Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
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Hello from Canada,
I have now owned the above mentioned 1916 Holton "Mammoth" BBb 3 valve tuba for at least three years. I need several recommendations for a mouthpiece that will not only make the bottom end roar as well as be agile enough in the upper register. I have used a Stofer-Geib and at PT50+ on this horn and just thinking there might be something else out there that would work just as well or better. I also know that the skill of the player has much to do with the output as well and am not dismissing the fact that I might need to be a better player to make these two mouthpieces work more effectively. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks!
If you are exploring large mouthpieces, the Schilke SHII-CLE is worth a try. So is the Warburton TG1. (The Warburton is harder to control.)
On my YamaYork I use the larger Warburton. The Schilke is also very good.
On my Holton (which is a bigger, fatter, heavier tuba) I use smaller stuff. On that tuba, I have used a Sellmansberger Solo and a Miraphone Rose Solo as well as an old Doug Eliott P cup setup.
I would imagine your very large tuba might benefit from more clarity and an enhanced upper register with a shallower, narrower mouthpiece. Response in the low range is also enhanced on these big boys frequently with smaller leadpipes and mouthpieces. Keep in mind that they are already really large tubas, so using the gimmick of a big mouthpiece (as one would tend to do on something like a 185 or a MW32) is not necessary. So dialing things back can make them handle more like a smaller tuba while retaining the big boy sound.
I personally quite like the RT-48 myself I recommend trying a RT-48 the most.
For something smaller I am personally enjoying the RT-82 (bowl shaped) myself. BUT the RT-44 (funnel shaped, well less bowl more pear) might be better for powerful low range playing while retaining high range efficiency.
A steel Kellyberg might work well too. A Kellyberg can also be bought in brass as well. Kelly mouthpieces are mostly known for being in plastic though.
But I haven't tried too many mouthpieces so my experiences are little limited. Or if you can afford it a 3-piece Parker/Sellmansberger (EDIT and Doug Elliott) can be customized to your liking.
When buying a new "PT" mouthpieces, I assume Canada is the same, they are now "RT" mouthpieces in the states.
Last edited by PlayTheTuba on Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Is a mammoth much larger than a 6/4 Conn sousaphone?
I just sold a band director five of the so-called "student" model Pickett mouthpieces which are about as shallow as a Miraphone 23, except without the blobby round rim. These retail for $105 each.
You can buy from them for the same price. She was looking for something that offered more definition and punch, and I knew that she wouldn't be too excited about spending hundreds of dollars per mouthpiece or even $150 or $175.
(Yes I design and market mouthpieces, but I really try to not be a wh0re.)
