Kelly Lexan mouthpieces as your main mouthpiece...

[Rev Rob]

I purchased both a Kelly 24 AW and a Kellyburg - both crystal orange. I have been using the Kellyburg as of late. It does deliver an edgier, louder tone. I mainly used it to see if it want to get a stainless steel Kellyburg, and I do. The lexan Kellyburg is a nice backup to always have in my case, if I every space out packing a metal favorite mouthpiece - Perantucci #84.

[Donn]

I'm not sure that I did think wrong. Of course I know a higher price does not necessarily make a commodity better. 2 things strike me though (1) the law of diminishing returns applies, up to a certain point the extra expense is worth it, and beyond that price it isn't.

I think the reason you're taking some criticism here is that you're talking out of both sides of your mouth. You're willing to say a higher price does not necessarily make a mouthpiece better, but on the other hand you say things like `up to a certain point the extra expense is worth it', and `get the best mouthpiece you can afford', that seem to imply that isn't what you think at all.

The nominal topic here is pretty simple. Either a Kelly mouthpiece works for you, just as well or better than the alternatives, or you prefer some alternative. That's for people who prefer to live (and play tuba) in the real world. We're getting into a couple of theoretical tangents here,

• Kelly mouthpieces can't be best, because they're cheap
  • cheap mouthpieces don't incorporate the advances in design that we find only in expensive mouthpieces
  • cheap mouthpieces aren't manufactured consistently
  • cheap stuff just isn't as good, that's why it's cheap
• Kelly mouthpieces can't be best, because they're plastic
  • plastic sticks to your lip
  • plastic doesn't resonate the same way as brass (or if you really want a powerful mouthpiece, steel.)

Some of these notions are specious, others may make some sense. You don't have to enter into that debate, but if you do, you may expect to be suspected of specious reasoning, unless you make yourself really clear.

[arpthark]

Late last December in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, UK played Clemson (and lost). I was in the marching band, and it was frigid. The valves in my sousie froze, so I was carrying around a bunch of cold metal, and it took a few days before my lips weren't screaming whenever I put anything to my face. Since then, I've been toying around with the idea of a lexan mouthpiece, and now I think I'll purchase one after reading this thread. It definitely seems like a good investment!

[Donn]

By the way, simple experiment that I think factors out plastic mouthpiece issues - you can make a "plastic rim" with some nail polish. I do that anyway, with mouthpieces that have suffered rim damage or plating wear. I'm still working on the technique. Think the best might be to build up a circular bead of the stuff on a plate, lay the mouthpiece rim in it and twirl it around, then hang it up to dry. I make more of a mess when I try to apply directly from the bottle to the rim.

That gives you a brass mouthpiece with similar lip grip to a plastic mouthpiece. I think lip traction might turn out to explain about 100% of the difference between mouthpiece materials, so I think it could be an interesting experiment. The stuff washes off with acetone, get a can of it cheap at the hardware store.

[tubainty]

Kelly mouthpieces can't be best, because they're cheap
cheap mouthpieces don't incorporate the advances in design that we find only in expensive mouthpieces
cheap mouthpieces aren't manufactured consistently
cheap stuff just isn't as good, that's why it's cheap
Kelly mouthpieces can't be best, because they're plastic
plastic sticks to your lip
plastic doesn't resonate the same way as brass (or if you really want a powerful mouthpiece, steel.)

Makes sense to me

[Tubacube]

I fly a lot to gigs and frequently have to double or triple between trumpet trombone and tuba. The tuba gets ground shipped or else I can borrow a tuba or sousaphone when arrive. I use the Kellyberg because it passes TSA without any hassle, for me it matches the most tubas in sound and response - very consistent .
Most of my other metal mouthpieces are very inconsistent, playing great on some instruments, but lousy on others. I like the idea that it warms up rapidly so when I switch from a bone to a tuba in a flash, it is a lot more secure. I can also throw the Kellyberg at the drummer when he drags with out ill effect to the mouthpiece or the drummer.

[bort]

I fly a lot to gigs and frequently have to double or triple between trumpet trombone and tuba. The tuba gets ground shipped or else I can borrow a tuba or sousaphone when arrive. I use the Kellyberg because it passes TSA without any hassle, for me it matches the most tubas in sound and response - very consistent .
Most of my other metal mouthpieces are very inconsistent, playing great on some instruments, but lousy on others. I like the idea that it warms up rapidly so when I switch from a bone to a tuba in a flash, it is a lot more secure. I can also throw the Kellyberg at the drummer when he drags with out ill effect to the mouthpiece or the drummer.

