Mouthpiece in hand luggage?

[Bill Troiano]

I flew to DC for the Army Band Conference last month with 2, G&W mouthpieces in my carry on luggage. No problem.

[Ian1]

Hi,

Just flown to Beijing then onto Hong Kong via Shanghai. No prob at all.

My instruments travelled separately with the company.

Hope that helps,

Ian

[Mark]

As long as it doesn't look like this, you should be ok.

Is that a home-made clock?

[tubajoe]

I usually bring 2 mouthpieces with me (now stainless - Parker mpcs) I put them in my carryon. Once in a while, they'll want to look at them, but it's usually not an issue, and many times, the screeners know what they are. Occasionally they even chat me up about it. (which is a security tactic I know, but I don't mind). Keep in mind, tuba mouthpieces are not contraband

As for valve oil, I bring 2 bottles *no more than half full* and put them in a clear bag with my toiletries. Never a problem.

[tubasaz]

Uhh.. Good infos there... I have always carried a plastic mouthpiece being afraid that a metal heavy one would be considered as a somekind of ....

[Peach]

' admittedly, an interesting suggestion...
I've never tried using a mouthpiece with my luggage.

Soooo silly! =)

[phaymore]

I brought a mouthpiece with me to Midwest a couple of years ago in a carry on. The TSA agent asked me if I had a bell in my luggage. I told her what it was and that I was going to a music conference. That was good enough for her.

Patrick

[Donn]

One thing I found out, is that they don't like you looking over their shoulders while they try to figure it out.

[roweenie]

I lost a valuable mouthpiece at the airport years ago. It was in a mouthpiece pouch in my pocket. The minions of Homeland Security believed it to be drug paraphernalia and would not allow me to board with it. I *had* to board. I went back to see if I could get it after my return flight. It had been thrown away.

Nice.

Wade, I'm sorry that happened to you - that's an unenviable situation to be put in.

Last year, when I went to play a gig in Spain, in order to lighten the weight of my tuba, I removed all the slides and pistons from my horn, and brought them on the plane in my carry-on bag (along with my mouthpiece) and nobody in security (at JFK, quite possibly the most uptight airport in the USA, of all places) even batted an eye.

This (the unpredictable and completely arbitrary actions of the TSA) has always a bone of contention for me.

[TheBerlinerTuba]

Hallo Donn,

The mouthpiece is a Schmidt WH-B2 for BBb tuba. It's one of the more popular models in germany for kaiser tubas.
http://www.schmidt-brass.de/englisch/mo ... s-tuba.htm" target="_blank

Best regards,
TheBerlinerTuba

[Donn]

The mouthpiece is a Schmidt WH-B2 for BBb tuba. It's one of the more popular models in germany for kaiser tubas.
http://www.schmidt-brass.de/englisch/mo ... s-tuba.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank

Interesting range of mouthpieces, thanks!

[nobody]

I've always traveled with my glitter gold Kellyberg in my pocket. Here lately, that is sparking some concerns with TSA, so I'll probably stick it in my carry-on from here on out.

[Rick Denney]

I lost a valuable mouthpiece at the airport years ago. It was in a mouthpiece pouch in my pocket. The minions of Homeland Security believed it to be drug paraphernalia and would not allow me to board with it. I *had* to board. I went back to see if I could get it after my return flight. It had been thrown away.

Nice.

Write a polite, short, and facts-only letter to the DOT asking for reimbursement. Explain that you explained it was a musical instrument mouthpiece. Include an appraisal of some sort, even if just a replacement quote or receipt. They have the authority to confiscate what they don't understand and believe to be dangerous, but not even cops have the authority to discard your property without compensation.

Be sure to include the airport, flight, time you went through security, security lane if you remember it, and what was said.

Next time, ask to speak with the supervisor, and (politely) demand a written receipt for the confiscation.

I had a mouthpiece studied closely when being X-rayed in Denver just this week. I saw him looking, and I said "it's a tuba mouthpiece." He said, "in Colorado, you never know these days."

Rick "who struggles to tolerate fools, but who recognizes that unpredictability is part of the program" Denney

[timothy42b]

I've never had trouble with a trombone mouthpiece.

If you qualify, you might consider getting the TSA Pre-check. It lets you skip some of the extra security, like the shoes, taking the laptop out, because they've already checked your records. I'm not sure of the cost, my employer covers that because I travel for work. But it is definitely worth reducing the hassle, and they pull you out into a shorter line.

[timothy42b]

I looked up the TSA cost. $85, for 5 years.

[9811matt]

I'm not going to risk it...

[charlieJ]

In 2009 I got held up for quite a while at London Heathrow headed to Zurich...they studied and studied the monitor and eventually asked what it was - no problem once I explained it. But for a while there I thought I might lose it.

[Michael Bush]

I'm not going to risk it...

Do you mind telling where you got that? Are they available for sale somewhere?

[9811matt]

I made those in my basement- every brass player should have a lathe...

They're modified Giddings and Webster pieces; stainless is great for experimenting since it doesn't need plating.

I've got some pics on Instagram, #tunablemassmouthpiece

https://instagram.com/p/6OPR19FeuG/" target="_blank

But it's just a hobby, so not for sale at this time.

[nobody]

I made those in my basement- every brass player should have a lathe...

They're modified Giddings and Webster pieces; stainless is great for experimenting since it doesn't need plating.

I've got some pics on Instagram, #tunablemassmouthpiece

https://instagram.com/p/6OPR19FeuG/" target="_blank" target="_blank

But it's just a hobby, so not for sale at this time.

A good friend of mine (Schlepporello) has been trying to get different vendors to make something like this for years.