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So I'm sure many of you have seen the new rim on the LOUD line of tuba mouthpieces http://www.loudmouthpieces.com/theloudrim_a/247.htm" target="_blank
Question is: Is there probably any basis to them saying that new rim is better than the old rim, as seen on Houser Mouthpiece's Ordnance line?: http://www.housermouthpiece.net/tuba-mo ... steel.html" target="_blank
Correct me if I am wrong but a stainless steel mouthpiece is more dense than a brass mouthpiece so there probably would not be as much of a problem with vibration in the first place. I want to purchase one of the LM/Mk mouthpieces, and seeing as when I might be able to buy one once I get more money would that rim on the LOUD be worth the extra $5? If it is still the same prices I won't even bother with the LOUD because saving $20 times the number of players next year on our sousa line could be a couple hundred bucks saved in the end that could go towards the purchase of Kelly's for everyone in the section.

call Dave Houser, he can speak to the subtle differences in the rims , regarding stainless steel vs. plated brass, its more a matter of fell than any audible differences you may hear . I dont think any difference will be noted that you could directly correlate to the densities of the material- time will tell that stainless steel will wear better than anything plated , but SS wont bounce if dropped and will dent and ding if not taken care of...js

jamsav wrote:call Dave Houser

Color me cynical, but asking ANY manufacturer/direct seller of a product about whether or not a competitor's product is better than the one he/she makes is like asking the fox how to protect the chicken coop.

Dutchtown Sousa wrote:If it is still the same prices I won't even bother with the LOUD because saving $20 times the number of players next year on our sousa line could be a couple hundred bucks saved in the end that could go towards the purchase of Kelly's for everyone in the section.

The bucks saved at $5 times the number of players could also go toward the purchase of Kellys, so why bother with the Loud to begin with? For that matter, Kelly's SS mpc is $17 cheaper than Houser's sale price, so why bother with the Houser?

If you're buying that many mouthpieces in a single order, you should be asking about a volume discount.

oops ... my bad...didnt realize that Dave was no longer the manufacturer of the LOUD line of MPs- didnt realize that the specs might have changed- but I also believe that Dave would give anyone who asked, the straight and skinny...

I know a lot of people are very much into the stainless steel thing, and I have chosen to stay with brass. One thing to be aware of is that IF you drop a steel mouthpiece, it is FAR more difficult to repair than a brass mouthpiece. A dent in the shank might make it impossible to insert until it's repaired, and if it's a screw rim, a dent in the threads makes it impossible to screw on without being remachined. I have repaired threads on a Houser screw rim, that I think actually came with a microscopic ding in the thread that wasn't even visible but it wouldn't screw on.

I don't really want to get another Helleberg style mouthpiece as that is exactly what I have right now, rather my section wants to try something different because these will be used for marching band rather than concert band. Also I really can't get the buzzers as a black mouthpiece probably would not make my band director happy. I am still trying to convince my band director to require every brass player to own a plastic Kelly mouthpiece for cold weather playing but I am sure he will either want clear or white. Once I can convince him and then he gets orders from everyone we will order them in bulk because Kelly offers a bulk discount as follows according to an email they sent me after I asked if they had bulk discount:
10-49 mouthpieces - 10% off
50-99 mouthpieces - 15% off
100+ mouthpieces - 20% off

I am not too concerned about repairs on mouthpieces because most music shops I have seen will repair a mouthpiece for around $5-$10 and once our sousas get repaired I don't see any mouthpieces falling on the ground unless someone is being a complete klutz.

So a sweet deal from Dave Houser: Buy 12 or more mouthpieces, get them at $117 instead of $130 (10% discount). I emailed him back after that asking about if he has tried the new loud rim and hopefully he will get back to me on that sooner of later

So Dave Houser has not tried the new ones but he does have lexan rims for the Ordnance line at a price of $20 in bulk orders. I guess I will have to decide between having a Kellyberg or getting a lexan rim. I'll save a bit with the rims I guess, and its nice to save space. Ill just have to see how that goes.