mouthpieces for a 345

[cjk]

Well I did a search but I couldn't really find what i was looking for... So....

I have been using a LM-11 (similar to the LM-12) with my 345, but last week Randy had me pull out my helleberg, which sounded way better on the 345 than the other one. The only thing I dont like is that its made of brass, I just can play nearly as long with brass compared to stainless steel. I guess I'm looking for something similar but larger than the Helleberg.
...

Oh yea, I also need a Euro shank, the receiver is a bit large on my 345

Something similar but larger than your Helleberg would be a Sidey SSH (Stainless Steel Helleberg). It's like a large Conn Helleberg, but a bit larger and made out of stainless steel.

I have a Euro shank one that I'd part with for way less than a new one would cost.

--Christian

[Rick Denney]

Personally, I find a mouthpiece with more a bowl shape prevents the Holton from becoming woofy. I have a Revelation 52. Woof, woof, woof, woof. It's the woofmeister.

I used a PT-48 (an excellent choice), but have switched to a Stofer Geib. Neither could be called a true Helleberg. The Geib is more bowl-like than the PT-48. The PT-48 minimizes woofiness, and the Geib all but eliminates it. But both still make a commanding deep ensemble sound.

Rick "neither is available directly in stainless steel, however" Denney

[sailracer90]

If you liked the helleberg so much, I know they make a stainless one. A fellow student here at LSU has it. He loves the thing and uses it on his giant meinl weston

[TubaTodd]

+1 for Mike Finn 3H.

Though NOT a 345, the MF3H does very well on my 345 inspired 2165.

+1 Stofer Geib

I don't know what bloke thought, but I thought he had a VERY nice sound on his Stofer Geib when he play tested my 2165.
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I've been looking for another mouthpiece as a backup/alternative to my MF3H. I didn't want something radically different...just an alternative. I ordered a Sidey SSH Classic (in brass) (ahem...because of this thread...ahem) I will post my results when it arrives.

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A buddy of mine has a 345 that he plays with the wind ensemble that I play with. He plays on a variety of Helleberg mouthpieces and they all sound good.

[Tuba Guy]

I think my Martin is similar to the 345. When I first got the horn, I used a Bach 24AW because of the rim. Eventually, I tried a Schilke Helleberg II and love it. Works functionally with the Helleberg 7B, but just has an awesome sound with the Schilke

[randy westmoreland]

Ian,

Listen to what the elephant is saying, I think we would both be happy with those recommendations. I really don't think you should get hung up on the stainless steel thing.

[Tom]

As luck would have it, my father knows a guy who could probably make a stainless steel mouthpiece . . . I just need to find some exact measurements. If anyone has the specs on some old Hellebergs and would be willing to send them to me, that'd be awesome![/quote

Reinventing the wheel...my thoughts exactly.

Seriously Kiltie Tuba, in light of the suggestions you got here and the other hundreds of tuba mouthpieces on the market, I cannot imagine why you would have a stainless copy of an original helleberg made by someone with potentially zero experience making mouthpieces. There are multiple versions of "old" and "original" hellebergs, by the way.

Wade (the elephant) knows his stuff and uses a 345 daily as a professional tubist. I think you should at least consider his suggestions.

[Donn]

Well, it's just that Paul Sidey already has done the original Helleberg dimensions in stainless - cf. http://www.angus1.com/ssh/.

You can find comments here on his Helleberg research. There isn't really any specific original Helleberg in a meaningful sense, evidently they vary a lot.

Someday I mean to get a LOUD LM-10, which is described as a shallow funnel. That might not be too far from the Elephant trail, as that's how I think his 30F would also be described.

[eupher61]

I honestly don't know what "focal dystonia" is, but a common thread among those who have seemed to have suffered from it seems to be

spending quite a bit of time playing very large instruments with very large mouthpieces very loudly.

Not necessarily. Horn players get it, trombone players, trumpet players (ok, so that verifies the LOUD part...) . But, not all the tubists with FD are big horn/loud volume players. I personally know 1 who is anything BUT that, and am somewhat acquainted with another; both, while they do/did do some orchestral playing, spent as much time with a 'normal' tuba than anything, playing technical, lyrical, fast, slow, high, low, loud, soft. The first, whom I know well, has kept playing and is making some ground back, while the second has all but totally hung it up.

It's insidious, frankly. Horrible.

[Donn]

For less dough (in silver-plated brass) there is the Marcinkiewicz N4 (likely very similar to LM-10) ...or with a more Helleberg-like rim (same manufacturer/same price range) the H4...

That's where I'm at: already have H3 & H4, and brass is fine with me - doesn't hardly even need to be plated. If I wanted stainless, though, the LM-10 would be at the top of the list.

[Rick Denney]

What the heck are you all talking about?

It was a warning. It is really hard work to create a lot of loudness while still providing absolute clarity on a big tuba. The implied suggestion is to choose a mouthpiece that achieves clarity efficiently rather than requiring so much work. Bloke is not the only expert who I've heard make this suggestion.

Rick "noting that young rock band players usually don't worry about their hearing" Denney