What Mouthpiece Did You Start On?

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue May 03, 2005 10:48 am

I started on a Bach 24AW from the time before there were copies by other makers. I don't think it was a good choice, but it's what the school had and my sax-playing band director didn't know any different.

When returning as an adult, I started with another Bach, but then switched to a PT-2 (old numbering), followed by a PT-1 when I got a new and larger instrument. I think the next mouthpiece I played regularly after that one was a Conn Helleberg, followed by a Miraphone Rose Orchestra, then a PT-48, then a Doug Elliott 132-2nT6 (before the Holton). Since getting the Holton, I've used the PT-48 and a Laskey 30H, preferring one or the other on different occasions. On F tuba, I started with a PT-9 (old numbering), followed by a Warburton custom, and now a Mike Finn 4.

I own and have tried many more mouthpieces, but they now only get used for special occasions (i.e., the Kellyberg for TubaChristmas), or they didn't last more than a month.

Rick "who can hardly make notes on a 24AW any more" Denney

Tabor · Post by **Tabor** » Tue May 03, 2005 10:58 am

I started on a Conn 2 mouthpiece (the famous face-bumper) and on a fiberglass sousaphone without the bell. I sure am glad that I have upgraded since then.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:19 pm

I really don't know. In those days, to me a mouthpiece was a mouthpiece, except for perhaps its appearance. Most probably it was a Conn 2 or a Bach 22. Maybe even a Holton 26(is that the right number?).

tubarepair · Post by **tubarepair** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:41 pm

I "pre-knew" some of you couldn't help but give a complete mouthpiece history which has turned out to be quite interesting.

Makes me wonder if some of you haven't invested more in mouthpieces then you have in tubas!

At $365 for a special mouthpiece, it seems that 10 or so tries would buy a pretty nice tuba.

Great to see alll of the responses, hope you are having fun reminiscing of days gone by.

DLH

Tubaryan12 · Post by **Tubaryan12** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:27 pm

I "pre-knew" some of you couldn't help but give a complete mouthpiece history

Hey, some of us have self control

p.s. I wanted to but resisted

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:32 pm

tubarepair wrote:I "pre-knew" some of you couldn't help but give a complete mouthpiece history which has turned out to be quite interesting.

Makes me wonder if some of you haven't invested more in mouthpieces then you have in tubas!

You must be psychic. Or is that psychotic? I keep forgetting.

As to have more invested in mouthpieces that tubas...um...no.

Rick "who barely has more mouthpieces than tubas" Denney

Rick F · Post by **Rick F** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:26 pm

Started in school with ?? (what ever was in the case with the King bent-bell euph... 43 years ago).

Then when I started back as an adult 33 years later, I used a Bach 6-1/2AL. I now own a Doug Elliott LT-102 rim; H cup; H8 shank.

ThomasDodd · Post by **ThomasDodd** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:34 pm

6th grade
fall - 12C equivalent ( what ever cam in that yamaha rental horn)
spring - 12C equivalent came with the used Olds horn I got.

9th grade spring, switched to tuba. What ever came with that Conn (12J ?) convertible tuba ( 3 front action valves, right shoulder marching).

Brak for Marine Corps after graduation.
Start college, need a mouthpeice, only thing I could find was a Conn Helleberg.

Some how my trombone case now has a Bach 6 1/2 AL and no 12C, use the Bach since on the bone.(likely to change soon)

Last year got a Deck for the new (to me) Olds tuba. Like it for low/loud stuff.
Recently switched toa Dillon G1B for more lyrical stuff.
Also play a Kellyberg on the contra for Drum Corps.

Gorilla Tuba · Post by **Gorilla Tuba** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:39 pm

Conn 2, I think. In high school we had Mirafone C4s, which I really liked, buit were not available for me to purchase from my local music store so the first I bought for myself was a Conn Helleburg. I mostly use a Mike Finn MF3 now... a PT50+ also gets some milage. Cheapo Yamaha 67B4 on the F tuba.

Charlie Goodman · Post by **Charlie Goodman** » Tue May 03, 2005 6:15 pm

Fortissimosca wrote:Helleberg, represent!

