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i recently bought a kellyburg (lexan) mouthpiece for 2 reasons, playing marching band practices in the dead of winter and curiosity. have have hear very good things, and very bad things aobut these mouthpieces. im told that the lexan will never resonate like a metal mouthpiece, and i will almost never obtane any bell tones. i just wanted your views and opinions on this new breed of mouthpiece. but it was a good price for a junker mouthpiece

PhilW. wrote:Don't you already have your own views on the mouthpiece, especially if you own it?

well i have heard many contradicting thing about these mouthpieces, i don't use it much, but there are many strong views on these mouthpieces. im just asking the "pros"

Lexan is sticky. It tends to pull off more skin than silver-plated mouthpieces or gold-plated mouthpieces.

If you play an extended passage and your lips dry out a little, it can be tricky to make a wide slur sound clean. (Your lips will get stuck to the mouthpiece in one setting).

On the plus side, you can put a cold horn to your face and be able to play a lexan mouthpiece with no warmup after a long rest. This makes it great for college teachers who are constantly picking up or putting down thier horns.

On the minus side, endurance can be all or nothing with these mouthpieces. You could be playing along just fine, and then you will be out of chops. With metal mouthpieces, some players find it easier to gague the level of chop fatigue. (personal experience, and several big-name trombone players/teachers).

I played a lexan mouthpiece for three years to combat brass sensitivity and skin irritations.

Many players find that crisp attacks are not as easy as on metal mouthpieces.

Given an unlimited budget, I would go for a gold-plated mouthpiece for legit playing. Silver is a second best alternative. Gold slides on the chops, making slurs easier. (For me, at least.)

For outdoor playing in cold weather, Lexan is the best.

schlepporello wrote:I've not heard any middle of the road evaluations yet.

I always have a Kelly 18 in my MP bag. It's a refreshing change from my favored Conn Helleberg. It's a great way to rest you chops.

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I've been using mine since February, and don't really plan on going back to a metal mouthpiece.

It's wonderful to finally have a plastic mouthpiece that's based on a good design. When I have to pick up the horn and play straight away after standing around for an hour, my face doesn't get shocked by a cold mouthpiece anymore. That in itself has eased my mind a LOT in every gig that I've used it (and made me wonder "what I was thinking?" when I used a metal mouthpiece).

The most notable sound difference is that my sound isn't as bright when I really get on it. It seems to absorb the high-volume sizzle, so I can have a warmer sound when I'm playing loudly.

The only thing I'd want to improve is the surface friction. The Lexan does grip more, but it's not awful, and it's still nicer than the white nylon mouthpieces that are otherwise available. I'm keeping my ears open for mouthpieces made of a different, more slippery plastic compound.

I find that the Kellyburg helps me to get warmed up when my lip's just not cooperating. It's forgiving and easy on the lip.

I find I am using my Kelleyberg more and more, for many of the reasons stated by previous responders. Also It seems to improve my high range. I am eventually going to get a similar metal mouthpiece to see if it is the design or the lexan that does it.

Check the archives. There were at least two other threads on this subject this year.

I have cristal clear kelly 25, it's an ok mpc but a metal mpc is better IMHO. The kelly can't absorb all the energy I put in, meaning that when I play FF the piece starts to rattle. I don't have this problem with a metal mpc, which just resonates better without loosing energy....

Leland wrote: The only thing I'd want to improve is the surface friction. The Lexan does grip more, but it's not awful, and it's still nicer than the white nylon mouthpieces that are otherwise available. I'm keeping my ears open for mouthpieces made of a different, more slippery plastic compound.

Leland, I'd be curious to see what you think if you put (clear) nail polish on the rim. It has a soft feel, and the slipperiness seems to be between silver and gold. Of course you'd want to make sure you could use nail polish remover on the plastic mpc without messing it up.

MA