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I would like to add a mouthpiece puller to my pseudo instrument repair toolkit. As a wannabe/hobbyist, I don't want to spend too much. The bobcat mouthpiece puller has been around for a long time. Are they any good?

It's inexpensive, really easy to use, and does the job well. I use one on my students' instruments all the time.

I just snagged that Pep EZ Out on da bay for a less than the bobcats, and it looks to be even sturdier. I may have to use a little socket on it to turn the screws. I will find it in about a week. I guess.

I know you said you got a puller already, but I thought I'd throw my $.02 in the bucket.

I have one as a band director and it works well. There was one mouthpiece (I think it was a baritone, but I don't remember now) that just wouldn't fit in it right. I managed to jimmy it in or around or something to get it out, but it just wouldn't fit in the Bobcat. Sorry I don't remember what mouthpiece it was, but that was only one of the dozens I've pulled with it.

The Bobcat--and its look-alike competitor from Valentino--is probably your best choice if you want something portable, that you can put into a traveling toolbox with some other road essentials for the school band trip.

When I asked this question recently on the Trombone-L, I heard back from some repairmen who mention the Thompson T100 as their "go-to puller." You've probably seen one of these at your repairman's shop; it is a special bench-top vise, and have a series of special-sized half-washers that you insert for the different sizes from trumpet down to tuba. It's probably best practice to permanently bolt it down to a table top or workbench, and have a safe place to store all the half-washers.

Price-wise, it costs only a little more than the Bobcat. I have just ordered one for my local repairman. My source was Ackerman's Music Center in Wyckoff, New Jersey. (Tell Ray that "that crazy guy in Estonia" sent you.)

Hope that helps!
--George

I have used one of these for the past 18 years as a band teacher. I have never NOT been able to get a MP out. Although there have been few that I really had to use all my strength for. On MP's that are that stuck, it can put a small dent into the outside of the cup. If I were designing an updated version, I would figure out some sort of quick release to change it's size quickly, rather than having to turn the screws until it gets there. Going from a trumpet to a euph takes a lot of turning. But still, they work well.

I have a puller that is similar design as the bobcat and I love it for pulling out mouthpieces from student horns all the time.

Finally got the Pep EZ Out out of the box. Was missing pieces. Bummer, will try to return. I think I just need to pay the money and get the BAP (Big A$$ Puller) and order a Ferrees or the rebranded DEG magnum.

Not to be a contrarian but the first shop I worked for back in the 1970's had one of those Feree's pullers. Not great for trombones, baritones and tubas the jaws are radiused for trumpet size shanks. It loved to scar everything: Receivers, mouthpiece shanks, anything they touched. On really stubborn ones the jaws want to ride up over the lip of the receiver. Ugly.

No thanks, give me the Bobcat (style) any day. One similar drawback for tubas: Sometimes (smallish shank in an American receiver) and it can't get short enough. Take your Dremel (or better yet a decent die grinder) and relieve the outer portion of the mouthpiece side of the mechanism. Polish it up so it doesn't mar, you are in business.