Posted by Tracy B. on July 30, 2001 at 18:29:03:
In Reply to: Rim V.S. Endurance posted by Tim Chen on July 30, 2001 at 14:36:23:
I've heard this before and I think there is some truth to it. When I was in high school, I used a Bach 24AW, which has a fairly wide rim. This is true for most German style mouthpieces. When I switched to Conn Helleberg, it took some getting used to. The rim was much more narrow and it did cut into me quite a bit. After a few months, I barely noticed it. As to how much flexibility I gained, it was considerable. I don't know how much of it came from the rim, but it did seem like it was easier to get around on the tuba. My endurance actually improved over time using the helleberg style mouthpieces. In fact, I tried to pick up my old 24AW, and I found the rim most uncomfortable. I'm sure these results are not true for everyone. I think it depends greatly on the player and the size of their lips.
I hope this helps.
Tracy Bedgood