Kelly Mouthpieces

[SousaSaver]

Here is where I sing the praises of Kelly Mouthpieces. I really like them.

http://sousacentral.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... astic.html

What do you think about them? Give me your opinions as honestly as possible.

I have a Kelly 18 that I like quite a bit. I would like to try their KT-50, which I understand is their copy of a Perantucci PT-50.

[The Jackson]

They are the bomb. I always have one in my day bag for buzzing while I'm away from the horn.

[sirjohna]

I'm not sure if it is of any value but I am more aware of my air moving in my plastic mouthpiece. I can feel it welling up when I use more air in my euphonium. the air is warmer when it comes back at my embouchure. This could be a sign I'm not focusing my airstream I don't know.

[toobagrowl]

I like them and use them all the time. The Kelly 18 is my overall fav. Only small "quibble" I have with them is that there is a strange little internal "buzz" within the mouthpiece when playing low & loud. Everything else is great though
I love the feel of Lexan and how it does not go thru the temperature extremes that metal rims go thru. Kinda makes me curious about the new "Eb" Blokepiece w/Lexan rim as well.

[Dan Schultz]

I have several Kelly mp's around here. I was fortunate to pick up one of the KT-50 mouthpieces when they originally offered a few prototypes. It's a good MP. I regularly use a PT-48+ and still keep the KT-50 in my 'goodie bag'.

[Art Hovey]

High school tuba players almost always sound better after I switch them over to a Kelly 18, and they like the cool colors.
They are also good for experimenting. It is pretty easy to modify the cup and rim of a Kelly with sandpaper and elbow grease, followed by steel wool and fine steel wool, followed by brisk rubbing with denim.
Has anyone ever been able to hear a difference in sound between a plastic Kelly and a metal mouthpiece with identical size and shape, in an honest blindfold test?

[averagejoe]

What is the rim diameter on the KELLYbergs? I couldn't find it on their website or on the dwerden mouthpiece comparison chart.

[imperialbari]

I've lost count of how many Kellys I have, but I use the Kellybergs and Kelly 18's. When it comes to decorating Kellys though, I prefer to use a wedding white Kelly 18. The white makes the perfect blank space for decorating and the wide rim lends itself to decorating far better than the Kellyberg. By the way, I bought a Stainless Steel Kellyberg at TMEA last week and love it.

Some know from their day jobs how important the prevention of rust is.

K

[TubaBobH]

What is the rim diameter on the KELLYbergs? I couldn't find it on their website or on the dwerden mouthpiece comparison chart.

The cup/rim diameter is 1.30
The cup depth is 1.73
The inside diameter of the receiver is .58

[wonderbread403]

I have a black Lexan Kellyberg in my car for quick warmups on the way to rehearsal or a gig. Also, it's a good backup, in case I need it. But I've never considered using it as a primary piece. The mouthpiece vibrates too much for my tastes. I prefer the smoothness and hardness of stainless steel.

[averagejoe]

What is the rim diameter on the KELLYbergs? I couldn't find it on their website or on the dwerden mouthpiece comparison chart.

The cup/rim diameter is 1.30
The cup depth is 1.73
The inside diameter of the receiver is .58

Thank you

[bearphonium]

I use a Kelly 18 with my sousaphone. Can't beat the "temperature control" or the durablilty, since I seem to drop it with fair regularity. On my York Master bell front, I fell more of a difference than folks hear when I use a Bach 18 vs a Kelly 18.

[iiipopes]

I have two. I have a burgundy 18 one that I use mostly, for outdoor gigs and such, and to always have as a spare. I also have a blue one, well, just because. Anyway, something interesting about how a Kelly 18 works for me: with all the tubas and souzys I have played, there are those which sound better or worse with different mouthpieces, all the way from absolutely stellar to absolutely stuffy and difficult. My Kelly 18 with a ring of golfers' lead tape around the throat to stabilize dynamic response sounds at least good, if not very good on all of them. This is not to say spectacular, which it isn't, but none are the dreaded stuffy, either. Yes, occasionally, with the resonance of the lexan, a note here or there will whang, but overall the Kelly 18 is a "go-to" if all else should fail with a primary mouthpiece, and is the primary mouthpiece in inclement weather, hot or cold.

