G&W Stainless Steel Tuba Mouthpieces

Z-Tuba Dude · Post by **Z-Tuba Dude** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 12:56 am

Just curious --- a fair amount of time has passed since they have come on the market, what are the reviews after using them a while?

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:44 am

You left off a choice from the poll:

I have tried one and think it is a very good mouthpiece.

I tried the mouthpiecs at TubaChristmas in Seattle; and if I had had the money, I would have bought at least one.

BTW, the titanium mouthpiece is very cool.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 1:36 pm

I've not had the opportunity to try one of these, so out of pure unadulterated ignorance, I'd like to ask the satisfied owners a couple of questions:

1) How much of what you like about these is due to the shape of the mouthpiece? In other words, how many of you feel that the mouthpiece would be equally good done in brass?

2) If you responded "not the shape" to (1), what do you think is the primary contribution of steel to the sound?

3) How many of you feel that the following factor plays an important part?

4) If these things are really the cat's meow, I suspect that moving manufacturing offshore and selling these things for $35 the each would be a high-school band director's dream. What do you think?

FWIW, I'm not agin' these things; as a matter of fact, I suggested making mouthpieces (and tuba bells) out of stainless years ago on the old TubeNet.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 2:07 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:1) How much of what you like about these is due to the shape of the mouthpiece? In other words, how many of you feel that the mouthpiece would be equally good done in brass?

As I stated, I don't own one, but I did try them at TubaChristmas. I'm sure Ivan would disagree, but I think the shape is 100% of what makes the G&W mouthpieces good. However, there is a caveat. The end of the shank is very thin and I would think if the mouthpieces were made of brass the edge would be quickly damaged.

The stainless steel is heavy, but the titanium is not; so I think the weight is not that big of a factor. Both the stainless and titanium have the thick wall though.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 2:46 pm

LV wrote: I think you should be the one to go live in sh_t-hole, third-world country (oh, wait a minute, that's us...) selected and be the grunt who loads the stainless into the machine since you eventually won't have a job here anyway. I bet you'll look good in a sheet and sandles!

Get real. How many US manufacturers have much of their manufacturing is in a third world country?

http://www.warburton-industries.com/The%20Machinery.htm

If you don't like it, try electing a government that will do something about it.

BTW, I'm wearing made-in-the-USA-by-union-labor pants and shirt. How about you, hmmm...?

Philip Jensen · Post by **Philip Jensen** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 3:25 pm

I have two, and love them both. I think Mark is right about the end of the shank. I don't think you could get that taper to hold it's shape in brass.

Other advantages include a much warmer feeling on the lips and no worries about plating wearing off. Also if you get a nick in it you can buff it out and you're ready to go.

I think the trade off with SS is you don't have to worry at all about plating, but at the expense of being harder to machine.

If you wanted to go crazy, I bet Ivan could etch whatever design you wanted onto it.

I guess I'd have to say the metal probably has something to do with it. I figure people have been messing with mouthpieces for a long time, so is there really that much that can be done with shape that hasn't been done before? I believe Ivan has incoporated a few shape features into their designs particularly the backbore that account for some of the differences, but I feel the metal makes a difference. People certainly seem to think lexan plays differently

brianf · Post by **brianf** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:08 pm

It is impossible to say anything about any mouthpiece unless you have played them! Now that the regionals will be starting up, many of you will have an opportunity. G&W will be exhibiting at the Army show in DC. They just sent me three mouthpieces that I will have available at the shows that I will be at, Army (DC), Bloomington (ISU), Athens (U of Georgia), Minnesota, and Las Vegas. Also, you can come to my office located north of Chicago, halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee.

I just played them - there good in certain circumstances. Remember, I am a player who constanly switches mouthpieces for whatever I am playing. I'd use one.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 1:06 am

The wet and slippery thing may be a good thing if you look at it a different way. The steel is warmer, and may feel that way, but I have found it to be more comfortable than other MPs.

The design of the G&Ws is mighty interesting, and well done. It isn't just the steel that makes them do what they do. The medium heavy idea and perfectly tapered design contributes quite a lot to the sound and feel of this MP. I have three so far and can't seem to stop buying them. I think I just like to look at them. I think the design would have been well received if they had been brass, but the steel is even that much better. Just listen to the difference in response and pure volume from a sax player using steel over wood. Wha a difference.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:00 am

What a great idea! My mouthpiece will smell like L.A. water, but it will be warm.

drandomtubas · Post by **drandomtubas** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:13 pm

I own a Williwaw, and, my goodness do I love it!

My one beef with it is entirely my fault...
I'm ... a little bit klutzy, and the very thin edge of the shank on my beloved mouthpiece has been damaged about three times since I purchased it a few months ago.

In fact... it completely fell out of my tuba and landed on a tiled floor about ...ten minutes before my All State audition

However, it's still... fabulous, and I don't think I'll need to get another mouthpiece in a good long while.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:31 am

I think what people are saying about the very thin end of the shank deserves a little more attention....sounds like they have a backbore that can't be done in brass because the brass is too soft. So that may have a great deal to do with how these pieces are different.

I'd love to try one but my $$ are so extended right now that it will have to wait; I'm planning to hit Vegas in June and want to try everything there even if my face falls off.

MA, who is a little frustrated lately with tuba.....it seems that when I'm playing horn well, tuba is going badly, and vice versa. Rats. I had to go back to my PT 64 last night on the 184, because I was burbling all the notes on my much-loved 7B, and I have a solo coming up that I can't burble.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:56 pm

It isn't your imagination. They Bayamo is a monster, especially when pumping out the low stuff.

G&W Stainless Steel Tuba Mouthpieces

Whaddaya think about G&W stainless steel tuba mouthpieces?

G&W Stainless Steel Tuba Mouthpieces