[BSX98]

I got a mouthpiece on loan from a music store here in Virginia, and they said it had to come back in immaculate condition.

Unfortunately, I forgot to put a mouthpiece pad on it.

It's a hard rubber mouthpiece, and I ended up with some light teeth marks on it.

Any way to remove these and bring it back so I don't have to buy it? It was a runyon mouthpiece, and I hated it anyway.

 

[Seasax]

you cant remove them with out sanding, which would be even worse,

my advice is you put a mouthpiece sticker on it, maybe they wont notice?

if they will notice, and you feel like taking a slight risk

maybe stick it on with a slightly stronger glue so they will struggle taking it off and will just leave it on for whoever buys the mpc,

(use an opaque black sticker)

:twisted:

 

[robert brunsdon]

I've used toothpaste (which is slightly abrasive) and car rubbing compound to polish mouthpieces. If the marks are not too deep that might remove them. I suggest you try on another mpc first. Don't forget to wash the mpc afterwards!

 

[fballatore]

Don't try to be deceitful. Step up and just pay for the mouthpiece. You made a mistake, own up to it. I wouldn't want to be the next guy buying that mouthpiece from that store.

After you buy it, post it for sale here, and get what you can for it.

 

[Carl H.]

Not without removing material and potentially destroying the piece. It was only a Runyon and they aren't that expensive.

You did the damage, face up to it and buy it.

 

[RootyTootoot]

I totally agree with Frank. If you couldn't be bothered to use the patch then the "I may have to return this" element couldn't have mattered to you much at that point. Buy it, sell it and take the hit or learn to play it. IMHO. Sorry.

 

[Carl H.]

Don't commit fraud. You did the damage, now pay for it!

 

[Reedsplinter]

I totally agree with Frank. If you couldn't be bothered to use the patch then the "I may have to return this" element couldn't have mattered to you much at that point. Buy it, sell it and take the hit or learn to play it. IMHO. Sorry.

What the hamster said. And tractor boy. And Frank.

Buy it, and then post it for sale here on the Forum. Rooty will buy it like a shot.

 

[RootyTootoot]

What the hamster said. And tractor boy. And Frank.

Buy it, and then post it for sale here on the Forum. Rooty will buy it like a shot.

Only if the teeth indentations fit perfectly for me to gnaw on, I will.

 

[Harri Rautiainen]

....................................
Any way to remove these and bring it back so I don't have to buy it? It was a runyon mouthpiece, and I hated it anyway.

Cross posted from MPC maintenance.

Please do not cross-post.
You are scattering the dialog. Please consult the rules of this forum.

 

[Simon Weiner]

I cant believe that someone would actually try to decive the store. Actually it has happened beforeand I always send em back to the customer.

 

[MM]

I dunno that removing some light tooth scratches constitutes fraud; that sounds pretty extreme to me. I am assuming it they are very superficial so that toothpaste will work without removing significant material.

Are mouthpiece pads the answer? If you remove them, they leave adhevsive behind. I sometimes try to blow trial mouthpieces with pieces of paper or tape, but need to be careful not to inhale them when I breathe.

 

[Carl H.]

I dunno that removing some light tooth scratches constitutes fraud; that sounds pretty extreme to me. I am assuming it they are very superficial so that toothpaste will work without removing significant material.

Are mouthpiece pads the answer? If you remove them, they leave adhevsive behind. I sometimes try to blow trial mouthpieces with pieces of paper or tape, but need to be careful not to inhale them when I breathe.

I got a mouthpiece on loan from a music store here in Virginia, and they said it had to come back in immaculate condition.

If you are careful and use a patch, it is very easy to remove the patch residue and leave the mouthpiece the way the store asked. A piece that has had an abrasive applied to correct user created flaws is altered from its original state. The store was up front with their policy and asking here how to get around what was agreed to is poor form.

 

[jbtsax]

A light buffing with a high speed wheel using a medium and then a fine abrasive will make the piece look like new again if the teeth marks are only superficial. We do this all the time on our rental saxe's hard rubber mouthpieces. I don't think anyone can prove that this removes enough material to affect how the mouthpiece plays or sounds. If this is done and the store (or potential customer) can't distinguish it from a brand new piece, then what would be the harm in using this approach?

John

 

[Carl H.]

If this is done and the store (or potential customer) can't distinguish it from a brand new piece, then what would be the harm in using this approach?

John

The store had a policy in place and the poster is trying to get around an error on his part.

As to the removal of material, I don't think it makes a bit of difference to the sound. I filed some serious gouges out of a Meyer I traded for some time ago. I probably took 1/16" off that mouthpiece, followed by sanding and a buffing wheel. After this I sent it to EZ to have the facing corrected. It didn't detract from the pieces value to me, because it was seriously chewed on, but I knew that when I got it. The new lowered profile is quite to my liking and a friend I loaned it to thought it was great.

I have nothing against fixing cosmetic issues, but there was a condition on taking the piece out that it not be messed with. It is the attempted deceit here which greatly bothers me. He knew the consequences of chewing on the piece and went ahead and did it. Now he wants to change the terms of a deal he had agreed to.

You did it, own up to it and move on.

 

[jbtsax]

"The store said it had to come back in immaculate condition"

He has a tech buff out the teeth scratches for $12.50

Sends it back to the store in "immaculate condition"

I fail to see the dishonesty, deception, in this scenario. If someone carefully wiped their fingerprints from an instrument sent on trial before returning it to the store, it would be virtually the same thing, returning the merchandise in the same cosmetic condition as when it was sent.

If he sent the mouthpiece back with a small crack in it that he caused that couldn't be undone hoping that no one will notice---that would be deceptive and dishonest in my book.

 

[Carl H.]

"The store said it had to come back in immaculate condition"

He has a tech buff out the teeth scratches for $12.50

Sends it back to the store in "immaculate condition"

I fail to see the dishonesty, deception, in this scenario. If someone carefully wiped their fingerprints from an instrument sent on trial before returning it to the store, it would be virtually the same thing, returning the merchandise in the same cosmetic condition as when it was sent.

If he sent the mouthpiece back with a small crack in it that he caused that couldn't be undone hoping that no one will notice---that would be deceptive and dishonest in my book.

Wiping and grinding are two different things. It bothers me that you don't understand the principle involved here.

 

[saxmanglen]

Just by it and use it as a door stop.


Problem solved.


Next thread.

 

[Thomas]

Looks like BSX98 has blown any credibility as far as a potential seller here on SOTW. Good to know these things in advance.

Cheers to the guys who stated the honorable thing to do....jeers to the others--you know who you are.

I intensley dislike the sleazey mentality that thinks if you don't get caught it must be alright.--you know who you are.

 

[MM]

I resent the implication of encouraging the original poster to get away with anything. The original post mentioned light tooth marks and not an indentation. Grinding down the mouthpiece beak would certainly be crossing way over the line; a light wipe with toothpaste or a polishing cloth should not be.

I have seen adhesive from patches which is extremely difficult to remove so that is why I am dubious a patch as a proactive solution (too late in this case) unless the store sells their pieces with a patch in place. WWBW sometimes does this but sometimes not. Using alcohol or other solvents to remove the residue can discolor hard rubber.

Returning a mouthpiece in immaculate or perfect condition is really impossible unless you don't play it, so unfortunately this is a gray area. Only the original poster knows how deep his marks are.