Is Giddings Mouthpiece Dragons Breath Worth it?

[Gabefig]

Just wondering if anyone out there has gotten the dragons breath from Giddings on their mouthpiece and notice a significant change. How much extra time does it take to do the dragons breath? Do you think it was worth the money?

[bort]

If it covers up the ugly/super-generic looking lettering on the side of the mouthpiece, then I'm all for it.

Guess Webster took the good font with him...?

[pgym]

Do you think it was worth the money?

I'm sure it is ... to Ivan.

[Lukowicz]

I recently sent Ivan a few of my mouthpieces to test out with this process. I can tell you that it is not some type of "voodoo". I have found that the notes respond slightly quicker, similar to his Titanium versions of the the same mouthpiece. Another benefit that I have noticed is there is a slight more brilliance (upper overtones) in the sound without giving up the bottom and depth that he has with the normal stainless.

I had this process done on my DiCesare F mouthpiece, my DiCesare CC mouthpiece, and a custom mouthpiece that he made for me. I would say the same effects happened on all of the above listed mouthpieces. I have a student that has a Dragon's Breath MMVI. I have a titanium and normal stainless version. I will try to get a video together with some audio.

[WillDellinger]

My first thought was that they were using a stainless that doesn't harden with heat (like a 300 series). But I checked with them, and they are using 15-5, which does harden, so it's at least not fake.

As to whether or not it makes a playing difference...