some questions from Portugal.

[Anterux]

If a tuba is conical why the bore is a fixed number?

where is the bore measured to get that number?

What thoes it mean "this tuba takes too long to "brake in""? What is "brake in"?

thats it for now...

sorry for my english.

[WoodSheddin]

If a tuba is conical why the bore is a fixed number?

where is the bore measured to get that number?

What thoes it mean "this tuba takes too long to "brake in""? What is "brake in"?

Bore is measured on many tubas at the end of the leadpipe as it enters the first valve. Bore size tells almost nothing about how a tuba will sound and perform. Ignore it under most circumstances when choosing a horn.

Tubas don't really break in. The valve section might because it contains moving parts. The time it takes for valves to fully seat is not measured in days but instead in the valves duty cycles. If it is taking "too long" to break in a set of valves then the answer is to use them more.

[Anterux]

thank you.

I heard about dual bore too (jupiter 582 and bass trombones)...

Most of my douts are related to the english language terms.

the "takes too long to break in" was said about a Meinl Weston 25.

other doubts I have:

types (model numbers (references)) of mouthpieces: 7, 18, 25 24AW are common references. witch is the bigger and the smaller?

I have a Denis Wick 2L and a 3SL. How they relate to the references above? (if there is a relation...)

I use these Denis Wick mouthpieces in my jupiter 582 with good results. but they quite different. should I choose only one to develope more?

[Lee Stofer]

Don't worry about your English - you are to be congratulated.

Lee "who cannot speak Portuguese" Stofer

[Anterux]

Thanks!

I live in azores. Terceira island.

I am a composer. I never had a tuba teacher. here there are no tuba teachers.

but I love to play. and I ear good players and try to imitate the sound and musicality. I play in several wind bands, jazz, and in a brass quintet. I play every day. but without a teacher to ear me and watch me I cant improve mutch... but hey! I play because I like. and I will play always.

[Chuck(G)]

I heard about dual bore too (jupiter 582 and bass trombones)...

Most of my douts are related to the english language terms.

the "takes too long to break in" was said about a Meinl Weston 25.

other doubts I have:

types (model numbers (references)) of mouthpieces: 7, 18, 25 24AW are common references. witch is the bigger and the smaller?

I have a Denis Wick 2L and a 3SL. How they relate to the references above? (if there is a relation...)

Some of us also have doubts about "breaking in" of tubas beyond normal valve wear. But there are many who swear that a tuba played over the course of a year plays better than a new one, even without valve wear being taken into account.

But there are also those who swear that cooling a tuba to cryogenic temperatures causes an audible change in playing characteristics...

Many tubas are multi-bore; that is, the bore of the tubing gradually increases through the valve section. This is usually referred to as "graduated bore".

With Denis Wick and Bach mouthpieces, the general rule of thumb is that the mouthpiece gets larger as the number decreases. So a Bach 7 is larger than a Bach 25. But given shape variations of the cup, this rule is only a broad generalization. Schilke mouthpieces, on the other hand, get larger as the model number increases. Each manufacturer has their own nomenclature and numbering system; there exists no industry-wide standard.

As far as a mouthpiece selection is concerned, use what works best for you. There are no really hard-and-fast rules.

[Steve Inman]

If you visit http://www.mouthpieceexpress.com you can select tuba mouthpieces, and read about the specifications for some, including Denis Wick and Bach mouthpieces. Here's the information I copied from their site. Sorry about the formatting, it's a little difficult to read:

Bach Standard Tuba
Model No. Depth of Cup Approx. Cup Dia. Rim Shape Description
7 Medium 33.25mm Medium Wide
A large mouthpiece with full, lively tone and a splendid low register, for players with a strong embouchure. Recommended for large-bore instruments.
12 Medium 32.75mm Medium Wide
Fairly large diameter, producing a big, vivid tone.
18 Medium 32.10mm Medium wide
Our best selling mouthpiece for all-around work. Has an even register and substantial tone of excellent carrying power.
22 Medium 31.60mm Medium wide
Slightly smaller than No. 18. Recommended for use in school bands.
24W Medium 31.25mm Wide, well rounded.
A versatile mouthpiece with lively tone, suitable for school bands.
24AW Deep 31.25mm Wide, well rounded.
An excellent mouthpiece whenever a sonorous, dark tone quality of enormous volume is desirable.
25 Medium 30.60mm Medium wide
A fairly small mouthpiece suitable for young students.
30E Medium shallow 30.00mm Medium wide
A small mouthpiece requiring little volume of air. For the young student with a small mouth.
32E Medium shallow 29.50mm Medium wide
A small mouthpiece for the lightweight bass horn, or for the less robust player seeking a robust tone.

Denis Wick Tuba

"L" models feature standard size tuba shank. Those without "L" are small shank. If you have an older tuba that you can't seem to fit with a regular tuba mouthpiece try the models without the "L."

Model Cup size/Shank size Cup Diam. Overall Diam.
Rim Width Bore Backbore

1 Ex. deep cup/small fitting 32.50mm 47.35mm 7.48mm 8.43mm open
1L Ex. deep cup/large fitting 32.50mm 47.35mm 7.48mm 8.43mm open
2 Very deep cup/small fitting 32.00mm 47.35mm 7.73mm 8.45mm open
2L Very deep cup/large fitting 32.00mm 47.35mm 7.73mm 8.45mm open
2SL Shallow Cup/large fitting 32.00mm 47.35mm 7.73mm 8.45mm open
3 Deep cup/small fitting 31.25mm 47.35mm 8.11mm 8.78mm large barrel
3L Deep cup/large fitting 31.25mm 47.35mm 8.11mm 8.78mm large barrel
3SL Shallow cup/large ftg. 31.25mm 47.35mm 8.11mm 7.62mm small
4 Deep cup/small fitting 30.50mm 44.28mm 6.89mm 8.27mm medium
4L Deep cup/large fitting 30.50mm 44.28mm 6.89mm 8.27mm medium
5 Deep cup/small fitting 30.00mm 44.28mm 7.14mm 7.89mm medium
5L Deep cup/large fitting 30.00mm 44.28mm 7.14mm 7.89mm medium

Especially for the professional tubist, Denis Wick has designed new mouthpieces to give even more volume and projection. They are a little more difficult to control, but the extra effort repays dividends. The inner rim contours are a little rounder for players who need to spend long hours in practice or performance. Much research has gone into the subtle reworking of the exterior shape to give even more powerful maximum dynamics and volume in all registers.
1XL Large Fitting 32.50mm 47.35mm 7.48mm 8.43mm open
2XL Large Fitting 32.00mm 47.35mm 7.73mm 8.45mm open
3XL Large Fitting 31.25mm 47.35mm 8.11mm 8.78mm large barrel

Tuba Mouthpiece Descriptions
1 For all large tubas. Enormous volume and range. Needs strong embouchure.
1L
2 Large funnel-shaped Helleberg type cup. Clean and clear sound with good projection in all registers.
2L
2SL Soloist mouthpiece with tremendous projection and clarity in all registers.
3 Deep well rounded cup and huge throat and backbore give rich organ like tone.
3L
3SL Soloist model with brilliant tone and high register. Perfect for F tubas.
4 Scaled down version of 3L. Good projection with less effort. Good for young players.
4L
5 Deep cup and matching backbore give a compact ringing sound of great sonority. Suits F and Eb tubas.
5L