Auditioning mouthpieces

[acemorgan]

Like many people (none of you, of course), I find myself searching for the mouthpiece "holy grail." Looking for that special mouthpiece that will reverse hair loss, make me lose 50 lbs., and maybe even help my playing. A number of dealers will let you order online, try it out, and return it if it doesn't fit the bill. But they warn you it must be in pristine condition and their fussy technicians will examine it under an electron microscope. So here is the question: any tips on how to fully test it, yet keep it looking as though it was never out of the box?

[Three Valves]

Beyond being really careful, no.

But I can offer this; if one can not clearly articulate what they don't like about their existing mouthpiece and what they wish to accomplish with their potential new one, searching is pointless. (And expensive)

Talk to someone, even the Freak Jury here for direction.

Or at least to get a good laugh!!

[2nd tenor]

Like many people (none of you, of course), I find myself searching for the mouthpiece "holy grail." Looking for that special mouthpiece that will reverse hair loss, make me lose 50 lbs., and maybe even help my playing. A number of dealers will let you order online, try it out, and return it if it doesn't fit the bill. But they warn you it must be in pristine condition and their fussy technicians will examine it under an electron microscope. So here is the question: any tips on how to fully test it, yet keep it looking as though it was never out of the box?

I’d say that keeping the mouthpiece pristine simply isn’t possible and that therefore the arrangements with and expectations of the supplying dealer need to be looked at. Talking to people usually helps and both sides can discuss / explain their difficulties with sale or return. From the dealer’s perspective they likely need the returned piece to be saleable as new and unused to another customer.

I approached the mouthpiece selection testing from a different angle and informed it with the advice to: ‘play the largest mouthpiece your that chops can handle and the smallest that will do the job’ (if your chops are strong then the two criteria favourably overlap). First off is who can I borrow a mouthpiece or three from? Try them out and get a feel for size and (playing) range available from them - making written notes is a good idea. Second off is what makes of mouthpiece do you like that are readily available to you? Think about picking something of your preferred cup diameter from that manufacturer’s range; for me that was the Dennis Wick range and, after trying other sizes, I eventually settled on a No3 (they’re nice for a four valve EEb and also work well in a three valve BBb too). That process of homing in and final selection took several years, your chops slowly change and you need to (side by side) compare/test some pieces against each other.

Be aware that some manufacturers (not Wick) have a reputation for imperfect consistency between notionally identical mouthpieces. Life ain’t perfect and getting something that’s just perfect might be an unhelpful expectation - things change over time too so perfect today might not be so in a couple of years time. Realistically all you can hope for it to get tolerably near match to the ideal (ie. something that will work pretty well for you and your Tuba) and to then improve as a player by using the piece and practising.

Once you have a broad feel for make and size then EBay might be your friend. I’ve bought and sold a few used pieces on eBay and really not made a dreadful loss on the process - trivial compared to the cost of a Tuba. (Edit. I’m U.K. based and whilst postage here isn’t cheap it might be more expensive in the US.) Personally I don’t care if a piece has been used by someone else and isn’t in perfect condition, just clean it well and blow through the thing.

[tubanh84]

Give the price of mouthpieces, and the amount of money you can be out shipping, buying, being unable to return, etc...A plane ticket might be the same price or cheaper. There are several shops that have a load of tester mouthpieces you can try out all day.

Years ago I had a reason to be in the Raleigh area, and I hadn't played on different equipment in a long time. On a lark, I went to the Tuba Exchange, and they let me play all of their tester mouthpieces on a 1291 for as long as I wanted. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but the Mike Finn H stood out, so I bought one.

In retrospect, it would have been worth the price of the plane ticket and rental car to have done that even without being in Raleigh for another reason.

[Three Valves]

^^^^^

Tubacation!!

[donn]

If I'd "tried" all my mouthpieces for a week, would I have any of them? All of them? No idea. There may be one or two I really didn't like and still don't, but I'm not sure about that.

[BuddyRogersMusic]

As a dealer who sells, ships, and accepts a fair amount of returned mouthpieces, I haven't had to deny a refund for a mouthpiece that didn't appear new. We know that insertion marks are inevitable even in our showroom. There are ways to reduce that by placing a very thin layer of packing tape on the shank. Normally, it doesn't interfere with the shank/receiver interface but sometimes it does. The only way to find out is to play it. Carefully inserting the mouthpiece and not giving it the quarter turn that we're all used to is another way to minimize the markings. Silver polish or a light kiss of rouge with a buffing wheel will restore most shanks to new condition. That's an expected and accepted amount of work for a return.

We want our customers to feel comfortable purchasing any product and mouthpieces are "high-stress" purchases. By reducing as many impediments to the process as possible, we can sell more and return if necessary. I can't speak to other dealers' practices and experience, but I maintain the mindset that I still buy items that I may have to return. I know that larger businesses may be able to write off returns but small businesses depend upon selling every item that is ordered or produced.

[bort2.0]

Do your best and let them call you out on it. Who is to say that particular mouthpiece wasn't tried and returns by someone else?