DEG ME-5

[cktuba]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know the specs on the ME-5?

[prodigal]

It's big, deep, and wide. Geib-ish. If I can find my micrometer and calipers, I can measure it for you.

Are you interested in one?

[cktuba]

No... I've already got one and was just curious. For some reason, I seem to remember an I.D. of 33.2mm. AI is spitting back 32mm... which seems like it might be for the Bass Tuba versions.

[hrender]

From the old site:

ME1 Rim: 1.297" (32.9mm), cup depth 1.745" (44.3mm)
ME2 Rim: 1.286" (32.7mm), cup depth 1.525" (38.7mm)
ME3 Rim: 1.279" (32.5mm), cup depth 1.614" (41.0mm)
ME4 Rim: 1.332" (33.8mm), cup depth 1.718" (43.6mm)
ME5 Rim: 1.308" (33.2mm), cup depth 1.637" (41.6mm)

I think I saved a description of them from somewhere, but it's on an old laptop I haven't fired up in a while.

[Nemo]

No... I've already got one and was just curious. For some reason, I seem to remember an I.D. of 33.2mm. AI is spitting back 32mm... which seems like it might be for the Bass Tuba versions.

Why would you expect AI to have that information if it's not posted in a place you could find it by googling? It only knows the same information you can search publically and gets half that wrong anyway

[gocsick]

No... I've already got one and was just curious. For some reason, I seem to remember an I.D. of 33.2mm. AI is spitting back 32mm... which seems like it might be for the Bass Tuba versions.

Why would you expect AI to have that information if it's not posted in a place you could find it by googling? It only knows the same information you can search publically and gets half that wrong anyway

AI can be a useful search tool.. provided you use it right... Google has become absolutely useless and returns so much paid garbage and advertising. Here is the results from the request "what can you FIND about DEG Marty Erickson tuba mouthpieces. I am interested in specifications and player experiences on the ME1.... ME5 line." Note: I didn't copy the 30 or so links returned as sources.. I didn't want to make this too long..

ChatGPT response below
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Here’s what I can actually document (specs + “player experience” notes that are publicly written down) for the DEG / Marty Erickson ME1–ME5 tuba mouthpieces.

Documented specifications (inches, with mm in parentheses)

These dimensions show up consistently in the old TubeNet spec post and in current/archived retailer listings (often as “item specifics”).

Model Inner cup dia Cup depth Outer dia (rim OD)

ME1 1.297" (32.9 mm) 1.745" (44.3 mm) 1.954" (49.6 mm)
ME2 1.286" (32.7 mm) 1.525" (38.7 mm) 1.930" (49.0 mm)
ME3 1.279" (32.5 mm) 1.614" (41.0 mm) 1.930" (49.0 mm)
ME4 1.332" (33.8 mm) 1.718" (43.6 mm) (not visible in accessible snippets)
ME5 1.308" (33.2 mm) 1.637" (41.6 mm) 1.950" (49.5 mm)


Note on the ME4 outer diameter: it’s probably in the original TubeNet table, but the site pages that contain the full post kept timing out / blocking my fetch today, so I’m not going to guess it.


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Documented “player experience” / intended-use notes (what people/retailers actually wrote)

A lot of what’s easily accessible online is maker/retailer description rather than long forum reviews, but there are still a few useful, attributable statements:

ME1

Described as Marty Erickson’s personal choice for Willson 3400S Eb, emphasizing a clean, focused small-horn sound while keeping warmth/fullness in middle/low register.

A dealer catalog lists ME1 as “Small. Good Eb/F mouthpiece.”


ME2

Retail description: “brighter sound than the ME1,” “excellent small tuba mouthpiece,” clarity/projection.

Specs (from an “item specifics” listing) line up with the historical dimensions (useful as a cross-check).


ME3

Retail description frames ME3 as a “crossover” piece: darker/warmer so a small horn can get a “big horn” sound without losing focus; also suggested for large tubas in small ensembles.

A current listing includes explicit dimensional fields (inner cup dia / cup depth / outer cup dia), matching the older table.


ME4

Retail description: “good all-around mouthpiece for big horns,” and “preferred by many military band performers” who want big sound but clean articulation.

A (limited) anecdotal comment in a Facebook thread: someone remembers “REALLY liking the ME4” on an Alexander 163.

Dealer catalog classifies ME4 as “Medium large.”


ME5

Retail description: “biggest” in the series; warm/rich/centered sound; aimed at “huge, focused sound” with projection.

Dealer catalog explicitly: “Largest of the Erickson series.”



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What I didn’t find (or couldn’t reliably retrieve today)

Long-form forum play-test threads with detailed comparison notes (response/slotting/partials/etc.) for each ME1–ME5 in accessible pages. I can see that those discussions exist (e.g., TubeNet / Tubaforum references), but fetch restrictions/timeouts blocked opening the full threads in this session, so I’m not going to paraphrase what I can’t quote/cite cleanly.

[prodigal]

It definitely dwarfs my PT-49.

[cktuba]

Thanks for all the relevant info.

[bloke]

AI can be a useful tool.. provided you use it right...

I've heard that said about communism.

[gocsick]

What's the saying .. Capitalism is the worst economic system... except for all the others we've tried.