Favorite tuba Mouthpiece

[Bacon]

What's your favorite tuba mouthpiece

[TubaZac2012]

For marching band, a PT-88. For my CC playing either a Sellmansberger Symphony or Grand Orchestral. For my F tuba, I haven't found one yet.

[GhostlyBoy08]

Marching Band: Lm-12, kelly 25 Concert band: Conn helleberg 120s

[ScottM]

Sellmansberger Imperial
ScottM

[GC]

Currently Stofer Helleberg and Rudy Meinl 9 (I think same as PT-64). For older large BBb horns, Warburton 32D.

[WC8KCY]

On my Holton Monster E-flat: Perantucci PT-62
On the IBICo sousaphone: Holton 12
On other brasswinds: Euphonium--Schilke 58; Valve Trombone--Bach 12C; Trumpet--Schilke 7B4; Cornet--Bach 10B

[hbcrandy]

For the CC tuba, I use a Dillon M1. For the Eb tuba, I use an old Conn 3.

[k001k47]

Original Conn Chief

[Antontuba]

Wick Classic 3L

[windshieldbug]

Miraphone Rose Solo

[pwhitaker]

Blokepiece Imperial cup and shank (2 piece version) drilled out to 11 mm bore with the 34.5 mm inner diameter rim from the Gardianelli mouthpiece made for Arthur Heller. Really adds "core" to my 6/4 short stroke 3 valve BBb recording bell Holton. Works well on the street with my King sousaphone.

[bort]

Bach Megatone 18. I rarely use it, but it was the first one I ever bought, and I used it for about 10 years before moving on. Still feels like "home."

[bort]

Bach Megatone 18. I rarely use it, but it was the first one I ever bought, and I used it for about 10 years before moving on. Still feels like "home."

[j1007hc]

Currently, my favorite tuba mouthpiece is the Floyd Cooley Helleberg. I've come to realize that smaller diameter mouthpieces work better for me (my facial structure). This seems strange, but gold plated for the CC, and silver for the F (at least for the Cooley Helleberg). Perhaps it's a placebo effect, but the "grip" of the silver seems to assist with the higher range of the F. Started with a gold plated one (I think one of the few originally gold plated ones), and I didn't like it at all for the F (seemed like there was no endurance for the high register and I had to work a lot harder; worked great for the CC). Recently got a silver plated one as a spare, and I LOVE it on the F! ...strange, I know.

Some other favorite mouthpieces in the past include a silver Bach Megatone 18 (first mouthpiece purchased, gave it away to a younger student colleague of mine), and an old Perantucci 9 (similar to the current PT64, but supposedly not quite the same) on the F tuba. I really liked the Giddings and Webster Alan Baer MMVI CC; it was the most even playing mouthpiece in regards to register (if only it was smaller in diameter for me!). I also discovered some great potential in the Sellsmanberger Solo mouthpiece (for both 6/4 CC and 4/4 F tuba!); however, my preference for smaller than average rims unfortunately was a deal breaker (for now).

Other mouthpieces I've used extensively in the past (to great results, but wouldn't consider a favorite) include: Laskey 30H (on the CC), Schilke Helleberg (on the F), PT88 (CC), Loud 4 (sousaphone), PT70 (F), etc.

[Worth]

G&W Bayamo (current style) Euro shank on both my 4/4 and 5/4 CC horns. For comparison I've tried the PT50, PT48, PT88, LM4, Bobo Symphonic, and Sellmansberger Symphony.

[tubaplyer]

I have a bag full of mouthpieces but I grab a 25 year old Conn-Helleberg first when ever I try a new horn or I want to just play. My PT88 is a sweet piece too. I use a Laskey 28C on my Eb and no other.

[iiipopes]

Before I had the bell of my tuba redone to make it a "Bessophone," I used a Curry 128D with a modified rim for the detachable upright bell and a custom version of the Kanstul 18 (1.28 c.i.d. instead of stock 1.26) for the recording bell. Now, for a smooth, dark tone, I use a Blokepiece Imperial 2-piece with the spacer; for upper register work I use a Taku Lite, and for Community band I use a Griego 325XD. I use a Kelly 18 for my souzy and to have as a spare, and for outdoors. When I had my Besson BBb 3-valve comp, a Wick 1 was the order of the day. I like a Perantucci 82 on a 20K/38K, and a Conn Helleberg 120S on 3/4 tubas. And of course, to go with the Helleberg, I have a Bach 18 that I found with a 1.28 cup instead of the "spec" 1.26, because you never know when it really will sound good on any particular tuba. As is the case with many other players, I have a "revolving turntable of paperweights," which I still occasionally buy a used mouthpiece here and there if it has my preferred cup diameter, just to see how it plays, and if I don't like it, I flip it.

Edit: the more I play, the more "trombone-y" the Griego sounds. bloke's Imperial with the spacer is quickly becoming my #1 mouthpiece for my Bessophone.

[Dan Tuba]

Sidey SSH Original

[nycbone]

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[Tubaryan12]

for sound alone: Yamaha Jim Self or Marcinkiewicz H2. Both had inside diameters that were too large for me
for feel: Mike Finn H. Throat was just way too big for back pressure I need

Best combination: blokepiece symphony with 1A rim.