Sellmansberger Orchestra Grand Ultimate is here - later on: Beatles chat

[Bread]

0/10 mouthpiece, it didn't fix my rhythm

But on a more real not this is a GREAT mouthpiece. Good enough that I finally made an account here instead of just lurking just to write this.

I was very excited to be a part of the first run of this mouthpiece, as I play on the 3-piece model from which it was iterated. I received mine a couple of days ago and have tested it on a couple of horns (Eastman 836 and BBb Miraphone 1291).

So far, I REALLY like it. The rim on the OG Ultimate is super comfortable. I’ve been playing on the #2 rim for some time now, and it's pretty much the reason no other mouthpiece has been able to replace my trusty 3-piece—until now. The OG Ultimate just might be better (though I’ll wait for the “new mouthpiece feeling” to wear off before saying that with complete certainty).

I’d describe this mouthpiece as extremely comfortable and easy to play. I’ll leave the specifics about sound, response, and all the other buzzwords we love to people smarter than me, but I personally enjoy this mouthpiece because I can play comfortably in all the ways that matter to me.

I think this mouthpiece might finally dethrone my older Orchestra Grand as my go-to.

[the elephant]

0/10 mouthpiece, it didn't fix my rhythm

1 Star — Can't recommend, it gave me cramps and gas.

HAHAHA!!!

I am liking the rim now, despite my normal inflexibility regarding rims. I can play high. I can play low. Everything is clear. Everything has good focus. Intonation is very solid. Chicks dig me now.

If bloke ever releases a version with a Euro shank, I will get one for my YamaYork. This thing is a keeper.

This is different enough from the OG that I think it merits a new name. Perhaps this is finally the one that deserves to have "blokepiece" engraved on the cup?

[MikeS]

This is different enough from the OG that I think it merits a new name. Perhaps this is finally the one that deserves to have "blokepiece" engraved on the cup?

Perhaps a variation on the OG theme?

[bloke]

You know that's really amazing...
...the melding of elegance with narco-terrorism themes

[bloke]

I'll let you folks know (who may have been wondering about these, but exercised restraint...ie. You're like me) when I run the next batch.

...For those of you who are STILL waiting for this inexplicably-divided second half of the first batch to be shipped to you...
wow: Thanks SO MUCH for being patient !!!

[the elephant]

Oh, wow. They still have not gone out? Guys, I'm sorry. I hope my screwing around with "feedback" has not pissed anyone off because the delivery from the plater is late. I was not rubbing it in. I did not intend to have anyone be "impatient" because I was blathering on about this.

[bloke]

' doubt that's the case.
Everyone here is pretty chill except for a couple, and I doubt if either of those will ever buy any of my stuff.

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With me watching for the freakin UPS truck everyday for the other half of the mouthpieces, I'm also needing to move on to the next batch.

Is there anyone who would have otherwise bought one of these if I made a few with euro shanks? I think I'm willing to do a few of them that way for the second batch, but I would prefer to have euro ones pre-sold. Note that - if they are made with euro shanks, the back end of the mouthpiece is going to be a little thicker, because I'm not willing to change the back-bore (as I feel fairly strongly that the back-bore is part of the formula).

End users could always bevel down the back end with a 45° reamer, were they to choose to do so...

[the elephant]

Euro Shank — Allow me to be the first in line, sir.

[MiBrassFS]

Found the answer…

[bloke]

yeah...

Anyone who bought from the first run may have the $150 pricing again...

Otherwise,

There's NOW (at $175) a return option (but - seriously - only with NO marks...including no shank scuffs that can't be polished out...I might encourage - if trialing - wrapping a single thickness of cut-out typing paper neatly around the shank).

I REALLY appreciate the "first run/no-return-option" people who HELP me get new models off the ground !!!

[tofu]

' doubt that's the case.
Everyone here is pretty chill except for a couple, and I doubt if either of those will ever buy any of my stuff.

===============


Is there anyone who would have otherwise bought one of these if I made a few with euro shanks? I think I'm willing to do a few of them that way for the second batch, but I would prefer to have euro ones pre-sold. Note that - if they are made with euro shanks, the back end of the mouthpiece is going to be a little thicker, because I'm not willing to change the back-bore (as I feel fairly strongly that the back-bore is part of the formula).

End users could always bevel down the back end with a 45° reamer, were they to choose to do so...

I was going to order the original, but I think the Euro would work better in my new style 2341. So I was hesitant. It’s weird what fits in this thing. What’s your take? I’m thinking the euro shank would be the better fit?

[bloke]

I was going to order the original, but I think the Euro would work better in my new style 2341. So I was hesitant. It’s weird what fits in this thing. What’s your take? I’m thinking the euro shank would be the better fit?

Some of these instruments ("these" not referring to any in particular) have what I call "fake euro" shanks, and by that I mean that the choke point where the receiver stops and the mouthpipe starts expanding is about the same diameter as with a lot of standard shank receivers, but it's just that the receiver extends out longer towards the mouthpiece and gets bigger, so that if somebody inserts a euro shank mouthpiece in one of those, it looks like it's going in far enough (because enough of its shank is getting covered up by the receiver), but if someone inserts a standard shank mouthpiece in one of those, it still doesn't bottom out... even though it may look as though it's getting swallowed up a bit.

It's hard to know which receivers are "fake euro" and which ones are genuinely euro - without fishing something down in there and measuring the choke point. A good hint, though, is to measure the outside diameter of the mouthpipe where it leaves the receiver. If the outside diameter is around .575", that indicates that the bore - not very far past the choke point - is probably only about .530"... so perhaps the choke point bore is around .525" (??)

... If all of these numbers sort of come together and it doesn't seem like a standard shank mouthpiece is bottoming out, I'd say there's a reasonably good chance that the receiver is what I have decided to name "fake euro".

Again, euro shank mouthpieces can be put into those, and they look like they're going in far enough, but they're going to stand back pretty far from the choke point. Standard shank mouthpieces inserted into these types of receivers are going to look like they're getting swallowed up, but could be that the ends of standard shank mouthpieces might still be at least 1/8 of an inch or more from the choke point. (??)

Yet another type of receiver I've seen is the "shoot the middle" receiver. I've seen these on some German instruments. They are sort of halfway between euro and standard receivers and do okay with either one. These are why I was offering so-called "P shank" mouthpieces for a while.
_________________

Not to confuse even more, but most of the compensating top action instruments seem to feature receivers that will accept standard shank mouthpieces, yet the old style small shank tuba mouthpieces don't bottom out into those, because there are apparently still enough people who use small shank tuba mouthpieces with top action compensating tubas.

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Hey, there are some high-profile players who believe that mouthpieces should stand out fairly far from the choke point in order to reveal considerable portion of the reverse taper of the small end of the receiver.
me? I sort of prefer to have mouthpieces sit down fairly close to the choke point. Maybe an eighth of an inch away...(??) I'm not trying to tell anyone else what they should do...
A whole bunch of people play models of tubas that I would never play and mouthpieces that I would never use, and they play great.

If you want to know ONE model of tuba that - for damn sure - has a euro shank receiver (and it's absolutely appropriate - based on the choke point of the mouth pipe tube), it's any Holton 345 model tuba with its original receiver and original mouth pipe tube.