Sousaphone mouthpiece?
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
Sousaphone mouthpiece?
I really haven't played a sousaphone since college, and back then I just played whatever mouthpiece I had in my car at the time - usually a not so good one. SO, my question is - do YOU use a different mouthpiece on you sousaphone than you do on your tuba?
Terry Stryker
Mirafone 186C, 186BBb, 184C, 186C clone
Gebr. Alexander New 163C, Vintage 163C, Vintage 163BBb
Amati 481C
Lyon & Healy 6/4
Kane Stealth tuba
A plethora of others....
Mirafone 186C, 186BBb, 184C, 186C clone
Gebr. Alexander New 163C, Vintage 163C, Vintage 163BBb
Amati 481C
Lyon & Healy 6/4
Kane Stealth tuba
A plethora of others....
- lost
- Posts: 205
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:38 am
- Location: Massachusetts
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 24 times
- Contact:
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
I do. Something cheaper that I will be okay with when it falls out, or gets bumped into, or falls outta my pocket rushing to a parade site.
For my concert tuba I use the good mouthpieces.
For my concert tuba I use the good mouthpieces.
J.W. York & Sons Performing Artist
http://www.YorkLoyalist.com
http://www.YorkLoyalist.com
- Dave Detwiler
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2020 4:12 pm
- Location: Harleysville, PA
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 190 times
- Contact:
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!
Played an F. E. Olds 4-valve BBb in high school (late '70s)
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1925 Pan American Sousaphone and an 1899 Conn tuba!
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1925 Pan American Sousaphone and an 1899 Conn tuba!
-
- Posts: 199
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:56 am
- Location: South Jersey
- Has thanked: 5 times
- Been thanked: 21 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
Nah, the GREEN Kellyberg is for TubaChristmas!Dave Detwiler wrote:For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!
Bearin' up!
- Schlepporello
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:12 pm
- Location: Amarillo, Texas
- Has thanked: 11 times
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
I've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it whit glittered fingernail polish.scottw wrote:Nah, the GREEN Kellyberg is for TubaChristmas!Dave Detwiler wrote:For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!
TubaForum.net Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
There are three things that I can never remember.
1)...................?
OK, make that four.
There are three things that I can never remember.
1)...................?
OK, make that four.
-
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:54 am
- Has thanked: 0
- Been thanked: 0
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
lost wrote:I do. Something cheaper that I will be okay with when it falls out, or gets bumped into, or falls outta my pocket rushing to a parade site.
For my concert tuba I use the good mouthpieces.
Plastic ones can sound ok, and really do take being dropped. If I am playing my sousaphone I'm getting paid, so most often I'll play a good metal one. Not Monette or anything that crazy.
- iiipopes
- Posts: 1054
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:26 pm
- Has thanked: 138 times
- Been thanked: 187 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
Yes, I use a different mouthpiece, especially for Conn sousaphones. Instead of a more funnel shaped mouthpiece on my tuba, a 2-piece Blokepiece Imperial (see my signature), I use either my custom Kanstul 18 1.28" i.d. made for me by Jim New (with the standard throat, not the larger Bach throat), or in inclement weather, a Kelly 18. The more rounded 18 for me gives more definition and projection than does a funnel mouthpiece.
That said, a King sousaphone, to me, has more projection to begin with (because of the smaller bore?), and the way it is constructed, is relatively mouthpiece-insensitive, meaning you can use just about any mouthpiece with a King sousaphone.
The Selmer/Bundy sousaphone, variants, and others that have a .730-.734 bore tend to behave like a Conn.
The Olds/Reynolds, in spite of the smaller bore like the King, have a wider bell throat, and can have intonation issues depending on the mouthpiece used.
I haven't played a Martin, Holton, or Buescher long enough to form an opinion.
Yamaha is, well Yamaha: sounds best with a Yamaha mouthpiece.
Jupiter is kind of like King, but not nearly as durable, so dents more easily, with the tone suffering from too thin metal.
I have not played any of the other import souzys.
The last observation: A Perantucci 82 on a Conn 38/40K is the closest to being able to change the earth's orbit by simply playing that there is. If I were a Young man with a good back, that is what I would play now.
These are my personal observations. Your mileage may vary. Driven on a closed course by a (not) professional driver.
That said, a King sousaphone, to me, has more projection to begin with (because of the smaller bore?), and the way it is constructed, is relatively mouthpiece-insensitive, meaning you can use just about any mouthpiece with a King sousaphone.
The Selmer/Bundy sousaphone, variants, and others that have a .730-.734 bore tend to behave like a Conn.
The Olds/Reynolds, in spite of the smaller bore like the King, have a wider bell throat, and can have intonation issues depending on the mouthpiece used.
I haven't played a Martin, Holton, or Buescher long enough to form an opinion.
Yamaha is, well Yamaha: sounds best with a Yamaha mouthpiece.
Jupiter is kind of like King, but not nearly as durable, so dents more easily, with the tone suffering from too thin metal.
I have not played any of the other import souzys.
The last observation: A Perantucci 82 on a Conn 38/40K is the closest to being able to change the earth's orbit by simply playing that there is. If I were a Young man with a good back, that is what I would play now.
