It's been talked about before but Kelly Mouthpieces?

[Dutchtown Sousa]

So who here uses them? What do you like or dislike about them? In my search to find a better mouthpiece (for myself) I have heard these Kelly mouthpieces are good, especially for cold weather playing and also that their stainless steel ones are pretty good also. Seeing as it has been suggestion to try out cheaper mouthpieces, and I have heard these can be good. Some of my problems do revolve around the mouthpiece being too cold in during games. So basic questions are
#1: Are these mouthpieces worth what they are listed for?
#2: Are they well designed?
#3: Would you recommend them to high school players?
Include any other relevant insight you have
Thank you for your help

[Donn]

Given the modest expense, I don't think you have to clear it with Tubenet first. Try one and see what you think.

[Kevin Hendrick]

So who here uses them? What do you like or dislike about them? In my search to find a better mouthpiece (for myself) I have heard these Kelly mouthpieces are good, especially for cold weather playing and also that their stainless steel ones are pretty good also. Seeing as it has been suggestion to try out cheaper mouthpieces, and I have heard these can be good. Some of my problems do revolve around the mouthpiece being too cold in during games. So basic questions are
#1: Are these mouthpieces worth what they are listed for?
#2: Are they well designed?
#3: Would you recommend them to high school players?
Include any other relevant insight you have
Thank you for your help

First, to answer your basic questions:

(1) Yes
(2) Yes
(3) Yes

I've been using a lexan Kellyberg as my primary mouthpiece for almost 7 years, and have had very good results from it. It's light, durable, easy to carry, and easy on the face (much better endurance than with a metal 'piece -- and yes, I have (and use) several of those as well). Have used it for everything from solos to orchestras and large concert bands, with uniformly positive feedback from audiences and colleagues. As noted above, it's nice to have for winter playing (my original reason for purchase), but it also works well for summer park concerts and such. And, as you and Donn both noted, the price is quite nice too!

[Dutchtown Sousa]

Yes the price is nice, I contacted them about if I could make the price even nicer if I ordered in bulk (if I can sell the idea to my instructor and fellow band members we could be looking at 40 or so mouthpieces).
Now still have one question remaining:
Are the stainless steal kellyberg mouthpieces any good? They also seem to be of the best priced stainless steel mouthpieces. Thanks for the help so far

[imperialbari]

If you don’t like the Kelly’s as your main mouthpieces (which I don’t myself), they still make great back-ups that can be stored in instrument cases/bags or in cars’ glove compartments. If you have students or play in a section in a band, others may benefit from your back-ups as well.

When I give my instruments the big spinning & blowing-through at the end of a session with the purpose of draining them really well, then I often use a Kelly mouthpiece. Much less harm is done if a plastic mouthpiece should drop from the receiver.

Kelly used to make sales where you could buy several models at a discount. That may have come to an end after the market eventually has told them which colour variants are worthwhile keeping in their selection.

These mouthpieces also are welcome gifts with other players.

Klaus

[Dutchtown Sousa]

So who here uses them? What do you like or dislike about them? In my search to find a better mouthpiece (for myself) I have heard these Kelly mouthpieces are good, especially for cold weather playing and also that their stainless steel ones are pretty good also. Seeing as it has been suggestion to try out cheaper mouthpieces, and I have heard these can be good. Some of my problems do revolve around the mouthpiece being too cold in during games. So basic questions are
#1: Are these mouthpieces worth what they are listed for?
#2: Are they well designed?
#3: Would you recommend them to high school players?
Include any other relevant insight you have
Thank you for your help

#1 No they're worth what a metal one is worth.
#2 NO they're not designed they're copies of other mouthpieces.
#3 No I don't recommend the Heleburg to high school players; I recommend a Bach 18 type edge while learning.

Now Dutch, I don't want to upset you, but your plan isn't as good as it sounds.
Does every tuba player in your school have the same size face ? See if you can buy a "variety pack".

Thank you for bring up this subject again. I was going to myself, after playing a metal mouthpiece for the first time in years.
Metal mouthpieces feel different then lexan. I'm no longer used to it. It was uncomfortable after half of a short concert I did today.
I only used it because it’s packed with my big outdoor horn.
I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with metal or lexan, they just feel different.
I will go back to my Kellyberg because it matches my horn's finish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TboVRCDHNXE" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

BTW I don't believe an audience can hear any difference as has bin suggested by some.
I also don't feel much difference in response either but maybe I'm not sensitive enough.

Well the plan is to actually have each tuba player try out different ones (there is only like 4 of them) to see what they like the best but I am expecting the KELLYberg because most of us have Conn Helebergs (although a few of us have Bach). The reason I ask if they are well designed is that I have heard that hey are basically copies of other mouthpieces but Kelly has slightly modified them (or at least the KELLYberg, but I might be totally wrong, that is why you guys are here to help). And I have seen some of your videos with your tuba, very interesting I might say. Thanks for the insight.

[Dutchtown Sousa]

As an occasional dealer, the only thing that I find a bit annoying about purchasing them (wholesale) is the shipping charge. A box jammed full of Kellybergs (and no padding required whatsoever, obviously) is still lightweight enough to be mailed via First Class (three-something bucks) ...and even if via a "ground" shipper, only about six bucks... but they charge several multiples of that as a flat-rate shipping charge.

