JP 377 Eb tuba mouthpieces recommendations

[Shalnaya]

Hello All!
I’m currently playing on a Roger bobo solo mouthpiece. I enjoy that mouthpieces but I would like the blow to be a bit more open feeling.

[anadmai]

For your horn, I'd recommend either a Denis Wick or a Mercer and Barker.

[ghmerrill]

Yes, the Wicks are pretty much designed for this type of horn. My favorite mouthpiece for a similar horn (Wessex clone of the Besson compensating Eb) is the Wick 2XL Heritage. These have gotten pretty pricey, but they're made for this type of horn. However, this choice will depend on what type of rim you like, and you might want to look at a 2XL "classic" model, or a 3XL (either Classic or Heritage). My experience is that the 2XL is better for the entire range, but particularly better for the high range than the 3XL.

I do have a mint condition 3XL for sale here (https://www.tubaforum.net/viewtopic.php ... 02#p110802), but I don't want to try to ship it outside of the continental US.

[bloke]

BUY MY MOUTHPIECE BUY MY MOUTHPIECE BUY MY MOUTHPIECE !!!

I sell those tubas. I love them and I'm always jealous of those who buy them from me because they're so great. My own three plus one compensating E flat is an ancient and rare recording bell Besson and it's perfect for what I use it for, but it just doesn't quite play as well as a 377.

Truth be told, the 377 is a whole lot like a 186 B flat or C tuba in that quite a few different mouthpieces work well with it depending on what kind of sound you want to get out of it or what range you're mostly playing in. I would say that the only mouthpieces that may not really work great are those super deep cup mouth pieces like 88 and stuff like that, but they might also work for some people. Just like any bass tuba, if you start using a super deep cup mouthpiece and think you're going to play 8th partial pitches above the staff easily up to pitch, I don't think that's going to happen, and you're going to have to really squeeze.

[anadmai]

Yes, the Wicks are pretty much designed for this type of horn. My favorite mouthpiece for a similar horn (Wessex clone of the Besson compensating Eb) is the Wick 2XL Heritage. These have gotten pretty pricey, but they're made for this type of horn. However, this choice will depend on what type of rim you like, and you might want to look at a 2XL "classic" model, or a 3XL (either Classic or Heritage). My experience is that the 2XL is better for the entire range, but particularly better for the high range than the 3XL.

I do have a mint condition 3XL for sale here (https://www.tubaforum.net/viewtopic.php ... 02#p110802), but I don't want to try to ship it outside of the continental US.

I use a 3L Heritage and Have a MB4W on deck (if I ever decide to try it).

Why do you like the XL over the L?

[2nd tenor]

Hello All!
I’m currently playing on a Roger bobo solo mouthpiece. I enjoy that mouthpieces but I would like the blow to be a bit more open feeling.

The JP 377 Eb is very similar to a Besson Sovereign and they work well with the Wick 2L and 3L pieces, if you want a wider rim then consider the X variants. I use a 2L, the 3L is both fine and more commonly used but the slightly bigger (2L) cup works better for me - it took a while for me to grow into it though.

TLDR: try a Wick 2L.

[ghmerrill]

Why do you like the XL over the L?

First ... I no longer have the horn or the L to compare anything with. But ...

The XL was recommended to me by Johnathan Hodgetts (Wessex), saying that was what he used. My go-to mouthpiece for tubas (one I know will always work well) is the Schilke 66, but the Brit compensating horns seem to want something different. As I recall, I didn't like the response (articulation and ease of producing the right sound) of the L pieces. I found the XLs to be more "focused" and easier to articulate (particularly high register, but in general). The tone quality also seemed better (some might say "more colorful", though these analogies often aren't really helpful). Between the XL Classic and the XL Heritage, I found the Heritage (with it's narrower/flatter rim and other geometry differences) to give a more "precise" feel to playing. But this may be a matter of individual taste and face structure.

The L and XL are really quite different mouthpieces. The XL Classic and XL Heritage are really quite different mouthpieces. But you need to do side by side comparisons to really appreciate what these are. Mouthpiece Express still offers an "audition" program (https://www.mouthpieceexpress.com/catalog/returns.php) where you can try mouthpieces for 15 days and then return what you don't like. Other vendors may as well. It costs you the return shipping fee and a 10% restocking fee -- but if you're seriously looking at a choice between expensive mouthpieces, the trial can save you some expense and buyer remorse.

Even though I no longer have the big compensating Eb tuba, I've stubbornly kept my 3XL and 2XL mouthpieces -- "just in case" (however unlikely that is).

[anadmai]

The JP 377 Eb is very similar to a Besson Sovereign and they work well with the Wick 2L and 3L pieces, if you want a wider rim then consider the X variants. I use a 2L, the 3L is both fine and more commonly used but the slightly bigger (2L) cup works better for me - it took a while for me to grow into it though.

TLDR: try a Wick 2L.

I always love reading your comments.

It's funny.. The 2L might be bigger than the 3L by .5mm but the throat is narrower.. The DW spec chart always makes me go HUH?
I just came from a 4L.. but who knows?? Maybe one day I'll be a big girl and try a 2L. LOL.

[The Brute Squad]

BUY MY MOUTHPIECE BUY MY MOUTHPIECE BUY MY MOUTHPIECE !!!

All we need now is someone to make a cardboard cutout of bloke holding a mouthpiece and a speaker repeating this ad nauseum.

[Sousaswag]

The Imperial is my go-to with my Eb…

Parker 3 piece stuff was on sale at Dave’s site a while back. The Titan is also a great choice.

Want a non boutique option?

RT-84S is a good one.

[2nd tenor]

The JP 377 Eb is very similar to a Besson Sovereign and they work well with the Wick 2L and 3L pieces, if you want a wider rim then consider the X variants. I use a 2L, the 3L is both fine and more commonly used but the slightly bigger (2L) cup works better for me - it took a while for me to grow into it though.

TLDR: try a Wick 2L.

I always love reading your comments.

It's funny.. The 2L might be bigger than the 3L by .5mm but the throat is narrower.. The DW spec chart always makes me go HUH?
I just came from a 4L.. but who knows?? Maybe one day I'll be a big girl and try a 2L. LOL.

That’s a generous comment, but I’m just a simple old guy who’s finding his way forward; each year seems to bring some fractional improvement, but I’ll never be a great player. It’s easy to get hung up about and distracted by mouthpieces; imho, when used on a four valve instrument, the Wick 3’s are a step change better than the 4’s. The shift from a Wick 3L (which imho are great pieces in a four valve Eb, and fine too for a three valve BBb) to a Wick 2L is much less marked (so marginal gains rather than clear benefits), and I found that growing into the 2L took quite some calendar time.

TLDR: if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it … and yes, I must remember that myself too.