Tuba to Euph question

[Kctuba]

I have played Tuba for almost 50 years, and bass Trombone about 40. I’m finding myself here lately being asked to do a bunch more of Euphonium things. Those of you that double a lot, what are some recommendations you have to try for a Euphonium mouthpiece on a regular basis? I’m playing on a Yamaha 641. Right now I’m using a Bach 5G, I would just like to try some other things as well to see how it feels.

[je]

I think the Schilke 51D is the prototypical mouthpiece for large-bore compensating euphoniums. I played on the Willson 51D that came with my Willson 2900 for 20 years, in large part due to the Euro shank (between the much more common small and large shank) that severely limits options. These days I use a BB1, made by Griego, but it's only a minor improvement for me.

Now that I've gotten used to thinner tuba rims, I'm surprised by the euph mouthpiece rim thickness every time I pull it out. It's as if I were playing tuba and the only options were Bach and Wick.

[Bob Kolada]

What mp do you play on bass trombone?

[Kctuba]

Schilke 60 or Marcinkewicz Robert’s

[Bob Kolada]

I wouldn't do it as a full time euph player, but you can just use one of those. If you want something big but more euphy Denis Wick makes a 2g sized mp, the SM2. I have the SM3M for a medium shank Amati euph I got in the 90s (came with a 3g, bought this in the early 2000s).

[ParLawGod]

Schilke 51D is always a solid choice to try. My personal preference is the Brian Bowman BB1. Though I'm primarily a trombone/euphonium player who doubles on tuba. I've never been a fan of using trombone mouthpieces (like standard Bachs) on euphonium...not a characteristic sound (for me, anyways) and upper register tuning is far more of a challenge.

[sweaty]

I started using a Schiller 51D with my Wilson 2900 back in high school as recommended by my teacher, Brian Bowman. I used the 51D for 30 years and switched to a Giddings Kafka because I like stainless steel. The dimensions are very similar.

Euphonium should NOT sound like a valve trombone.

[russiantuba]

I’m in the midst of trying to get one of the schools I work with to get euphoniums with a 51D and is one of the ones I recommend to my college students. It’s just a great euphonium mouthpiece. I’ve been a fan of the David Childs, the Steven Mead Ultra in some cases for those with a bit of a different sound concept.

If the rim consistency is a thing that’s important, I’m sure there is a Doug Elliot (or potentially Houser) solution

[bloke]

Every time I own/use a different make/model of euphonium, I find myself looking through "the collection" for a mouthpiece that works, as the one that "worked" on the last one only "sorta" works on the current one.

Also, euphoniums are really squirrely (as squirrely as tubas) in regards to TUNING.

I've found that stuff all the way from 6-1/2AL to Schilke 59 have "worked best" with various euphoniums.

Whenever I pick up (they sorta seem to "collect" themselves) another DIFFERENT mouthpiece in this wide size range, I tend to toss it in the sock drawer "just in case".

They sound really pretty, and it's easy to play fast stuff on 'em...but they are difficult to play WELL (read: in tune).

[marccromme]

You play tuba and bass trombone, as I am,. Probably you would not like the smaller rim diameter the Scilke 51 D has, I don't, at least.

For me, a larger rim, but a shallower cup works best, I have great experiences with the Yamaha 58 small bass bone, and the Yamaha 59 medium small bass bone mouthpiece. That is, on a Yamaha custom compensating euph.

My tuba teacher uses a Yamaha Yeo bass trombone mouthpiece, which makes a really nice tenor tuba sound, but for me, it drops the higher partials, and is straining to play in tune above the bass clef staff.

So, I prefer smaller bass bone mouthpieces, over bigger euph mouthpieces, as the rim is a bit wider, but the more cup like shape makes Volumen inside the mouthpiece comparable to traditional euph pieces.