TubaForum.net

I recently acquired an Olds O-99 (3 valve). I'm mainly a trombone player, so I see on my tuner that I'm playing quite sharp. (Please don't judge on this!!)

As I work to loosen my lips and open my jaw, I'm thinking that I can add a Sousaphone tuning bit to help bring the instrument down to pitch.

My tech told me "must be a Conn bit." However, I see Conn/King bits, but with the note that "not for 20K or 22K." I don't want to spend $$ on bits which do not fit.

Would those Conn/King bits fit my standard mouthpiece shank (Helleberg and Yamaha), and also fit into my standard mouthpiece receiver?

(This seems like it should be simple to match that taper on both ends, male/female. I'm assuming that some Sousaphone mouthpipes don't have a standard tapered receiver, thus requiring a cylindrical male bit and the tightening screw on the female end. Am I correct?)

Thank you for your help.

-John S. near Chicago

PS - FYI, I find the tuba to be a much more physical work-out than my large-bore trombone, which is much more work than my smaller-bore horns. The pea-shooter trombones (think: 0.490) practically play themselves! But they don't deliver on a rich, large sound.

But you knew this already.

Those bits you mention are for the King style (2350 [brass] and 2370 [resin]) sousaphones. They will NOT fit in Conn style (20K etc) Sousaphones and thus, standard shank receivers.

Don't order those (they are different sizes and only one accepts standard shank mouthpieces). Find the ones that fit Conn (which are the same size and accept standard shank mouthpieces), and you're good to go.

Once your chops are accustomed to tuba playing, you should note that your pitch will settle in (down).

Good luck and welcome to the bottom of the pyramid of sound!

First of all, I'm trying to help.
Second, I'm trying to offer you the very best advice.

The mouth opening difference between tuba and trombone is tremendous. If you mess around for a while and manage to get a sound with your front teeth actually not overlapping at all (playing in the middle range of the instrument), your pitch will be where it needs to be, particularly since those instruments' tuning slides are pretty long and tune up (with normal playing) not pulled out very far. If I didn't believe that you could fix your pitch issue in about a minute by spreading your front teeth apart much more than you are (again: the trombone/tuba difference is a huge difference in spacing, and not a slight difference), I wouldn't be so insistent that you pursue this tack. An additional bonus will be a remarkable improvement in the quality of the sound.

If you choose to continue to pursue the tuning bit route, I don't want to ignore your question:
Olds/Reynolds, Conn, Jupiter, and Yamaha tuning bits will all fit that receiver, but - unless someone has one in a box rattling around - you have to buy two, and they've all gotten expensive. I believe it's cheaper ($0.00) and better to do the "mouth opening" thing.

King sousaphone bits will not fit, btw.

1. Thank you for your advice. No offense taken...I'm working on opening up my embouchure and I know that's my ultimate goal. (I also play trumpet and flute quite a bit, so I'm used to adjusting to another instrument.)

2. Just for fun: I like to tell non-tuba friends that I just bought a 1972 Olds Ninety-Nine. They think it's some kind of muscle car with a V8! (Of course, a step up from the Eighty-Eight.)

Rock on!