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I am intrested to know the real differences between Gold plated, silver, and stainless. mouthpieces I have all 3 types but I cant really compare them because they are all of different mfg. (Just a curious high schooler wanting to know)

Since my arrival in Vietnam, I use nothing but chopsticks.

Oh, you mean my tubas. They are all lacquered brass. That wasn't one of the choices.

Oh, I misread. I have one mouthpiece of gold, one of silver plate, and one plastic one. I usually use my silver plated Helleberg.

Oh, and remember this: If your silver mouthpiece loses its plating, DON'T USE IT. IT IS HIGHLY TOXIC. IT CAN CAUSE WELTS AND MAKE YOU SICK.

Harriet Carter sometimes sells a home gold plating kit in her catalog. I don't see it online.

http://www.harrietcarter.com/

I own and use only one mouthpiece . It is stainless .

Well since I use a DE mpc, the rim is gold, cup is silver and shank is raw brass (voted gold because I think you're really wanting to know the rim finish )

My wife bought me an Alan Baer stainless mouthpiece for Christmas and had me open it before a Christmas eve gig. I used it during the rehearsal and performance and think it will now be my main mouthpiece. I don't know if it is more design or material, but it is a really solid, comfortable mouthpiece and I really like it. The horn player in my brass group (who also plays tuba) commented that the sound was very nice and clear.

I have, and have used regularly at one time or another, at least one of each. They have their place and it all comes down to my preference at the time.

LoyalTubist wrote:Oh, I misread. I have one mouthpiece of gold, one of silver plate, and one plastic one. I usually use my silver plated Helleberg.

Oh, and remember this: If your silver mouthpiece loses its plating, DON'T USE IT. IT IS HIGHLY TOXIC. IT CAN CAUSE WELTS AND MAKE YOU SICK.

Harriet Carter sometimes sells a home gold plating kit in her catalog. I don't see it online.

http://www.harrietcarter.com/

well I better not use my silver miraphone C4 the silver on the rim is worn to the brass

I like stainless...I own 2 stainless steel mouthpieces. Reasons why I like them better:
1. Louder. I've tried my Stainless mouthpieces, right after using a silver plated Helleberg. The Stainless one was louder, and the way this was figured out, is that I was able to overblow the horn easier than with a silver mouthpiece.
2. Better articulation. I don't know why, but it just seems true.

Either silver or stainless...I think gold is too "slippery."

I use the G&W Baer mcp's. Also not sure how much of that has to do with the material, but I won't ask too many questions. I like it a lot.

For the G&W mpc's, the question is: stainless or titanium? Well, actually that's easy for me...I don't have $300+ to spend on a mpc...

I don't know if anyone has done a scientific study to verify some of the claims made here, I think if the mouthpiece works for you, great. In my experience, gold is a little more slippery than silver. I've never played on a stainless steel mouthpiece, so I can't say what they're like.
To me, it's more important to find a mouthpiece that suits the intonation of the horn, and gets you closer to the sound you want to hear from your playing.

I voted silver, 'cause the bulk of the arsenal is silver plated, but lately, I'm enjoying a Mike Finn MF3H with the "Gold Chop" rim & cup. It seems very much like my all silver MF3H, but look "reel purty".

I've been playing on Stainless for about two weeks now, and I've got to agree with tubaguy9... I really feel like I'm getting better articulations with it. I can't explain it. Love the feel, too! I don't see myself switching back to gold.

Enjoy!

-Brett