JS Helleberg Tuba Mouthpiece

Description

Big, Burly Helleberg Sound

The CHI Brass JS Helleberg is a U.S.-made precision reproduction of a mouthpiece that belonged to Arnold Jacobs.

The original mouthpiece was modified with a rounded bottom cup and a less severe rim edge. Jacobs made similar adjustments to many mouthpieces, though most were eventually passed on to his students. However, he kept this specific mouthpiece.

The JS Helleberg is significantly larger than many traditional Helleberg designs, making it particularly effective on large York-style CC tubas.

While there is no documentation confirming how often—or if—Jacobs used this mouthpiece in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, CHI Brass does not associate it with specific performances. What is clear, however, is that players who tried the original regarded it as exceptional, which inspired the CHI reproduction.

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Performance Characteristics

The JS Helleberg delivers:

• A broad, powerful sound with substantial fundamental tones in the low register.
• A singing quality in the upper range.

This mouthpiece is an excellent choice for players seeking a larger Helleberg with significant tonal weight and breadth.

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Sound Characteristics

• Big, burly sound
• Strong fundamental
• Powerful low register
• Broad tonal character
• Singing upper register
• Excellent projection
• Substantial orchestral presence

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Recommended For

Ideal Applications:

• Symphony Orchestra
• Wind Ensemble
• Large Ensemble Performance

Ideal Instruments:

• Large CC Tuba
• 5/4 and 6/4 CC Tubas
• York-style CC Tubas
• Large BBb Tubas

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Specifications

• Overall Length: 3.753″
• Maximum Outer Diameter (OD): 1.868″ / 47.4472 mm
• Inner Diameter (ID) at 0.060″: 1.318″ / 33.47 mm
• Throat: 0.330″ / 8.382 mm
• Standard Shank: 0.530″
• A Shank: 0.525″
• Euro Shank: 0.540″

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CHI Brass JS Helleberg Heavyweight

The JS Helleberg Heavyweight combines the internal design of the standard JS Helleberg with the CHI heavyweight shell.

This version retains the large inner diameter, substantial low-register fundamental, and broad tonal character of the standard JS, while offering added stability and density to the sound.

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Recommended For

Ideal for players seeking the largest, most substantial Helleberg-style sound in the CHI line, particularly when used with large 5/4 and 6/4 CC and BBb tubas.

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Specifications

The internal specifications are identical to the standard JS Helleberg:

• Overall Length: 3.753″
• Inner Diameter (ID) at 0.060″: 1.318″ / 33.47 mm
• Throat: 0.330″ / 8.382 mm
• Standard Shank: 0.530″
• A Shank: 0.525″
• Euro Shank: 0.540″