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Hiya!

Some of you may remember my trying to bend a Kellyberg half a year ago.
viewtopic.php?t=15131&postdays=0&postor ... g&start=24

I like this mp, but the color doesn't work when playing in uniform. I wanted something else, and i don't particularly care for the solid or marbled colors available from Kelly. And, I should also mention that I don't like to show my lips through the transparent plastic.

So, I bought the transparent Kellyberg, and did some sandblasting, to get this 'frosted' look.




Maybe someone here already did this, but I think it looks really cool and just wanted to share. Enjoy.

I bought a "gold" Kelly 24AW. It is the color of tarnished brass.
I had hoped it would decorate rather than deter from the looks of my predented 1940 tuba.My next Kelly will be in the wildest colors I can find. The Kelly plays well and did not rob me of as many highs as I anticipated.

schlepporello wrote:Now that's just too cool!
I'll have to forward this to Kelly and see what they think.

Here's what I did to a white Kellyberg for Christmas.

That is still the coolest mouthpiece I've ever seen. The frosted clear takes a close second, though.

Kudos to both!

d

NY Yankeeberg

Bill Troiano wrote:NY Yankeeberg

I do believe this is the best looking mouthpiece I have every seen!

Bill Troiano wrote:NY Yankeeberg

WAY overpriced for what you get

yohan wrote:Hiya!

Some of you may remember my trying to bend a Kellyberg half a year ago.
viewtopic.php?t=15131&postdays=0&postor ... g&start=24

I like this mp, but the color doesn't work when playing in uniform. I wanted something else, and i don't particularly care for the solid or marbled colors available from Kelly. And, I should also mention that I don't like to show my lips through the transparent plastic.

So, I bought the transparent Kellyberg, and did some sandblasting, to get this 'frosted' look.




Maybe someone here already did this, but I think it looks really cool and just wanted to share. Enjoy.

Now that is really slick looking! Please share the details on how to do it as I too am not thrilled with my transparent one.

schlepporello wrote:Yohan, I'm interested in hearing the details concerning sandblasting the Kellyberg. I'd suspect you'd have to use a very fine sand and possibly lighter air pressure.

tofu wrote: Now that is really slick looking! Please share the details on how to do it as I too am not thrilled with my transparent one.

OK, I am not an expert in the field, I took it to the workshop where I work and got some help. First I masked the rim and cup with ordinary electric insulation tape (not sure if that's the correct name for the stuff, but heavy black plastic tape) Second, I plugged the end that goes into the receiver (the shank?) and then I ... blasted away

It is not really sand blasted, I think this particular device uses very fine glass beads. As for air pressure, I couldn't tell you, I simply don't know.

Glad you liked it though.

Not quite the same as bead blasting, which really looks great yohan,
here's what I did to a clear Kellyberg with 150 grit sandpaper, followed by 000 steel wool.
Seeing my lips reflected back in the tuba though that thing was distracting,
not to mention freaking me out.

Some things are just meant to be heard, not seen.

lgb&dtuba wrote:Not quite the same as bead blasting, which really looks great yohan,
here's what I did to a clear Kellyberg with 150 grit sandpaper, followed by 000 steel wool.
Seeing my lips reflected back in the tuba though that thing was distracting,
not to mention freaking me out.

Some things are just meant to be heard, not seen.

Thanks Jim - and nice work there! Obviously it is possible to get the same (or at least very similar) results as I did with simpler methods.

I never saw the reflection of my own lips, but there is another guy in my band who's playing on a clear mouthpiece, and those lips sure ain't a pretty sight...

*-*

Now it's frosted like a beer mug. Perfect for tuba players.

Tubaryan12 wrote:Now it's frosted like a beer mug. Perfect for tuba players.

All it needs it a little handle glued on the side!

The "glow-in-the-dark" Kelly color looks like white except in the dark. Most would mistake it for bone or ivory, if they didn't know anything about how mouthpieces were constructed.

Rick "who doesn't want the inside of his mouthpieces visible, even through frosting" Denney

I agree with Rick. I understand the necessity and usefulness of a clear mouthpiece for diagnostics. But no, thank you otherwise!

schlepporello wrote:They said the only drawback is the the pits in the material attract dirt.

So? Don't play your tuba in the dirt!

windshieldbug wrote:

schlepporello wrote:They said the only drawback is the the pits in the material attract dirt.

So? Don't play your tuba in the dirt!

I always thought playing tuba was a dirty business.