These are my personal observations. Your mileage may vary. Driven on a closed course by a (not) professional driver.
Last edited by iiipopes on Wed Aug 19, 2020 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jupiter JTU1110 - K&G 3F
"Real" Conn 36K - JK 4B Classic
"Real" Conn 36K - JK 4B Classic
- TubaRay
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:53 am
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Has thanked: 0
- Been thanked: 0
- Contact:
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
It's always good to be special.Schlepporello wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:47 pm I've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it whit glittered fingernail polish.
The TubaMeisters
Symphony of the Hills
San Antonio Wind Symphony
Miraphone 186 CC
Rudolph Meinl 5/4 CC
Symphony of the Hills
San Antonio Wind Symphony
Miraphone 186 CC
Rudolph Meinl 5/4 CC
- Schlepporello
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:12 pm
- Location: Amarillo, Texas
- Has thanked: 11 times
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
Amen!TubaRay wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:57 amIt's always good to be special.Schlepporello wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:47 pm I've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it whit glittered fingernail polish.
TubaForum.net Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
There are three things that I can never remember.
1)...................?
OK, make that four.
There are three things that I can never remember.
1)...................?
OK, make that four.
- iiipopes
- Posts: 1054
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:26 pm
- Has thanked: 138 times
- Been thanked: 187 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
Yes, but the real question is: do you paint the inside of the bell to match the mouthpiece? (I'll leave fingernails alone :shock: )Schlepporello wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:47 pmI've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it white glittered fingernail polish.scottw wrote:Nah, the GREEN Kellyberg is for TubaChristmas!Dave Detwiler wrote:For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!
Jupiter JTU1110 - K&G 3F
"Real" Conn 36K - JK 4B Classic
"Real" Conn 36K - JK 4B Classic
- Schlepporello
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:12 pm
- Location: Amarillo, Texas
- Has thanked: 11 times
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
Heavens no!
Thats where the tuba tongue goes.
Thats where the tuba tongue goes.
TubaForum.net Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
There are three things that I can never remember.
1)...................?
OK, make that four.
There are three things that I can never remember.
1)...................?
OK, make that four.
- TubaRay
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:53 am
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Has thanked: 0
- Been thanked: 0
- Contact:
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
Well, that's really special!Schlepporello wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:47 pmI've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it whit glittered fingernail polish.scottw wrote:Nah, the GREEN Kellyberg is for TubaChristmas!Dave Detwiler wrote:For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!
The TubaMeisters
Symphony of the Hills
San Antonio Wind Symphony
Miraphone 186 CC
Rudolph Meinl 5/4 CC
Symphony of the Hills
San Antonio Wind Symphony
Miraphone 186 CC
Rudolph Meinl 5/4 CC
- tobysima`
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:32 pm
- Location: Connecticut
- Has thanked: 5 times
- Been thanked: 7 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
As of now, I do not use a different mouthpiece. I use my Helleberg on everything, but I plan to get a Parker soon to fix the things that I want fixed about my Helleberg, such as a slightly more comfortable rim, and a bigger bore. But, the Helleberg works wonders on a Sousa for me.
Toby Simard
M&M 5V CC Tuba - Bach 18
Mack EU1150S - SM2U
M&M 5V CC Tuba - Bach 18
Mack EU1150S - SM2U
- matt g
- Posts: 2580
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:37 am
- Location: Southeastern New England
- Has thanked: 263 times
- Been thanked: 554 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
While I was in college, I used a Mirafone C4 (fitting name; now TU23) mouthpiece on a Yamaha sousaphone. The Yamaha is a “kinda big” sousaphone and the C4 gave the sound a nice bit of edge when needed and the rim was comfortable.
At the time I was using a (Laskey made) SHII for a bit until I got my 188 where I used a Bach 7.
I despised the Conn rim on the Helleberg (120s). Even more so for marching.
At the time I was using a (Laskey made) SHII for a bit until I got my 188 where I used a Bach 7.
I despised the Conn rim on the Helleberg (120s). Even more so for marching.
Dillon/Walters CC (sold)
Meinl-Weston 2165 (sold)
Meinl-Weston 2165 (sold)
- tobysima`
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:32 pm
- Location: Connecticut
- Has thanked: 5 times
- Been thanked: 7 times
Re: Sousaphone mouthpiece?
The rim isn't the most comfortable rim out there. For me, it's playable, but I'll be upgrading soon.matt g wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:40 am While I was in college, I used a Mirafone C4 (fitting name; now TU23) mouthpiece on a Yamaha sousaphone. The Yamaha is a “kinda big” sousaphone and the C4 gave the sound a nice bit of edge when needed and the rim was comfortable.
At the time I was using a (Laskey made) SHII for a bit until I got my 188 where I used a Bach 7.
I despised the Conn rim on the Helleberg (120s). Even more so for marching.
Toby Simard
M&M 5V CC Tuba - Bach 18
Mack EU1150S - SM2U
M&M 5V CC Tuba - Bach 18
Mack EU1150S - SM2U