Kelly tuba mp's

ZACH336 · Post by **ZACH336** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:45 pm

I have been playing heleberg mouthpieces basicly all my playing time so I have limited experiences with other types. I recently purchased a kellyberg mouthpiece from dillon music which hasn't arrived yet but am now curious about all the other models they make. I know Heleberg= Funnel type mp but what about the 18 the 25 and the 25aw?, what are these mouthpieces like, are they bowls if so how do they compare to eachother? I would like to eventually buy all of the tuba models in Crystal Green I think that would be neat to have all of them.

jameseuph642 · Post by **jameseuph642** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:51 pm

I played on a Kellyburg once and it wasn't bad at all. The feel was soft and very comfortable. I am thinking about buying one for cold weather gigs.

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:36 pm

I also have the Kellyberg and I like it. Yes, there is some "ring" missing from my tone but a positive is that for some reason my low register speaks a little easier. I honestly prefer this piece over the metal Helleberg. But I suppose I'm just weird like that.

Ralph

ZACH336 · Post by **ZACH336** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:44 pm

cc_tuba_guy wrote:The 18, 25 and 25AW are very similar to the Bach 18, 25 and 25AW.

lol, this I gather but you see I have never played on any of the bach mouthpieces, are they all bowl type mp's?

Charlie Goodman · Post by **Charlie Goodman** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 11:54 pm

ZACH336 wrote:
cc_tuba_guy wrote:The 18, 25 and 25AW are very similar to the Bach 18, 25 and 25AW.
lol, this I gather but you see I have never played on any of the bach mouthpieces, are they all bowl type mp's?

OK, find your local pool supply store. Find a decent-sized plastic life-saver ring. Put it on your face. This is what I'd assume a Kelly 25AW would feel like.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:00 am

I got a gold Kelly 24AW. The gold color is not convincing and people do not believe I spent big bucks for it. The next one will be rainbow color for the kids.
I feel like I lost some of the edge off my sound with the Kelly but not enough that other players can tell. Fine! I don't break out with lip zits unless I blatt too much for too long. I try to play softer but to blatt is so tempting.

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:03 am

TexTuba wrote:I also have the Kellyberg and I like it. Yes, there is some "ring" missing from my tone but a positive is that for some reason my low register speaks a little easier. I honestly prefer this piece over the metal Helleberg. But I suppose I'm just weird like that.

Ralph

You're not the only one! I've noticed the same things when using my Kellyberg. It's just a good mouthpiece ...

IkeH · Post by **IkeH** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:16 am

I play the 18 and it's a little bit bigger in diameter than the Bach - almost a 12. The cup feels like a slightly different shape, too. I'm finding myself using it more than anything else. They're good for traveling and buzzing when without the horn because of the lightweight and my endurance seems better, which is good because I don't get to play as much as I would like these days. I have a Kellyberg I would trade for a clear 18 if somebody has one.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:22 am

Is it just me? I have never seen nor heard of a 25AW. I assume we are talking about the Bach system. They make a 24 AW. I don't believe they make a 25AW. I have not rechecked the Kelly mouthpiece list, but I don't believe they do, either.

Daryl Fletcher · Post by **Daryl Fletcher** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:15 am

Kelly mouthpieces are great! I use my Kellyberg for everything, including wedding gigs with my quintet.

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:34 am

TubaRay wrote:Is it just me? I have never seen nor heard of a 25AW. I assume we are talking about the Bach system. They make a 24 AW. I don't believe they make a 25AW. I have not rechecked the Kelly mouthpiece list, but I don't believe they do, either.

I think that's correct -- Bach make a 24W, 24AW, and 25; Kelly make a 24AW and 25.

