Re: Eb mouthpieces


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Posted by Lee Stofer on December 08, 2003 at 07:27:30:

In Reply to: Eb mouthpieces posted by turbod on December 07, 2003 at 09:50:40:

It all depends upon what sort of instrument you are playing.

The older American standard model Eb tubas had a bore much like the size of a modern euphonium, and used a mouthpiece fairly comparable to a modern bass trombone mouthpiece, except possibly more shallow. If you have one of these antique tubas, something the size of the Herco Eb bass mouthpiece (which has a smaller size shank than modern tuba mouthpieces) will actually work pretty well. Those older instruments were simply not designed to have a huge low register, but to play well in the mid' to upper register.

For more modern instruments, I tend to use a mouthpiece with a fairly large rim opening, but with a fairly shallow cup. The larger diameter will assist with low register response on either Eb or F tuba. A relatively shallow bowl shape assists in intonation in the mid' to upper register, lessening the tendency towards playing flat up there.

Lee Stofer


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