tuba mouthpiece?

[AtomicClock]

Is this guy on the end (Phil Herring, I guess) really playing bass trombone with a tuba mouthpiece? Is that a thing? Hard to hear anything in the TV mix.

Another good look at 45:41.

[BGuttman]

I've used a 25 size tuba mouthpiece in my bass trombone to create a more cimbasso like sound. Not good enough for the purists, but definitely created a difference.

[ghmerrill]

Interesting idea, I guess, but a standard American shank will fit into a bass trombone lead pipe only about 3/8". I think that if I were to do this, I might end up going with one of the Wick "small fitting" (I.e., not the 'L') pieces, like maybe the Wick 4, instead of 4L, which I used to use on an old American tuba with the smaller receiver. Probably better than a Bach (or Kelly or Faxx) 25 ... but just speculating.

[AtomicClock]

He may have had a modified leadpipe. He was playing tuba on some numbers.

[ghmerrill]

He may have had a modified leadpipe. He was playing tuba on some numbers.

Possibly, but it looks to me as though the mouthpiece on the trombone isn't seating very far into the leadpipe -- and that he may be using the index finger of the left hand to stabilize it. I don't have my Wick 4 any longer (since I changed out the receiver on that old tuba to take a standard American shank). But if I come across a used one at a decent price, I might pick it up just to try this trick.

[BGuttman]

My 25 (unbranded) went into my bass trombone nearly a normal amount.

FWIW, my 1892 Conn tuba took a mouthpiece with a bass trombone shank. Original mouthpiece for it was similar to a Bach 1¼G.

[ghmerrill]

Well, I just unearthed a Kelly 25 mouthpiece that I had sanded the shank down on for that old tuba receiver. It fits in the bass trombone leadpipe very nicely. But the performance is totally uninspiring. The mouthpiece (bowl) just seems to be too big (too deep?).

However, a Wick 4 might be better (it's smaller than a Bach 25). And Kelly also has a "Kelly X-small small-shank" tuba mouthpiece (https://www.kellymouthpieces.com/kmtubasmall/index.asp) that might be worth throwing $45 at just for grins -- in your favorite decorator color.

[ghmerrill]

FWIW, my 1892 Conn tuba took a mouthpiece with a bass trombone shank.

I suspect it's the same size receiver as the original on my Buescher. So it will "take" a bass trombone mouthpiece, but isn't really quite the same size. When I bought my tuba ($250!) it was totally black from silver oxidation, the owner insisted that it played to A=440, and he had an old euphonium (bass trombone size shank) mouthpiece in it that fit the receiver perfectly.

Except ...

Once I cleaned it up (which took an amazing amount of time), I discovered that the euph mouthpiece fit it perfectly because the receiver and lead pipe on the horn hadn't been cleaned in almost 100 years. Once the hard crust of gunk was cleaned out of the receiver, that mouthpiece shank "fit" in it, but inserted very far and wouldn't seat firmly. That's when I went to the Wick 4 (which did fit perfectly) -- and after I'd cut the horn down to 440 (it originally played at 435). The Wick 4 never really worked well for it, and after a few years I replaced the old receiver with a modern American one. I now use a Kelly 25 (unmodified) in it, and it works just fine.

It's a fun horn to play, and although the valves are worn, only the 3rd one leaks a little bit. Excellent ghost tones allow playing chromatically down to the fundamental. But I currently don't have any context in which to play it.

[WGWTR180]

Many have tried. Just doesn't work as it's not suppose to work. Others, I'm sure, will disagree.

[AtomicClock]

That's what I thought. Hence my surprise in seeing one in a high profile band.

[dukesboneman]

I very briefly played in a Big Band where the 2nd, 3rd & 4th players all played Bass Trombones . and the 4th player played with a Tuba mouthpiece.
Nice guys but the intonation was horrific !!! It also made my lead playing on my Bach 12 sound super bright and edgy

[Dennis]

The legend was that the Wick 0AL (or maybe it was the 00AL?) was based on an ancient Boosey Eb tuba mouthpiece. I think I heard something similar about the Schilke 60, but I've earned several degrees, promotions and tenure, and retired from the groves of Academe since then. Don't quote me on it.

I've played with two guys who play bass on modified modern tuba mouthpieces. In my opinion it doesn't work. The sound is woofy and fluffy and the pitch center is difficult to find.

[Savio]

Bach 1 1/2G


Leif

[WGWTR180]

Bach 1 1/2G


Leif

But "who in their right mind plays a Bach 1 and 1/2G?" Oh wait a minute.........