Do heavyweight tuba mouthpieces actually help or hold us back? We asked the Denis Wick Tips community to share their thoughts. Do players really feel a difference? And does mouthpiece weight matter as much as other design factors? Before we dive into the survey results, let’s take a quick look at the science behind heavyweight mouthpieces.
How does weight affect a Tuba mouthpiece?
While the player creates the "buzz" the mouthpiece resonates to create a brass player's sound, and this sound is magnified by the instrument. Heavy weight mouthpieces absorb and dampen some of those vibrations instead of resonating with them. That keeps more energy focused into the air column of the instrument, giving a steadier, more centered tone.
Is this dampening affect significant in the performance of brass players? Let's see what the community says.
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Do Heavyweight Tuba Mouthpieces Make a Difference?
Equal numbers of tuba players felt that heavy weight mouthpieces were either good or bad. The majority however felt that heavyweight mouthpieces were useful based on situations. Here are some thoughts from the community further discussing their opinions on heavyweight tuba mouthpieces.
"Hurts! The less mass to a mouthpiece, the more resonant and responsive it is. Why work harder to achieve a less colorful and nuanced sound?"
"I feel it focuses the sound more and gives it more stability."
"I like the Heritage when I'm playing Baroque music and a medium weight when I am playing brass ensemble and wind symphony."
"It depends on whether I am playing small/medium bore or large bore trombones. I think a lighter mp complements the brighter tone of small bore but I prefer the Heritage DW 6BL with my Conn 88hO which adds to the warmer, darker sound of the instrument."
"It hurts because it makes getting into the upper register tricky."
"I've experienced darker sounds from heavier mouthpiece. I've experienced an easier blow with light mouthpieces. I think for Jazz and more improvisational music that calls for you to be more agile at a moments notice , the light pieces handle better."
Take Away
🎯 Agility and lighter seem to be situations where a heavy weight mouthpiece fail to support. However when looking for additional support and focus, the heavy weight style mouthpieces can be a trombone players best friend. Find all 3 mouthpiece weight options Denis Wick has designed for trombone players at https://www.deniswick.com/tuba/