Yea it looks like if I ordered $501 or more in mouthpieces it would be $22 for shipping ( http://www.kellymouthpieces.com/shipping_info.htm" target="_blank ) so if I actually bought a ton of them I wouldn't pay too much on shipping... at least it isn't some sites that charge like $6 shipping per item. I think I need to try to find a store near me that has some in stock to try them out, but that might not be an easy thing to find.

[iiipopes]

One thing that I do on both of mine is to put a ring of golfer's lead tape around the throat to stabilize it for dynamic extremes.

[SousaSaver]

I love the Kelly mouth pieces. They are CHEAP and light weight. I use them in the shop for testing because if I accidentally drop one it's not going to get damage like a metal one might. I also like them as testers because I can throw a Kelly for every brass instrument in my tool box and it weighs less than a metal Tuba mouthpiece.

I like them for out door playing. Any weight you lose on a Sousaphone the better...

[Dutchtown Sousa]

One thing that I do on both of mine is to put a ring of golfer's lead tape around the throat to stabilize it for dynamic extremes.

Would that theoretically work for brass mouthpieces? When I am playing loud on my sousa the mouthpiece vibrates a ton

[imperialbari]

One thing that I do on both of mine is to put a ring of golfer's lead tape around the throat to stabilize it for dynamic extremes.

Would that theoretically work for brass mouthpieces? When I am playing loud on my sousa the mouthpiece vibrates a ton

If it vibrates a ton, you would need to add more than a ton of lead tape.

The first place to start in reducing these vibrations is about making the neck sit tightly in its receiver. I have a number of necks for my sousaphones, some of them new. Despite their being made of lighter gauge metal than the old pre-WWII ones they sit tightly due to a thick layer of lacquer on the tenon part. Equally the bits should fit firmly into the neck and in the joint between them. And I have added weight also in form or galvanized nuts. Not as a salute to Art Hovey, but because they were the only ones I could get in the right size here in the outback.

Klaus

[Dutchtown Sousa]

If it vibrates a ton, you would need to add more than a ton of lead tape.

The first place to start in reducing these vibrations is about making the neck sit tightly in its receiver.
Klaus

Well that could very well be the problem. The male end on the neck is bent, dented, and also doesn't have a consistent width going all the way down it (the very top is noticeably smaller). Also the female receiver on the sousaphone isn't good because the place where the screw goes is bent in slightly so that with a screw tightened all of the way it really doesn't tighten down on the tube very much. Also I have had 2 screws (my brother has had one) just break in half with very little force applied (the screws are brass, I don't see why they aren't made out of something else so that they don't shred) so I don't even have a screw there right now. My brother also has vibration problems (and several other problems) caused by his bits being broken and having to make a joint out of electrical tape (which has to be reapplied a couple times every time we practice or perform because the tape likes to collapse from moisture, restricting the air flow). These problems (mainly my brother's) have been noticeable to others in sectional practices with people saying "stop blatting" or "that sounds like sh*t" then when my brother explains to them why he has those problems our "section" leader, a baritone player that has a school instrument that is literally brand new this season, would have the nerve to say "don't blame the instrument, blame the player". I know that last bit of information isn't really necessary but I just wanted to add it to scale how idiotic some of our players are

[tubeast]

Another advantage of Lexan MPCs: As most of them are transparent, one may be motivated to keep it clean. One doesn´t want to appear gross to others, right ?
I have seen MPCs that, upon closer inspection, featured a heavily altered cross-section due to meal leftovers of the past three years. YUCK!!

[Dutchtown Sousa]

I am about to order a KELLYburg from someone on here for about $20 and some shipping but I have decided to make testing silver plate vs. stainless steel vs. plastic/lexan my science fair topic for this year. I would have done something else but the teachers that are supposed to approve topics have not liked our previous topics which would have actually been much more difficult and/or beneficial for more people. Also we have to make our own mouthpieces out of this easily moldable plastic polymer (sold as "Instamorph") so I will get to experiment with mouthpiece shapes and such if it is determined we can actually make the mouthpieces. The only problem with this stuff is that you can't disinfect the mouthpieces by boiling them because the plastic melts at 140F. So does anyone have any ideas of what features we could try in the mouthpieces? They don't have to be beneficial just something unique.

[Bob Kolada]

What is the most normal looking color?

[Dutchtown Sousa]

So my red Kellyburg mouthpiece arrived sometime this week so I will be trying it out tomorrow

[tclements]

I like them. I have them hanging around and in my car, in case I forget a mouthpiece. I have no compunction about using one on a gig. Is it ideal? No, I wouldn't use one regularly, but I have on occasion. If I were to play an outside gig, I'd use one in a heartbeat.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

I find that they are not as resonant as a brass mouthpiece, when playing with high amplitude.

They do look cool, and are great in the cold!

[iiipopes]

Another advantage of Lexan MPCs: As most of them are transparent, one may be motivated to keep it clean. One doesn´t want to appear gross to others, right ?
I have seen MPCs that, upon closer inspection, featured a heavily altered cross-section due to meal leftovers of the past three years. YUCK!!

For that very reason the two that I own are the opaque burgundy and blue colors.

[Rick Denney]

What is the most normal looking color?

I got one in an ivory white color that at least didn't looked gaudy...

...until I turned out the lights and discovered it glowed in the dark.

Rick "for whom black would also seem reasonable, and noting the metallic gold offering" Denney