Feelings on a Bach 25C mouthpiece

[Dutchtown Sousa]

So today I was able to try out a 25C mouthpiece on a Miraphone 186-4U BBb. I know most of you have used it before but I would like to know if you had the same feelings on this mouthpiece. I have only ever used Conn Helleburg style mouthpieces up until now. I quickly determined this mouthpiece was mush more difficult to blast on so it would not be a good choice to use on the field in a marching band. Next I noticed my lower range was much more difficult to play with large volume but my upper range was increased and sounded much better than my upper range on a Helleburg. I discovered it was not as good as the Helleburg for march style music (makes sense) but was very good for legato playing. I also noticed my tone in my mid and upper range was better than it had been (even though I have the best tone in the class already). Final thing was that my accented notes seemed to break up less than on the Helleburg (doesn't happen too much while playing but my lips are not 100% at the moment but it was better than when I played on Friday).

[iiipopes]

A 25C, with its smaller diameter and shallower cup, has long been considered a beginning tuba player's mouthpiece.

And just like lead trumpet players, to get some resistance and definition for the air to work with, yes, this is exactly what helps center the higher range.

In other words, your experiences are normal and expected.

I suggest a Kelly 18 for marching band to get the combination of depth and projection that you're looking for.

[Dutchtown Sousa]

Yea I want to try a few more mouthpieces although I do really like my helleburg. After having to use it again today I really must say the 25C is worse on the chops than my helleburg as we had an hour and a half long practice after school and my chops were getting tired much quicker than usual and we were playing relativity easy music for the chops (my lips were more tired an hour in than they were after the 2+ hour practices we had for marching band, but this could be because my chops haven't been at 100%)