Re: Alto Tuba Mouthpiece


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Posted by Mike Solms on November 08, 2002 at 09:29:46:

In Reply to: Alto Tuba Mouthpiece posted by Maria Brouillard on November 07, 2002 at 21:20:59:

A "proper" alto horn mouthpiece really does look like a slightly oversized flugelhorn mouthpiece. The cups are deeper than cornet or flugel mouthpieces, but still more cup shped than a French horn mouthpiece. To give you some perspective, alto horn mouthpieces range in cup diameter from 17.5mm (a Wick 5) to 19.75mm (a Schilke 38D or Bach 3). A Bach 7 French horn mouthpiece is 17.25mm and a large trumpet mouthpiece, like a Bach 1X is 17.0mm.

As far as overall size, the Schilke 38D is very deep and probably has the largest volume of any of your choices. Since you are claim to be having trouble up high, you might want to look at something in the middle of the pack. A Wick 3 could work well for you. Wick mouthpieces are available through Dillons, Brasswind or Bernel Music.

One word of caution. The Bach mouthpieces are built with both mellophone and alto horn shanks. They are not quite the same size or taper. An alto horn shank is just a bit too large to fit into a mellophone receiver. A mellophone shank will fit into an alto horn receiver, just not very well. If you find a retailer with a Bach 3 it will most likely be a mellophone shank. There is also a fair chance the salesperson won't know the difference.

If you want to hear just how nice one of these horns can sound, pick up any fairly recent recording of the Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) brass band. Their solo horn player, Sheona White, is a really wonderful musician. If you contact Bernel Music, they can recommend a recording that will feature her playing.


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