Cleaning a mouthpiece

[Cobard71]

Hi,

I recently purchased a used mouthpiece a Europa (SR TECH) and wanted to have advice on how to clean it.

(Apologise, this is not on the right forum heading. I can't seem to delete it only edit)

Thank you

 

[Andrew Sanders]

Have a look at this.
Hope it doesn't put you off.
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/HandyHints/mouthpiece_hygiene.htm.
Andy

 

[Cobard71]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for your quick reply. I think I added my text to the wrong forum heading... that will teach me to be in a hurry. However, I think I will give it a brief soak in disinfectant and hot water, dry it off then dip in alcohol, after a few swigs myself. It looks very clean no crusty mess etc, but just kill off anything else. It would have cost £200 plus so hopefully I got good deal, I', playing a Yam 4c at mo so, hope the europa will sound as good as it's write ups?.

Stephen

 

[Andrew Sanders]

Yes Stephen, naughty boy! The mods'll be after you.
Mouthwash is good too but alcohol is much better.
You never know where it's been. Hope you have fun with the new mouthpiece.
Andy

 

[kevgermany]

Threads moved, no harm done.

I just cleaned a Rico B5 tenor piece that came with an old sax. Looked a bit gungy, but not too bad. Chucked it in vinegar and a little later there was a thick layer of white slime inside it... Nearly turned my stomach to think someone had been playing it. Cleaned up OK, though.

 

[Koen88]

Threads moved, no harm done.

I just cleaned a Rico B5 tenor piece that came with an old sax. Looked a bit gungy, but not too bad. Chucked it in vinegar and a little later there was a thick layer of white slime inside it... Nearly turned my stomach to think someone had been playing it. Cleaned up OK, though.

had that once with a tenor neck.. I used warm vinegar for the Neck (Dont Do this with an mpc!!) and there are still some pieces of hardenend calcium(?) in there...

for mpc I allways use an electric toothbrush with alchohol / vinegar or a light detergent and tootpaste itself does work too and polishes the inside at the same time.

 

[jbtsax]

A few words of caution:

When using a mouthpiece brush always put the brush in through the window of the mouthpiece, never through the shank. The illustration below shows what can happen if the brush has a sharp tip---as many of them do.

The other caution is that when cleaning an old hard rubber mouthpiece, use only cool water. Hot water will often cause the mouthpiece to turn an ugly greenish-brown color and smell of sulfur.

 

[Andrew Sanders]

Here's a clip of a talented guy trialing SR technologies mouthpieces including the one you bought Stephen

 

[kevgermany]

good point on the heat/vinegar - the Rico is plastic, so no worries there, but hard rubber.... I'd follow the advice above in Stephen Howards site.

 

[AndyWhiteford]

I disagree with Stephen Howard when he says :
"However, it's it clear that nothing more complicated than hot water, detergent and scrubbing ( with a suitable mouthpiece brush )",
Like others, I'd avoid hot water on hard rubber mouthpieces, I have a few that are discoloured, even from a very brief exposure to hot water.

 

[breathless]

I've not had to deal with a grimy one yet as I've only owned a sax 5 months but apart from one of the swob sticks which I use after every practice just to obsorb moisture I occasionally have a wipe over with a baby wipe.
I did give thought to if the wipes would have anything on them that could discolour or otherwise but if there good enough for baby's bums I'm sure there fine for disinfecting a mouthpiece.

Been using that process on my yam 4c and now I've just stepped up to my Yanagisawa N06 ebonite and that seems fine aswel. Also after a polish my Yanagisawa metal piece got a wipe down with a wet wipe.

PS, Stephen, how's the practicing going? As above ive just had a step forward, started to feel like the Yam4c was getting restrictive. Teacher recommended trying the Yanagisawa N06 and it's working out well, I just experimented with my metal Yanag- and couldn't believe the difference from the last time I tried.

Rgds Lee.

 

[spike]

I use a children's toothbrush and a mild toothpaste, and cold tap water, works very well. They're also small enough to clean the front end of the neck. The nylon bristles are usually soft enough so's not do any damage to a hard rubber mpc. I also occasionally even scrub my reeds with em when they get a bit've gunge.

 

[John Coppen]

I always recommend to sax players that they should clean their mouthpieces by immersing them in a VERY mild COOL solution of either:
Steredent tablets (Place 1 Tablet in water as hot as the finger can bear (about 40-50C). Use just enough water to cover the mouthpiece. Soak for 24 hours.
NB your teeth should be placed in the HOT water first. Mouthpiece in COOL otherwise it might turn green or warp.
OR Milton Solution and water (1 tsp (5ml) Milton : 1 litre water) for 24 hours.
Hope this is of some help.

 

[Jazzaferri]

I usually wipe the mpce daily and once in a while give it a wash .... slop some dish soap on it lather it up and rinse under tap in lukewarm water dry.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Cue for song. I'm forever blowing .......

 

[sushidushi]

I do one of two things:

1. Rinse the mouthpiece under warm water and give it a good going over with a mouthpiece or neck brush and liquid hand soap.

2. Leave the sax fully assembled and worry about cleaning it another day.

 

[What]

I have only had to clean my mpc a few times I've just used warm water and dish soap. I might have to use one of my spare toothbrush heads next time. Does not sound like a bad idea. And the drinking tip too it helps with my bowling after all... or at least I think it does.

 

[Kingsleyhk]

I bought a brush years ago made for cleaning trumpet mouthpieces. It's sort of conical - a (small) nylon fir tree if you can picture that - and it gets nicely into the angled parts of the baffle etc. But in truth a toothbrush would probably do just as well.

 

[Stephen Howard]

I disagree with Stephen Howard when he says :
"However, it's it clear that nothing more complicated than hot water, detergent and scrubbing ( with a suitable mouthpiece brush )",
Like others, I'd avoid hot water on hard rubber mouthpieces, I have a few that are discoloured, even from a very brief exposure to hot water.

The (half) sentence you quoted was taken from an article relating to mouthpiece hygiene - the rest of the sentence clarifies the point - "will have a significant and measurable effect on the multitude of bugs".

The article then goes on to reference http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Testing/Cleaning_mouthpieces.htm - which relates more to cleaning.

I can understand your confusion, personally I disagree with Einstein when he says E=M.

Regards,

 

[AndyWhiteford]

I'm not confused, thanks, & stand by what I said about hot water causing
hard-rubber discolouration very quickly, even if you think you're only removing bugs at the time..
Been there, done that.
Very nicely done article on cleaning, btw.