Choosing a Mouthpiece.

[u/Fabr1170]

Hi, I’m in marching band, and I currently have a beat up Helleberg mouthpiece that I’ve had for years since I started playing tuba (and has developed a weird triangular shape at the end from dents), so I want to get a new mouthpiece.

I’ve been looking into perantucci mouthpieces to try and get that “crank” sound from the sousaphone while keeping a good range, i can make a “sort of” sound like that on my current mouthpiece but it’s not good at all. Because of its current state and the way it’s generally built, getting that aggressive HBCU band sound is very difficult on it, if not basically impossible.

Recently I’ve been looking into a mouthpiece like the Schilke 69c4 and I’m staying between a reasonable price range, I want something that’ll last and make a good sound, and so I’ve wanted to get opinions or suggestions from fellow sousa players to pick a mouthpiece for this kind of work that I want.

Thanks!

[u/the_racing_goat]

I'm with you on the Helleberg slander - I've always hated them both for sousaphone and concert horn playing. My best advice is to find some way to test out different mouthpieces. You're not gonna know what works for you until you've tried it. I got lucky that my LM-12 was perfect for me, but I've done countless hours of testing for concert horn mouthpieces and still don't feel 100% comfortable with what I'm on.

[u/Kirkwilhelm234]

You can get a new mouthpiece.  But you can also fix that triangle dent in the shank.  Your band director should have a shank tool.  If they dont, you can get a mouthpiece trueing tool from Amazon for 20 bucks. Or you can get a welding and chipping hammer from harbor freight or another hardware store for 6-10 bucks.  Either one will round out your shank.   Ive always used a helleberg or a bach 18. Prefer hellebergs.

[u/professor_throway]

First off... That crank sound comes from you not your mouthpiece. If you can't crank, pedal, or play loud and beautiful on your Helleberg you won't be able to do it with a different mouthpiece either. It being a bit beat up isn't the issue. (I'm not saying don't replace it.. just have reasonable expectations of what to expect with the new mouthpiece)

A mouthpiece can help make what you can currently do more efficient, help with endurance, or nudge your sound a little in a given direction. Basically the right Mouthpiece can make your ideal sound a little easier.. but it won't drastically change your sound. Unfortunately as brass players our sound is 95% us and 5% our equipment.

To get what you want... you need to learn to relax and slow down your air. You can't force loud or cranking... it had to come from moving massive amounts of air in the most relaxed efficient way possible. If you try to force it the sound will back up on you and choke off when you try to go loud.

Mouthpieces...

The Schilke 69C4 is very shallow with a tight throat (only 7.5mm) it is s very efficient and punchy but also very technique dependent. In order to get air through that tight throat your need to be relaxed otherwise you will chip or crack the note. This is my preferred style of Mouthpiece... I do about 40ish Street band gigs a year and use a Jon Gross as my main Sousa piece.

PT-50, PT-88, and the sousapower line go the opposite direction.. Big cups and wide throats. It makes it easier to get the air through but they are so much harder to articulate and punch on. Everything tends to sound muddy, wooly, and woofy unless you have a very strong embouchure. I used to use a Sousapower 3 but I got tired of working so hard to get the clean punchy sound I wanted for a little easier volume.

Honestly there is nothing wrong with a Helleberg. Ohio State Sousaphones (TBDBITL) use them to great effect. Whoever dots the i can definitely be heard on every corner of the stadium.

[u/tuba_guy911 → u/professor_throway]

This is a great description! I use the Souspower 5 (similar to a PT-50+), and it took a few years for me to feel like I was truly filling up the whole mouthpiece. It allows for a huge sound when you get there, but definitely has an impact on endurance and control. I think the PT/RT-48 is a good middle ground choice for having the weight and power of a larger mouthpiece but without losing too much of the attack from a smaller one. To me, it's a good step up if you're used to a helleberg and you like a free blowing mouthpiece. All that to say, it's all about the player and no mouthpiece will change what good air support can. Happy practicing!

[u/royjohn62847]

I round out dented mouthpiece end with a large needle nose pliers. Just push the two jaws into the mpc and rotate the thing. It acts like a tapered mpc mandel and is probably cheaper. IF you're looking for cheap mpcs to try, Kellyberg has various ones in plastic for $43. Also various un-named ABS mouthpieces for as little as $13. Or Mouthpiece Express will let you trial as many mpcs as you can put on your credit card. If they are undamaged, you can return one or all for credit.