Bill Troiano · Post by **Bill Troiano** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 10:13 am

I find the Kellyberg to be a good mouthpiece. Although not painful, I am always aware of the sharp inner rim. The lexan does appear to reduce some upper frequencies, but I doubt that anyone listening would notice or care. So, I use a translucent blue Kellyberg mp for my light gigs, mostly dixieland on my Yammy 621 CC. The gimmick is I attached 2 NY Yankee logos onto it. You wouldn't believe the attention it's gotten from people - Yankee fans and others. I wonder if I could win 26 auditions if I use it.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 5:39 pm

I have horn, cornet, and euph Kellys but not the tuba. I'm not as fond of the Kellys as I am of my metal mpcs but think *every* elementary, grade school, middle school and high school should supply these in place of any metal mouthpieces they supply. They are hard to break, are less expensive to replace, and don't put huge dings in the instrument if dropped on it.
MA

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 6:15 pm

[quote="MaryAnn"]I *every* elementary, grade school, middle school and high school should supply these in place of any metal mouthpieces /quote]

You wouldn't beleive the fit local band teacher had when I 'threw in' a Kelly MP with a trombone I sold to a kid last year!

Donn · Post by **Donn** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 6:41 pm

TubaTinker wrote:You wouldn't beleive the fit local band teacher had when I 'threw in' a Kelly MP with a trombone I sold to a kid last year!

Their saxophones and clarinets all have metal mouthpieces?

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:11 pm

Donn wrote:
TubaTinker wrote:You wouldn't beleive the fit local band teacher had when I 'threw in' a Kelly MP with a trombone I sold to a kid last year!
Their saxophones and clarinets all have metal mouthpieces?

That would be consistent, and therefore (sad to say) not very likely ...

THE TUBA · Post by **THE TUBA** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:04 pm

I have a clear Kelly 18 mpc. It is really helpful when I want to look at my embechure (I know I killed the spelling) while playing. The inner-rim is fairly sharp (sharper than my other mouthpieces, at least). I find the sound a little bright, but not too much. The downside of having a clear mpc: it fogs up. Whenever I use it, condensation will form in the shank, which makes (I think) an "eee" sound when I play. None of the people I have asked can hear this "eee" sound, and it is only present with this mouthpiece. Besides this, the mouthpiece is a steal for $25. Would I take it over my LM-5? No. PT-50? No. PT-65 (on low register stuff)? Probably. Overall, the Kelly 18 is a good backup mouthpiece. Don't buy one thinking that it will replace your main mouthpiece, buy one because you can laugh at all of the tuba players at Tuba Christmas freezing their chops off with their silver plated mouthpieces.

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:34 am

THE TUBA wrote: Would I take it over my LM-5? No. PT-50? No.

Ask Jim about their new KT-50...

I used a Kellyberg almost exclusively last year and didn't look back (although I got out the PT-50 again for a while because the rest of the section had gone to larger mouthpieces). The sound is fine, but it surprisingly doesn't quite have the tactile feedback that most metal mouthpieces do. But, the total lack of temperature shock is just great, and it still behaves like a Helleberg. Every other plastic mouthpiece manufacturer missed out by not providing a similar design (not to mention that Lexan feels better than nylon).

Now, I'd like a gold KT-50 (I don't think the colonel would quite understand the clear one I have now). Either that, or a Lexan Bayamo ("Kellyamo"??

).

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:45 am

I now use a Kelly 18 for everything except my small receiver Besson, and I may have one customized for that. I got my "ring," centering and dynamic control back when I wrapped the shank next to the bowl with a small strip of golfer's lead tape to damp unwanted vibrations, kind of like putting a Curry tone ring on it. It no longer wants to fray at the edges at ff. The bowl is deeper than a real Bach 18 bowl, almost a hybrid between the Bach and a Helleburg.

manatee · Post by **manatee** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:18 am

I am really surprised. I never thought I would like these things that much. I used a 24AW at a sousaphone (play as loud as possible) band gig, and last night I used a Kellyberg at my most prissy, fussy concert band and was extremely happy with the results at both events. I kept putting my Laskey back in, thinking, "how can this be possible?". But the Kellyberg won out. Hope they don't raise the price on these.

TubeNet

Kelly tuba mp's

Kelly tuba mp's

Kellyberg

Re: Kellyberg