Whoop whoop!

....sorry.

scottw · Post by **scottw** » Tue May 03, 2005 6:38 pm

Wow, what a journey! Whatever out-of-round POC came with the beater I started on was the first, followed by a Conn2 and then a Bach24AW the end of H.S. and through college. When I started back with the tuba 4 years ago I still used the 24AW, but I realised that it wasn't the right choice and switched to a Denis Wick 2 for awhile before deciding a Conn Helleberg suits me very well. I would like to try a G&W, though, in the near future, probably a Taku. Anyone want to buy the Wick?Or the Bach 18, or 24AW?

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Tue May 03, 2005 6:55 pm

Whatever that narrow cup old-Eb one was that Lee Stofer included with the Eb tuba he sold me. I still have both.

Now....PT 64. It fits my face well; it even worked fine on the Besson 995. I use it on everything. Went through Helleberg 7B for a while but really I'm not strong enough or big enough for that one.

I have fewer than 10 mpcs, but I bought all but one used at reasonable prices, so I'm nowhere NEAR the price of a tuba. If I were, I'd sell the lot and buy another tuba!

MA

Billy M. · Post by **Billy M.** » Tue May 03, 2005 8:13 pm

Bach 18... Monette 98 and 94F

daktx2 · Post by **daktx2** » Tue May 03, 2005 8:15 pm

conn helleberg
and ive been faithful to it for 6 years

adam0408 · Post by **adam0408** » Wed May 04, 2005 1:45 am

Well, lets see.... I played on a really beat up bach 18 when I started in 5th grade, played on that until 7th grade when a brand spankin new bach 18 showed up at school for some reason... Played on that until high school, and if memory serves me correctly played on a helleberg type miraphone mouthpiece all through high school for concert band, and played a bach 18 for marching and pep band.

Through most of my college career before I got serious about the tuba I was playing on a yamaha 65. YUCK. I then purchased an R&S TUHHII which improved my tone and range by miles and miles. I just bought a G&W Alan Baer model to join in the hype and I love it. I continue to add to my high range without trying and my low range is really centering up nicely as I get used to it.

LukesBulldogface · Post by **LukesBulldogface** » Wed May 04, 2005 2:47 am

High School and two years of college Yamaha 67C4
Now... PT-48 ....thinking of investing in a Mirafone Rose Orc..

Pippen · Post by **Pippen** » Wed May 04, 2005 5:43 pm

Daniel C. Oberloh wrote: 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.

Hmmmm....I do have a Conn mouthpiece from my old boyfriend...but it's for euphonium.

The other day I saw the google ad that read "Don't play your mother's mouthpiece" and I about fell on the floor laughing. Imagine seeing that after having the "We just spent X amount of money on a baritone for you and you can either choose between using one of my spare mouthpieces or you can earn the money to get one of your own." talk with the son.

He opted to get one of his own.

hurricane_harry · Post by **hurricane_harry** » Wed May 04, 2005 7:23 pm

when i started on euph, i used a 16C, i tried using a 6 1/2 AL but couldn't do it. when my band director started me on tuba he handed me an un marked white, mouthpiece, plastic cup and metal shank and thought, 'thank god im not using that crappy conn anymore. now i can't chip my tooth again' now i use a PT-50

so i went for 16C to PT-50 and right now i am looking at an RS heavywall helleburg

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Wed May 04, 2005 8:58 pm

The first time I touched a brass instrument was my fathers Selmer Paris cornet as a small child. I don't remember the mouthpiece I was playing on it. When I started on trombone I played a Bach 6 1/2 AL and a Miraphone C4 on tuba. About ten big blowers later, I have settled on the G&W Bora for the F and the G&W Bayamo for the Yorkbrunner.

Captain Sousie · Post by **Captain Sousie** » Wed May 04, 2005 10:14 pm

I started on a FAXX 18

I now play a Marcinkewicz (or however you spell the bloody name) ETU1 Jim Self.

Sou

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What Mouthpiece Did You Start On?

What mouthpiece did you start on?