Contrabass vs. Tuba

[trombinstharry]

Hey all, I was wondering if there was a difference between contrabass trombone mouthpieces and tuba mouthpieces. Do contrabasses use bigger bass bone mouthpieces or regular tuba mouthpieces? Thanks

[Burgerbob]

Contrabass trombone should be played with contrabass trombone mouthpieces.

They're larger than bass trombone mouthpieces (even the big ones) and smaller than small tuba mouthpieces.

[BGuttman]

Bach makes two Contra mouthpieces: 30CB and 32CB. These are the same size as the smallest tuba mouthpieces but with a different shank.

While you can use a tuba mouthpiece on a contra (August Helleberg did 100 years ago), you are best off using a contra mouthpiece. A bass mouthpiece will be a bit small.

[dershem]

As said above, they are very different animals. My tuba (an old Conn EEb) started out with a bass bone receiver. With a standard bass bone mouthpiece, it sounded like a euphonium. I got a Marcinkiewicz 107 (contra piece) and it sounded better, but still like a very rich euph. I had it changed to a tube receiver, put in a Kelly 25, and now it's a tuba. Some day I'll get a Marc 25 for it. I also have an adapter for when I want that euph sound.