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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?

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 outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!

Dave Detwiler wrote:For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!

Nah, the GREEN Kellyberg is for TubaChristmas!

scottw wrote:

Dave Detwiler wrote:For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!

Nah, the GREEN Kellyberg is for TubaChristmas!

I've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it whit glittered fingernail polish.

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.

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.

Schlepporello wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:47 pm I've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it whit glittered fingernail polish.

It's always good to be special.

TubaRay wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:57 am

Schlepporello wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:47 pm I've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it whit glittered fingernail polish.

It's always good to be special.

Amen!

Schlepporello wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:47 pm

scottw wrote:

Dave Detwiler wrote:For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!

Nah, the GREEN Kellyberg is for TubaChristmas!

I've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it white glittered fingernail polish.

Yes, but the real question is: do you paint the inside of the bell to match the mouthpiece? (I'll leave fingernails alone :shock: )

Heavens no!
Thats where the tuba tongue goes.

Schlepporello wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:47 pm

scottw wrote:

Dave Detwiler wrote:For outside playing, like TubaChristmas, I use a purple Kellyberg, because it’s light and fun - but still works great!

Nah, the GREEN Kellyberg is for TubaChristmas!

I've used a white Kellyberg and decorated it whit glittered fingernail polish.

Well, that's really special!

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.

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.

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.

The rim isn't the most comfortable rim out there. For me, it's playable, but I'll be upgrading soon.