And all this in addition to all the other reasons to own a Kelly: they don't break, they don't dent your horn, they are inexpensive, they warm up to the embouchure quickly, color of choice or du Jour.

Everybody, in addition to their primary mouthpiece, should have at least one Kelly 18 in the stable for all of these reasons.

[peter birch]

just to provide a dissenting opinion, I don't like them - I think that they make any player sound worse than they would with an equivalent metal mouthpiece. The kelly 24AW didn't work for me compared to a metal one, and for me it makes the sound very rough and edgy. An heretical view I know, but there you go.

[SousaSaver]

Peter-

Why do you think you are getting those results? There isn't anything wrong with dissent, I just like to know details.

[Chadtuba]

I have Kelly's for all of my horns and use them on a regular basis here in ND. I tend to keep them around for general buzzing and then use them when the temps begin to drop, which around here is usually August Tuba wise I have the Kellyburg and an 18 I think. I prefer the Kellyburg primarily because I used a Helleburg for many years. I probably should do some experimenting with the 18 (assuming I'm remembering correctly that I have one). I don't remember off hand what models I have in the euph, tenor, and bass bone cases but they are all there when I need them.

[Dan Schultz]

I have a KT-50 and a PT-50. I don't use either one of them very much but keep the KT-50 in my bag for those times when I want a plastic MP. I usually use a gold PT-48+.

I've not given much thought to how reliable the KT-50 copy is to the 'real thing'. But in light of this post.... I picked them and my calipers up and found them to be remarkably close.... as close as one can measure with regard to radiused edges.

Outside of rim... KT-50 - 1.906"..... PT-50 - 1.906"
Inside of rim... KT-50 - 1.320"..... PT-50 - 1.320"
Bowl depth... KT-50 - 1.58"..... PT-50 - 1.58
Inside shank at bottom... KT-50 - .46"..... PT-50 - .47"

[peter birch]

Peter-

Why do you think you are getting those results? There isn't anything wrong with dissent, I just like to know details.

...is a good question, it sounds like people are getting acceptable results from the lexan mouthpiece, and I probably feel that I want something better than acceptable. I don't have any hard data to back up my view, such as comparing the measurements in great detail, or sonic responses, but I do know that it doesn't feel pleasant on my lip and it doesn't sound very pleasant when I hear it.

[Art Hovey]

but I do know that it doesn't feel pleasant on my lip and it doesn't sound very pleasant when I hear it.

There is no question that plastic mouthpieces feels different, and whether you like or dislike that feel is up to you.

But I still haven't seen anybody reporting results of a blindfold test, from the listeners' point of view.

-If somebody else switches back and forth randomly between a Kelly and a metal mouthpiece that has the same size and shape, can YOU hear the difference without looking?

[peter birch]

but I do know that it doesn't feel pleasant on my lip and it doesn't sound very pleasant when I hear it.

There is no question that plastic mouthpieces feels different, and whether you like or dislike that feel is up to you.

But I still haven't seen anybody reporting results of a blindfold test, from the listeners' point of view.

-If somebody else switches back and forth randomly between a Kelly and a metal mouthpiece that has the same size and shape, can YOU hear the difference without looking?

let me say first of all that I don't have special ears, or access to any exclusive skills or knowledge that makes my opinion better than anyone elses, I tried one and got the results I described above, my colleague broke his Kelly 24aw during a march one easter, and when I "loaned" him my spare bach 24aw (that he has yet to return to me) his sound improved dramatically becoming more round and more focussed, his dynamics improved as well, and it improved the sectional sound. this is my experience of the Kelly mouthpiece, for what its worth.