Gold plating a mouthpiece

[Rusty]

Out of interest, what differences would I get in sound, response and feel from gold plating a mouthpiece (that’s currently standard silver plate)? I’m aware it may feel a little more slippery or roomier on the chops.

[Crazy4Tbone86]

I have never noticed an acoustical difference when I had the rim or rim + cup plated in gold. To me , it just feels smoother. I don’t notice the slippery thing anymore because I have played on gold rims for so long.

[JLivi]

I don't notice a difference in sound. I prefer the way it feels on my face versus silver.

I don’t notice the slippery thing anymore because I have played on gold rims for so long.

I only notice a difference when I switch back to silver and think to myself, "wow this is harder to play because my chops are "sticking." Also, when I sweat (play outside in the heat), it's almost impossible to play my gold mouthpiece because there's too much moisture and it's super slippery.

[Matt K]

Oddly enough for me, I feel the same way about playing with silver OR gold, especially outdoors. I’m super spoiled on Lexan and find anything else to be way too sticky. Delrin is a really close 2nd. I think someone makes Teflon rims maybe I should try that

[LIBrassCo]

Oddly enough for me, I feel the same way about playing with silver OR gold, especially outdoors. I’m super spoiled on Lexan and find anything else to be way too sticky. Delrin is a really close 2nd. I think someone makes Teflon rims maybe I should try that

Fiber filled pfte. I looked into it. Crazy expensive stuff.

[Matt K]

Maybe someone can make me a rim out of polished marble. I’m sure that would be cheap and work perfectly!

[Doug Elliott]

There's a major problem with machining anything out of Teflon, and that's that it's so slippery it's impossible to hold it securely in the machine.

Delrin has formaldehyde in it, that's why I don't use it. Although it's extremely easy to work with.

[Posaunus]

Has anyone else tried an AR Resonance mouthpiece with the cup made from machined [water] buffalo horn?
I obtained one {25.1 V+ 60} from a TromboneChat member last year and really enjoy playing it with a 0.500" or 0.508" bore trombone. The "mouth feel" is pleasing, the sound is nice - and I love the reaction from other trombonists, who apparently have never seen a black mouthpiece cup!

[balkansobranie]

Interesting thread. I have just sent off my 32 year old Byron Peebles ET1 to be gold plated. My newer ET1 (a mere 24 years old) is in good shape (due to only being lightly used for 3 or 4 years) and has the original silver plating on it, so I'll look forward to comparing them.

I do remember the silver finish feeling different when I moved to the ET1 from a gold Denis Wick mouthpiece back in 1992, and thinking at the time that I prefered the feel of the gold plating.

If I like the gold plating I'll send the newer ET1 off in due course, and my model 8 too.

[balkansobranie]

Well the ET1 came back from the platers this morning, and I had a play of both to see if I could perceive any difference.

My conclusion was that the slightly warmer and smoother feeling of the gold plating suited me better than silver, and I do prefer it. However, it is not a huge difference.

I don't know how long aftermarket gold plating lasts normally? The quality of the job was very good, I used a firm that specialise in mouthpiece refurbishment and plating. I'll send off my reserve silver ET1 for the same treament.

[WGWTR180]

Well the ET1 came back from the platers this morning, and I had a play of both to see if I could perceive any difference.

My conclusion was that the slightly warmer and smoother feeling of the gold plating suited me better than silver, and I do prefer it. However, it is not a huge difference.

I don't know how long aftermarket gold plating lasts normally? The quality of the job was very good, I used a firm that specialise in mouthpiece refurbishment and plating. I'll send off my reserve silver ET1 for the same treament.

Who did you use for the plating?

[BGuttman]

Aftermarket plating can vary a lot.

Some decorative gold plate (like you would get at a Jeweler's) is only 5 micro-inches (.125 micron, I think). This thickness can easily be rubbed off with active mouthpiece use.

A good mouthpiece plater will put on at least 5 times that thickness because the coating has to be planned to endure rubbing and abrasion from active use. That is the thickness we used to put on the gold contacts (fingers) of circuit boards, which have to withstand plugging into and out of connectors.

I'm not sure who does mouthpiece plating in the UK. Here in the States, Doug Elliott does plating, and I believe John Stork does as well. There used to be a company called GoldChops, but the feedback I've seen on the Chat has been mixed (they probably try to skimp on gold thickness). Good luck.

[LeTromboniste]

Has anyone else tried an AR Resonance mouthpiece with the cup made from machined [water] buffalo horn?
I obtained one {25.1 V+ 60} from a TromboneChat member last year and really enjoy playing it with a 0.500" or 0.508" bore trombone. The "mouth feel" is pleasing, the sound is nice - and I love the reaction from other trombonists, who apparently have never seen a black mouthpiece cup!

I agree, cow/buffalo horn feels amazing on the chops!

[BrassSection]

I had my Bach 12SC redone awhile back with gold rim and cup. Since it has been in use since the 1940s, it feels (and looks) 100% better now than before comfort wise. Sound wise really can’t say that I notice any difference, with the possible exception of higher notes being easier to hit. As a person who rarely practices on any horn but the trumpet, month or so ago on a quick “Can I?” moment during practice I went for a high C. Nailed it, so come the actual service I easily hit and sustained it. Since I never tried that before I can’t credit the gold, but it sure didn’t hurt! Usual upper playing is frequent F, regular F#, and occasional G or G#.