Mouthpieces DIY Alto/tenor mouthpiece cushions

[Tony Edge]

My music teaches suggested using A10 0.8mm French BG mouthpiece cushions these cost almost a pound each.
They were easy playing and soft on the teeth.
But after playing for two days my teeth had gone through the rubber.
Continuing to play bits of rubber disintegrated into my mouth

The Yamaha transparent .5mm lasted nearly one week.
Why are the pads so expensive after a year you spend 50 pounds on tiny bit of rubber. After all the Yamaha 4.C mouthpiece only cost 35 pounds.


After a lot of searching for large sheets of self adhesive rubber came to nothing.

Cycle repair patches did not work well.

The perfect answer was a cycle inner tube rubber, Select a tube about .5 to 1mm thickness.

Cut the inner tube rubber to a length of about 12 inches.
Cut the tube open along the inside to form a continuous strip.
With a green pan scrub and washing up liquid clean both side of the rubber
If you wish you can soak it in dental mouthwash before use.
Dry toughly.

Buy some double sided adhesive tape. Poundaland sell 1 inch wide in packs of three enough to last a lifetime. It’s only quite thin and has a white backing strip. (Don’t buy the thick stuff).
Put the tape on the curly inside and leave the backing for removal later.
Use some masking tape on the mouthpiece with a pencil draw the ideal shape.
Remove and use this for an exact template for your saxophone mouthpiece.

These have been tested both on alto and tenor and still working after 3 weeks.
They work better than the bought variety and they are tailored for a perfect fit.

Just one warning if you have any allergies stop using these if you encounter any unpleasant reactions the rubber.
Rubber latex allergy
Latex is the name for a type of gluey sap produced by many plants.
The latex that comes from Hevea Braziliensis (the rubber tree)
Is the starting material used in the manufacture of rubber.

For some reason this particular sap causes many allergy problems.
Allergy to natural rubber latex is becoming more common.
Good luck
Tony
http://learnsax.co.uk

 

[Nick Wyver]

See here

I used to use double sided tape but they fell off too quickly.

I've been trying the FAM ones (mentioned a bit further down that page) lately. So far so good but I need to put two on at a time.

 

[thomsax]

Make sure that cycle inner tube rubber is good to your health. I use two BG A11 (small and clear) mouthpiece cushion. I think they last longer compared to BG A10. I use two thinner instead of one thick. When I'm nearly through the first layer I just replace that one.

 

[dubrosa22]

I use the BG A11 too. Very durable and tough considering the thickness. I had thought about doubling them up though - I'm glad to hear that it works well with 2 layers.

 

[BigMartin]

Just to throw the cat among the pigeons here, if you're managing to bite through mouthpiece patches in a week, isn't it time to consider trying a looser embouchure? I've got quite sharp (ie falling to bits) teeth and have only minor scratching on my mouthpieces after several months (they're cheap mps so I'm not too bothered).

 

[Chris]

+1 to what BM has to say. To add to it you could try a gum shield and trim it down to size just enough for the front teeth.Have a look on "Amazon" they are about £4.00 each. Mould it to the right shape first then trim. Just a thought..

Chris

 

[Nick Wyver]

isn't it time to consider trying a looser embouchure?

Not after 40 years.

Anyway it's not my embouchure doing the damage it's my teeth.

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

What about one of those Warburton metal mouthpieces, the ones without a plastic bite plate...one of those should last!

 

[johnboy]

Just to throw the cat among the pigeons here, if you're managing to bite through mouthpiece patches in a week, isn't it time to consider trying a looser embouchure? I've got quite sharp (ie falling to bits) teeth and have only minor scratching on my mouthpieces after several months (they're cheap mps so I'm not too bothered).

+ Another one for BM. Too hard reeds = too much bite pressure.
Never used a patch in me life!! Simples Tttch.
Martin, the cat needs to be put among the pigeons

John;}

 

[TomMapfumo]

Just file your teeth flat - should take about 5 mins and save a fortune. My father used to bite through his pipe stems regularly. You all need to calm down and develop a proper embouchure and use an appropriate tip opening on your mouthpiece. I have switched to the thinnest clear, or black BG mouthpiece pads, and hardly even mark these.

Britain, get a Grip.......................!
Nick, couldn't you use some of the Blue-Tack left over from your ligature work to manufacture a pad for your overactive gnashers?

 

[jonf]

Just read this thread. Nothing to add to it really.

I was intrugued though. When I tried to open the thread on my work computer this morning, it got blocked. Grounds given by the system were "Pornography and adult material"...............

 

[BigMartin]

Just read this thread. Nothing to add to it really.

I was intrugued though. When I tried to open the thread on my work computer this morning, it got blocked. Grounds given by the system were "Pornography and adult material"...............

🙂))🙂))🙂))

Is there some hidden meaning to the word "embouchure"?

Or is it the references to "rubber" and "hard"?

 

[TomMapfumo]

KevvyG - can't you stop all this filth............................................ and what about "ligature", "wetting reeds" - oo'er missus....................;}

 

[kevgermany]

I was intrugued though. When I tried to open the thread on my work computer this morning, it got blocked. Grounds given by the system were "Pornography and adult material"...............

lol, but you're the boss, sort your IT guys out. Sounds like a very sophisticated and erudite person driving your filters....

 

[kevgermany]

If inner tube rubber works like tyre rubber, there's a good chance of black marks on your lip following this approach.

Agree the comments on biting.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Ok. Just to clarify.

Just because my top teeth wear through patches does not imply that my embouchure is unnecessarily tight. All it means is there is pressure on the top of the mouthpiece - my lower jaw is quite free. It's how I like to play - and the next person to mention Joe bleedin' Allard gets his mouthpiece inserted where the sun don't shine.

Sorry, forgot this:

;}

 

[TomMapfumo]

Who is Joe B Allard? Is it one of the boring obsessional sax players that has discovered a way of taking the joy out of playing the saxophone, which is popular with some on the forum..............?

If so I understand your perspective!

 

[milandro]

some time ago I have found the answer to this problem when a SOTW member suggested that I bought some teflon tape at CS HYDE Company sales@cshyde.com in America , I did that I selected black teflon tape some one inch wide and 1mm thick. The adhesive (they provide you with a spec sheet ) is non toxic, the teflon is inert (teflon is only dangerous if overheated) and it is rather hard (not a soft cushioning) hence being impenetrable to teeth (unless you are Dracula) . I have bought 5 meter of the stuff and use it anytime I need it. I cut it to size with sharp scissors if you really want to do it perfectly you could have a Punch made in the proper shape but frankly speaking is a lot of money and it is not worth the bother, the only " problem" is that you need to press down the edges very well to make sure they adhere well otherwise pretty soon they will lift up and prickle your lips.

 

[TomMapfumo]

On a technical point I would imagine that Dracula should be fine with BG mouthpiece cushions as his sharp teeth are unlikely to touch the mouthpiece being far apart. He would probably benefit from quite a thick cushion - 0.8mm - so that his unusual dental structure remains stable during play....................

 

[milandro]

Ah young people!

the first Dracula films and indeed any other called " Nosferatu" clearly shows that vampire have the incisive teeth like that. Cheap later Draculas have changed this perception to the canine teeth.