocobolo Benterfa TU1 wood mouthpiece.

Tubaryan12 · Post by **Tubaryan12** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:32 pm

I started on a Benge 24AW that I still have but can't play (too worn...no finish left). My current mouthpiece is a J. Marcinkiewicz N4

Paul Scott · Post by **Paul Scott** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:48 pm

I started on a Herco Eb Professional, (yes, that's what was written on it!).
Actually a very nice mouthpiece for a 6th grade E-flatter! From there to a King 26 (very common at the time), Bach 24 AW, Mirafone C-3 (now Tu-21) modified, Conn Helleberg, Denis Wick 1, and now a Curry 128DH. A change about every 4 1/2 years.

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:49 pm

I was given a Conn 2 at my first lesson in 1970. I still have it, but don't use it. I currently use a Doug Elliot R cup with a 130 rim and an R6E shank on my King 2341, and a Denis Wick 3L on my Besson 983. I also have an old Bach 7 that I was using on my Martin BAT, and a Dillon R1 that I also use when I'm in the mood.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:51 pm

Started out with a Schilke 66 on my Eb tuba.Switched to a Kelly 24AW.
The Kelly helps with my lips breaking out two days after a four hour rock gig.I still get zits from playing but 2 or 3 with the Kelly as opposed to 6 or 8 playing a gold Schilke.I think the present amount of damage is due to abrading too much skin off physically rather than allergy to metals.I am trying to learn to play more softly but the temptation to blatt on a boogie song is strong,very strong.

dmmorris · Post by **dmmorris** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:05 pm

I started in Middle school on a Bach 22 then pretty quickly changed to a Bach 18 which I used all through H.S and college. Still have 'em.

I never could stand the Bach 24 series...what's up with that fat rim anyway?

These days I'm diggin' a Mike Finn MF-3H-gc.

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:16 pm

I was given a Bach 18 when I started, and didn't really care what else I was using for quite a while. Partway through my first attempt at college I got a Conn Helleberg, and I stuck with that for quite a while. I've also used a Mirafone of some flavor and a smooth-sided Conn.

I did have a Warburton CV with a #6 shank for a few years, but somehow that got lost. That played nice.

I think that altogether I've used maybe ten or twelve mouthpieces over the years. My favorites so far? PT50, Bayamo (although I really liked the Caver, too), and Kellyberg.

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:25 pm

In the 5th grade, I started on the mouthpiece that came with my 3/4 Yamaha YBB-103, but quickly moved up to a Giardinelli 3 piece Don Butterfield mouthpiece (why? because that's what they had in the shop display case at the time.) It was a medium sized Helleberg style piece, with a fairly comfortable gold plated rim. Eventually I moved away from it because I wanted something a little bigger in diameter and a little deeper, as the DB began to feel too small to my enormous lips.
BTW, I played on Bach 18's a little in junior high and high school but never liked them.

ThomasP · Post by **ThomasP** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:55 pm

Started on a Bach 12 in 7th grade. moved to a bach 12 megatone in tenth grade, bought a pt-88+ during my second year of college. and last year purcases a MF 3 and 4, which I play on currently. there was also a rose solo starting my second year of college, and a ME 3 my 4th year of college both used only for solo and quintet. but the MF 4 has replaced them.

elimia · Post by **elimia** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:05 pm

Whatever was in the case - a Bach 12C I think. Ended up on a 6.5AL as a freshman, playing a Schilke 51D senior year.

horto008 · Post by **horto008** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:06 pm

here's the progression from my younger days:

Bach 18 (6th grade)
Bach 24AW(7-8th grade)
Bach Megatone 7 (high school)
Perantucci PT88 (Freshman year college)
Perantucci PT50 (Next three years of college)
Perantucci PT50+ (Still using it)
GW Diablo (Still using it)

gives more info than the poster asked..but hey, it was entertaining thinking of all the mp's.

Art Hovey · Post by **Art Hovey** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:25 pm

I started in 5th grade on Eb tuba with a Martin Eb mouthpiece. Didn't learn until later that it was my father's favorite Eb mpc. He got it back from me when I switched to BBb in 8th grade, and used it for many years, having it gold-plated twice.

Paul S · Post by **Paul S** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:29 pm

I started on a Conn 2 back in 1971 then got a Gold Conn Helleberg in 1976 and still have them both. Now am using a PT-50+ or Laskey 30H most of the time on CC and MF4 or Bobo Solo on my F.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:04 am

Helleberg-Sear, then Rose Solo

chevy68chv · Post by **chevy68chv** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:12 am

I started on a Bach 24AW, now I play mostly on a Conn Helleberg.

dopey · Post by **dopey** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:25 am

bach 24aw..

and PT-48 now.. had a helleberg but im liking this one alot more.

oldbandnerd · Post by **oldbandnerd** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:36 am

I now use a Schilke 51D.

Yeah I know , not the latest or the greatest if you are an experienced euphonium player. But all I ever played was a Bach 6/12 Al. Never even knew anything else existed !!

I have been using the Schilke for about a month now. Could not imagine using anything else.

Steve Marcus · Post by **Steve Marcus** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:52 am

I originally taught myself to play tuba with a Holton Galaxy mouthpiece that had more pits than finish. When I finally took my first formal private tuba lesson, I told the instructor that I planned to have the Holton Galaxy replated. "No, no, no, no, NO!" he replied. "Buy yourself a decent mouthpiece. Don't spend any more money on THAT thing."

Now playing a Laskey 30H and 30C with curiosity about stainless mouthpieces.

Highams · Post by **Highams** » Tue May 03, 2005 2:58 am

The mouthpiece that was with my first euph (Hawkes 3 valve Excelsior)

http://charley.myphotoalbum.com/view_ph ... y&id=lsb2a

was the standard isue 'Kosicup' size 3 (large). When the Wicks and large bore euphs came out I moved onto the 2AL which I stayed on for many years, eventually getting the Doug Elliott set up (116) which is brilliant.

CB

Daniel C. Oberloh · Post by **Daniel C. Oberloh** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:26 am

Hmmm, not sure. What ever the school had stuck in the old sousaphone, it was probably a Bach 18. The junior high school had an old beat up , small Besson Stratford. I know it was a Besson mouthpiece as that is all that would fit in the horn. Back to a Bach in HS.

My very first mouthpiece that I owned was a $5 Conn Helleberg. I found it at the local swap-meet. It was beat up so I turned it and refinished it prior to plating. I took it to a local silversmith's shop to have it replated. They liked the polishing and buffing job I did so much that they hired me. I later gave the mouthpiece to my girlfriend at the time who also played tuba. She was great but I sure wish I could get that mouthpiece back.

I used the same Parrentucci (sp?) 21 for about eighteen years then switched back to Helleberg but this time to the real deal, a 1925 Conn Helleberg. No plans on changing anytime soon, maybe in another twenty? Probably not.

Daniel C. Oberloh

www.oberloh.com