I don't fly with a mouthpiece often, but the 2 or 3 times I have, the TSA person scanning my bag has looked at me and said "Is that a tuba mouthpiece?" No lie, it's happened each time. Must be good training.

[Kevin Hendrick]

I don't fly with a mouthpiece often, but the 2 or 3 times I have, the TSA person scanning my bag has looked at me and said "Is that a tuba mouthpiece?" No lie, it's happened each time. Must be good training.

Sounds like a "Don Martin moment" to me! ("No, it's a shot glass for teetotalers ...")

[Kevin Hendrick]

I don't fly with a mouthpiece often, but the 2 or 3 times I have, the TSA person scanning my bag has looked at me and said "Is that a tuba mouthpiece?" No lie, it's happened each time. Must be good training.

Sounds like a "Don Martin moment" to me! ("No, it's a shot glass for teetotalers ...")

You have inspired me to change my avatar (I finally found this gem on the 'net). Hey Schlep, can I change my handle to "Eric Von Schteric?" Pretty please....

That works! Of course, I got the magazine right, but the cartoonist wrong -- was thinking of Al Jaffee:

http://www.leedberg.com/mad/satsq/satsq.html" target="_blank

[Tubaryan12]

There are only 2 mouthpieces I carry as backups: Kelly 24AW and Kellyberg. I had a consistantly high part today at quintet practice and I didn't play this week. I pulled out the 24AW and all went well. I still have to get myself a Kelly 25.

[sloan]

I don't fly with a mouthpiece often... ...Must be good training.

I may have heard that Donn flies with a broom...??

Time flies with a stopwatch.

[TexTuba]

I own a Kellyberg. I have ZERO hesitation on pulling out for a gig. Hell, I HAVE used one on a gig because I forgot my main 'piece.

[iiipopes]

I own a Kellyberg. I have ZERO hesitation on pulling out for a gig. Hell, I HAVE used one on a gig because I forgot my main 'piece.

My point from above, exactly. It was a rehearsal, but I had to go pull mine out of my glovebox once.

[Rev Rob]

There are only 2 mouthpieces I carry as backups: Kelly 24AW and Kellyberg. I had a consistantly high part today at quintet practice and I didn't play this week. I pulled out the 24AW and all went well. I still have to get myself a Kelly 25.

OK, I give - what color?

[swillafew]

It's my main mouthpiece on my trombone. I bought it to try different rims without spending big bucks, and it worked fine so it's getting daily use. I can appreciate players with large investments in boutique products having a need to slam them.

[Gobiron Guy]

I use a SS Kellyburg as my main mouthpiece in my 6/4 CC, because it WORKS BEST for me. I keep a Crystal red Kellyburg in the glove compartment, just in case anything happens to my main m/piece. I used the Lexan Kelly for quite a while before buying the SS, to see if it suited what I needed it for. It did, very well, including some seriously loud symphonic playing. I like the stainless version even better, because there is more solidity in the sound. If anything happened to the metal one, I would have no hesitation in pulling out the Lexan one again, that's why it's in my glove compartment!

[iiipopes]

I still have to get myself a Kelly 25.

Do it now if you're gonna. They're being discontinued.

[The Jackson]

http://www.kellymouthpieces.com/hotdeal/index.asp" target="_blank

Kelly is having another one of their awesome sales. Get in on it!

[toobagrowl]

^
My new Kelly Lexan mouthpieces arrived yesterday and they are wonderful!
I was curious, so I bought a few ( the 3-for-1 deal ). I am pleasantly surprised at how responsive and easy they are to play on compared to my metal mouthpieces. The sound is every bit as resonant as my metal 'pieces and MUCH LIGHTER. I don't even think 3 Kelly Lexan tuba mouthpieces is half as heavy as one small metal tuba mouthpiece.
These mouthpieces are perfect for outdoor/hot/cold weather. Or even just to practice on. I even plan to use one as my main mouthpiece .....I just need to decide which one. Very happy with my new 'pieces and plan to buy more products from Kelly in the future

[Lew]

FWIW I find the impact of the material out of which a mouthpiece is made to primarily be related to the friction of the rim on my lips. For this reason I do not really like using lexan mouthpieces. I find that I gravitate towards stainless steel or gold plated mouthpieces because they feel a little slipperier. I don't really like using silver plate either, besides the fact that I have had a reaction to some of the silver mouthpieces I have used. In terms of sound there doesn't seem to be that much difference, but I do get a sense that I lose some projection when using Kelly mouthpieces vs. my others.