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musicalprodigy

help

my instrumctor told me to buy a new mouth piece, so i did. i bought a selmer s90, and today i was cleaqning it with hot water and soap, and now its all messed up. why?
JPSaxMan

Define messed up.

Might be because hot water if used in excess would melt hard rubber? That's kind of common sense...how hot melts plastic/rubber substances.
Bariman

Was there a discoloration? A weird smell? Where did you purchase the mpc? You might be able to get your money back. Maybe.

Bariman
Tonehole

MusicalProdogy.... welcome to the world of mouthpiece maintenance.
You made a fatal error in mouthpiece cleaning! Never and I repeat never put a hard rubber mouthpiece in hot water. It will make the piece go green and fuzzy. The heat breaks the rubber down.

To clean a piece when it gets white and scuzzy with calcium from your spit you mix one part water ( room temperature) with one part white vinegar, immerse the piece in the solution for a half hour then rinse with cool water. If crusty you may gently brush it with a Tooth brush marked soft! Try to stay away from the tips and rails.
If you are concerned about bacteria you can buy a special disinfectant for mouthpieces at the music store or just rinse with mouthwash, you can keep it in a little spray bottle.

Simple to keep clean, just use caution.
JPSaxMan

Even warm water starts to turn it green (as I've found with my S80) but it's still playable. I've never put it in hot water (due to the fact of what Tonehole said). Shocked
JazZz

Define hot water..

I've been putting my otto link in hot water (where you see a little steam coming off the top in room temperature) forever and it's never turned green and fuzzy while soaking for a half an hour. I will occasionally soak it for 5 minutes in a solution of 3 parts mouthwash and 2 parts water, vary ratio's depending on amount of buildup. I always make sure there is at least a little water in it, and it takes off all the crud. Nothing too scientific but it works. I've never had any problem with water and stuff, but I do know someone who threw their mouthpiece in the dishwasher and it melted over some nice silverware and stuff, it was a mess (but funny).
Tonehole

JazZz Is it a newish Link you are putting in the hot water? This fellow put a S90 in hot water and that piece is made of real rubber, newish links are rather suspect in composition ... they don't fade from sun light like the older ones and have a plastic shine. Trust me when I say about 8 years ago I cleaned a Selmer C* in hot water and that is what happens and I suggest if you ever get your hands on a good rubber piece don't try it. Also no need to dilute the mouthwash it will not damage the piece. The trick with the vinegar diluted in the water is the crude is a calcium build up...the vinegar is a mild acid, the 2 react and the calcium breaks down. The alcohol in the mouthwash will not have the same chemical reaction. I had a teacher who could load up a mouthpiece after a week of playing, I have to clean a piece about once a year but then apparently the sweat from my fingers can take the nickel plating off keys in about 2 months.

I do not suggest using hot tap water to clean a mouthpiece , goggle the subject and I think you will find this is not recommended. It is also not necessary and if you do the wrong piece you will likely damage it. The vinegar solution is likely the industry standard for home cleaning. I work in a repair shop in the summer months and this is what we use to clean crude on student rental stuff.

If interested in getting rid of fading I can give recommendation as I have experimented quite a bit on how to clean a piece for resale without buffing.

On the subject of fading I know of which I speak .... I left a 3 year old new Otto Link on the roof of the house during the summer for over 4 months, exposed to the elements and maximum sunlight, cleaned it off and no signs of the ordeal... the reason for the test, new 7* Link on e-bay goes for $70.00 a faded one goes for $400.00+... I used to be able to buy new Link pieces discounted because they had faded in the counter case. Pretty sure the rubber has changed.
Also done some freezer stuff with them and ultraviolet lights.

So we don't know how hot the water you use is, but I used hot water when I was 12 years old and messed up my C*, this fellow says he used hot water on his S90 and messed up his piece. I would go without using hot water if you care about your piece , it is not needed....... but to each thier own Wink

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