[Berkut]

I have a Guardala Crescent Laser Trimmed mouthpiece whose bite plate has fallen out. Has anyone had any experience with this? WWBW suggests that I fix it with rubber cement.

I've been playing it only a short time (a few months) and was wondering if this is normal?

Can it be bent back into the proper shape without damaging it?

I'd prefer to not have to return it to WWBW for repair as they will charge me for shipping both ways.

Cheers!
Richard

 

[Swampcabbage]

If I recall correctly, these are made of a softer, almost rubber material. If so, you may wish to try this. http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/paa/paapt02.htm

Emilio is using it on the rubber for his overhauls and seems to like it. Once you've glued it back on though, put a patch over it (I would probably recommend the Runyon Clear patches and they have them at Rayburns as well).

Good luck.

 

[gelliot2]

It's a common problem with the LT models. I had an LT Crescent for a while and the bite plate dropped out from new (it was clear hard plastic on the one I had).

I just slapped a patch over it and it never bothered me again.

 

[EZ]

contact cement works well. Remember that with contact cement - less is more.

 

[MojoBari]

I usually use a clear 2-part 5-min epoxy.

 

[Berkut]

Thanks to everyone for the timely information, it's very much appreciated.
Just for the record, I went back to some of my earlier mouthpieces in the last couple of days and realized how much I've come to like the Crescent in just a short period of time.
It makes me wonder, just how much better can a pre-laser Crescent be?

 

[baylistenor]

I superglued the biteplate back in my laser trimmed Crescent - no problems .Wait for it to dry! (about 3 mins will do then ya back on the road!)

 

[EgilF.]

Read this tread:
http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=50407&highlight=guardala+bite

 

[MojoBari]

That thread implies that LT clear biteplates are poured in place. They are not.

Original Guardala pink bite plates may be poured in place. But some were shown loose on eBay for sale along with those unfinished blanks in the last year. They either fell out (doubtfull) or were poured as a sheet and were CNC machined to shape (more likely).

I have some of the pink material. It is a dental epoxy. If poured in place it will hold better than if glued in. The fit is better.

 

[dirty]

Or, just don't put the biteplate back in and replace it with a very thick, soft mouthpiece pad or two. I had a teacher while I was in high school who did that to his Berg. I think he liked it because he moved around a lot when he played, and didn't play with very much pressure, so the rubber pad kept the mouthpiece from slipping in his mouth mid-solo.

 

[com281]

Read this tread:
http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=50407&highlight=guardala+bite

I actually started the above thread. I had my Guardala Super King LT mouthpiece bite plate replaced by Phil Barone with the same bite plate material he uses in his handmade mouthpieces. Although I use a clear mouthpiece patch, the new bite plate is very durable and was neatly done. If the bite plates fall out of my Crescent and MBII mouthpieces, then I'll use Phil again.