Helleberg-like smaller mouthpieces

[jtm]

It's interesting to me that you talk about the high F# being relatively easier to hit. When I last played the "Rite of Spring", I brought two tubas. I was on the second part, so I did most of it on a Miraphone 188. Some of the upper stuff I did on Besson 3+1 a compensating Eb. But when it came to the repeated jump between the fourth line F and the high F# above, I found it to be much easier to nail on the 188.

I'm interested in the high F# being easier to nail on the 188. My non-Miraphone smaller-than-a-188 German rotary CC does not like that F#, though the F and G are good and secure. Can that be an issue with the tuba that just doesn't show up lower? Or is the TU-29 making my life harder?

[bloke]

Often, 2nd-valve/6th-partial is sharp, presenting the choices of
- playing it sharp and securely
- spending an inordinate amount of time simultaneously attacking it and lipping it down - yet without splitting it
- installing a second slide trigger

[jtm]

Oh. Sorry... I must have misunderstood and thought it was the high 2nd valve (11th partial? bottom of treble clef) F#.

[bloke]

I recall a person (whose decision-making/advice-giving I really didn’t respect, but whose saying makes sense) stating that “you go to war with the army that you have...”

If you’re about the age I suspect you are, I used to tackle a lot of the solo lit’ (which is much more accessible on bass tubas) on a
C instrument (because that’s what I had).

I guess I’m asking if your school owns a good-playing and well-made E-flat or F tuba…(??)

I understand that you’re seeking a mouthpiece as a workaround, but that solo piece is much easier to play on a shorter instrument… and moving that piece over to one of those lengths of instruments would be a really good learning experience, as well.

[RJ]

I recall a person (whose decision-making/advice-giving I really didn’t respect, but whose saying makes sense) stating that “you go to war with the army that you have...”

If you’re about the age I suspect you are, I used to tackle a lot of the solo lit’ (which is much more accessible on bass tubas) on a
C instrument (because that’s what I had).

I guess I’m asking if your school owns a good-playing and well-made E-flat or F tuba…(??)

I understand that you’re seeking a mouthpiece as a workaround, but that solo piece is much easier to play on a shorter instrument… and moving that piece over to one of those lengths of instruments would be a really good learning experience, as well.

I'm in between schools right now, so unfortunately there's no mechanism at the moment with which I could rent a tuba of any size besides renting from one of the colleges in the area, but I'm pretty strapped for cash anyways...
At the school I'm auditioning for, all of the smaller tubas are taken up by performance majors anyways, so as a prospective composition major it's probably best I secure my high range on a contrabass.

RJ

[Pauvog1]

I'd try a Helleberg 7B first.

I use the Sellmansberger imperial with a profundo rim or cup extender for a close to that style cup (I like it better than a 7B for what it's worth).

[iiipopes]

I'd try a Helleberg 7B first.

I use the Sellmansberger imperial with a profundo rim or cup extender for a close to that style cup (I like it better than a 7B for what it's worth).

I also used this combination on my Bessophone for several years. Trimming the extender can help you fine tune the balance between depth of tone and intonation response.

[tubanh84]

I've recently found a lot of facility in the high register with a bigger mouthpiece. Weirdly enough. For background, my F tuba for a long time has been a MW182 with a Bobo Solo. The Bobo is tiny, but it has a very sharp rim (for me). So I can play nice and high on it, but it's a pretty tiring mouthpiece to use.

As I posted a little while back, I got a 184CC. I worked on a bunch of mouthpieces with it, and I settled on the Olka CB1 - best combination of sound and intonation on that particular horn (every other CC I've played in the past 10 years has sounded better with my Mike Finn H).

I haven't picked up my F since I got the 184. Not that there won't be a use for it, but I'm spending a lot of time seeing what and how everything plays on the "new" horn. In that process, I pulled out the Gregson.

I TOLD YOU THAT STORY TO TELL YOU THIS ONE: I can get through the Gregson more easily and more clearly on the Olka plugged into the 184 than I can on the Bobo plugged into the 184. Even though it's a much bigger mouthpiece. The rim makes the difference - It's more comfortable, doesn't tire me as much, and still provides access to the extreme high register.

[Andy]

I play a Rudy 5/4 CC and use a Mike Finn Helleburg for most things. If I need to play something that emphasizes the upper register, I have a Schilke 62 that works well. It is not really a smaller Helleburg style mouthpiece, but the smaller cup diameter and shallower cup allow me to execute the higher notes more comfortably.

[MikeMason]

I go back to a g&w manatuska from time to time. You can sometimes find them used. Variation on a 7b but I like it a bit better.