Posted by bloke on February 11, 2004 at 16:00:12:
In Reply to: What inner diameter for high range? posted by bill on February 11, 2004 at 02:31:16:
I think the point is moot.
Tubas do not have a "high range". The highest pitches we're asked to play is only a few pitches above middle C.
One flukey piece in the orchestral literature reaches the pitch G#, though mostly this is played on the baritone horn - perhaps by a trombonist. Another tune in the literature has an "unwritten" Bb, but then again..."unwritten" and probably only played that way by a few "horses" who want to have a bit of extra fun.
Most any mouthpiece which is usable for everyday stuff will play up to the F above middle C with no trouble...as long as the player pays a reasonable number of visits to their instrument.
Yeah, shallow-cupped mouthpieces can offer a bit more "clarity" in that (not really high) range, but aren't particularly kind to overall tonality on contrabass tubas.