Rare Conn Special Mouthpiece

[Tim Jackson]

The Conn Special Tuba Mouthpiece

I hope you enjoy some cool old mouthpieces On Parade!

Here's a mouthpiece I consider rare as I have not seen one in all the years I've been poking around online. I got this from Arnold Jacobs back in 1974. I had just found a Dr. Young at a Pawn Shop in Chicago and showed it to Jake - he wanted it - I could see no use for that style mouthpiece so he traded this Conn Special for the Dr. Young. I have used it lightly over the years - Like a biggie size Helleberg! One might come to the conclusion I did... If you want to handle a big horn use a big mouthpiece. Interesting what you can do with more lips on the pavement. I used it occasionally on my york 6/4 and my Holton 345.

The same styling as the original Hellebergs so I figure it's from the 20s-30s era. Remarkable shape for a mouthpiece of this age. But then again I have had it for 48 years with light use and Jake probably had it around because it is different.

Here are the specs along with similar mouthpieces.

Conn Special...................Vintage Helleberg................Modern Helleberg 7B
Inside rim ID 33.17............Inside rim ID 30.6................Inside rim ID 30.64
Outside rim OD 50.57.........Outside rim OD 46.96...........Outside rim OD 47.95
Rim width 8.51.................Rim width 7.87..................Rim width 8.44
Opening of shank 13.78.......Opening of shank 13.48........Opening of shank 13.66

TJ

[windshieldbug]

The "CONN-SPECIAL" JI-203

[bort2.0]

That's really cool, Tim! Thanks for sharing! I hope others will do the same!