would like to try a stainless steel mouthpiece

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:05 am

I play a 1940 King,top action,bell front E-flat tuba.When I had it serviced at Schmidt's Music in Pensacola (I like this store)they recommended a Schilke 66 mouthpiece and it seemed to be just fine.I developed an allergy problem and Mary Ann,on this tube net advised me to get a gold mouthpiece.Schmidt's Music got me a gold plated Schilke66 for $50 over the regular mouthpiece price and it helps.However I am still breaking out after a long loud gig and would like to try a stainless steel mouthpiece.I would appreciate if anyone could recommend something similar to the Schilke 66 (which I like) in stainless steel.Thank you.
tubatooter1940

Paul S · Post by **Paul S** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:41 am

I think the Matanuska might be the closest match to the mouthpiece you are using now. It is a shallow funnel design with a 1.255" rim diameter compared to 1.241" on the 66. I use the Bora which has the same rim size and throat in a bowl cup on my little Yamaha 621F and really like it.

If you like the feel of a gold mouthpiece, the steel provides the same ease of adjustment as well.

It would be best to E-mail Ivan Giddings at Giddings & Webster, he is extremely helpful in selecting what he thinks would work best for your situation and is top rate in customer service.

http://www.gwmouthpieces.com/tuba.html

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 3:59 am

I do not blame you at all for wanting to try Steel.....being someone who has very sensitive skin I know the annoyance of breaking out from certain mouthpieces. Hwoever I would seriously look into the quality of Gold Plating on your shilke.....only because as I understand it an allergy to Gold is almost unheard of. It is an extremely unreactive metal. However if the plating job was done with less than 24K gold there is a good chance that you are allergic to the "other metal" in that combo and not the gold itself. Stainless Steel has some of the same metals that can be found in that gold....most specifically Nickel ..... you may have a very severe allergy to Nickel and will want to double check that Stainless is the way to go. Because there are "medical" studies out there that say Stainless Steel may not be as unreactive as commonly thought. Just a suggestion.. I am IN NO WAY a doctor...but have done quite a bit of reading on this subject. Either way ....Best of luck.

Jay "who is not a metalergist but did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night"

Tabor · Post by **Tabor** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 4:08 pm

...and if you are indeed allergic to gold, try one of those plastic ones. Those stainless steel mouthpieces sure look cool...

-Tabor

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:06 pm

Also try health-food-store clear nail polish on the rim. (you can remove it with acetone or nail polish remover.) I can't remember what chemical is missing in the health food store nail polish but it is somewhat less toxic than regular nail polish. OF course you may be allergic to that too.

And what the other guys said about the plating.

You could also be allergic to your soap or shaving cream and it only shows up when "mixed" with your mouthpiece. Try using only castile soap for a week. (also available in your health food store.)

You could try a Kelly to see if non-metal makes a difference.
And I just noticed you can get a delrin rim from Custom for PT mpces.

MA, who is allergic to almost everything if she exposes herself daily.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:58 pm

MaryAnn wrote: MA, who is allergic to almost everything if she exposes herself daily.

Mary Ann, the answer is quite simple. Don't expose yourself daily.

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:36 pm

No offense, but how often do you clean your mouthpiece? I wash out my gold plated mouthpieces completely before every time I play. I usually don't rub the rim much so as not to wear down the plating. It amazes me when I see people pick up a "dirty" mouthpiece and put it on their face. "lip cheese" and other junk seems to stay on gold mouthpieces moreso than silver.

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:39 pm

I'm with you....I always brush my teeth and rinse out my mouthpiece before I play....I know that may be a bit overkill...but it has just become a habit that I figure is better than not doing it at all.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:34 pm

I never wash my mouthpiece. Cheese is one of my favorite foods.

Seriously though, I would go with the G&W. Paul is right on about that.