Another Kelly mouthpiece topic

[Dean E]

It does sound like a shank-to-receiver size mismatch, doesn't it? I think the Kelly tuba 'pieces have standard American tapers, so if your horn has a European-sized receiver, you've probably got about a .005" gap all the way around the taper. . . .

I agree. A slightly imprefect taper match would cause buzzing and other problems, such as leakage. Also, the mouthpiece could be bottoming out in the receiver.

Old-time machinists (of which I am one) would check by applying an extremely thin film of artists' Prussan Blue oil paint to the receiver with a Q-tip and inserting the mouthpiece. Gently rotate the mouthpiece to pick up the Prussian Blue from the receiver. Remove and inspect the mouthpiece. If the tapers are not a prefect match, the mismatch will show in the non-blue areas.

All you need is a tiny tube of Prussian Blue from the art supply store. WARNING: Prussian Blue can be horribly messy. So keep it off of your fingers and have plenty of clean-up rags.

I used a Kelllyberg recently at an outside TubaChristmas with no buzzing or damping that I could tell. I played the tuba 1 parts on my Willson 3050RZ 5/4 CC, and was satisfied. I got the Kellyberg to avoid numb lips.

[MaryAnn]

I have four Kellys; the french horn MDC fits and plays fine; the cornet 5C also fits and plays fine.

Neither 51D (larger or small shank) fits the receiver of my King 2280. Well, the large shank "fits" as in "goes in 1/4 inch and sticks, but the euph is a quarter tone flat with the slide all the way in. The narrow shank bottomed out and rattled, and was still flat; we cut off enough of the shank so that it no longer bottomed out and then I taped it so it quit rattling, and that's what I use, but the 2280 seems happiest, intonation-wise, with a 12C, which is pretty shallow. Maybe it's a beginner euph.

Neither euph shank fits in my MW rotary bariton; so far the only mouthpiece that fits is the one that came with it, and it has no markings on it, making it impossible to find another even though I'd like a deeper cup.

MA

[Ulli]

I only take my Kellyberg, when it's cold or when there is a risk to throw it down on the street while marching.
The only, I find fault with is, that lexan doesn't fell slippery at the lips.
By the Kellyberg with the small rim is that not a great problem, but I dont use my 25.
Ulli

[Kevin Hendrick]

Neither euph shank fits in my MW rotary bariton; so far the only mouthpiece that fits is the one that came with it, and it has no markings on it, making it impossible to find another even though I'd like a deeper cup.

Your MW may need a European (medium) shank mouthpiece (might work for the King also). Just checked Kelly's website -- they have both 5G and 51D 'pieces available with the Euro shank.

[iiipopes]

Last year in community band I had a few of the band director low brass players listen "blind" as I switched between my Kelly 18 and my Bach 18. Over a combined century of directing experience, and untold decades of playing experience could not tell the difference.