[hnthere]

What are some key features that can distinguish between an authentic and a fake Vandoren mouthpiece that was bought used on eBay?

I bought my AL3 on eBay ~3 years ago from what I recall being a real person who might realistically have one to sell. Now I want to sell it to help pay for work on my new old tenor. But I've become aware of fake mouthpieces since I bought it and don't want to sell it as being authentic if it might not be. I've had no problems with it, but I'm a very limited player and might not notice the difference for a reasonably well made fake.

It doesn't have the mouthpiece code required to determine authenticity at the Vandoren site: https://vandoren.fr/fightagainstfake/becs/?step=1. Some the gold lettering has rubbed off, but what's there looks like the real thing, with no misspellings or anything else obviously wrong. There's a very small stamp of AL3 on it too.

I've read that the fakes tend to be a plastic resin that will leave a gray dust on fine sand paper and that a rubber mouthpiece will eave brown dust, but I haven't experimented with that yet. It definitely doesn't have the gloss of my plastic Hite Premier.

I appreciate any guidance, whether it enables me to sell this with a clear conscience or makes it clear that this is a fake.

 

[Saxophilist]

I thought it was only reeds that have a code to determine fakes. If they put them on mouthpieces now, then it was only recently. I have several Vandoren mouthpieces for saxophone and clarinet. None have a code. Yours is most likely real.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I thought it was only reeds that have a code to determine fakes. If they put them on mouthpieces now, then it was only recently.

They seems to have started:

* The setting up of the authentication numbers on our mouthpieces will be done gradually.
It will eventually extend to all our ranges.
Not all our mouthpieces are currently identified. If in doubt contact us or your local distributor.

 

[JL]

No reason to think it's a fake, especially since, based on the above posts, it seems they are only just starting to put those authentication numbers on their mpcs. I've never heard of these mpc codes and I wonder why it wouldn't be possible to fake an 'authentication number' anyway.

But, and this is just speculation, I kind of wonder why anyone would fake Vandoren mpcs in the first place. Aren't most of the fakes based on expensive, highly sought-after, vintage mpcs? Again, just speculating because I don't know much about the world of fake mpcs. It just seems highly unlikely that your Vandoren mpc would be a fake.

 

[Saxophilist]

No reason to think it's a fake, especially since, based on the above posts, it seems they are only just starting to put those authentication numbers on their mpcs. I've never heard of these mpc codes and I wonder why it wouldn't be possible to fake an 'authentication number' anyway.

But, and this is just speculation, I kind of wonder why anyone would fake Vandoren mpcs in the first place. Aren't most of the fakes based on expensive, highly sought-after, vintage mpcs? Again, just speculating because I don't know much about the world of fake mpcs. It just seems highly unlikely that your Vandoren mpc would be a fake.

I have seen fake Vandoren AL3 mouthpieces on eBay and Aliexpress. Brand new from China for less than $40.

 

[JL]

I have seen fake Vandoren AL3 mouthpieces on eBay and Aliexpress. Brand new from China for less than $40.

Ah Ha, I stand corrected. Thanks for straightening me out on this. I guess "anything to make a buck", no matter how few $$ or how underhanded/fraudulent, is still the case.

 

[Saxguy_Ed]

I have several Vandoren mouthpieces...where is the code supposed to be?

 

[SaxBass55]

I can't say authoritatively that the link below is for fake Vandoren mouthpieces
...bakelite...for $16...shipped.
Perhaps Vandoren has a very heavily discounted sale from a satellite factory? or is using a warehouse in China?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vandoren-A...583484?hash=item56ded3657c:g:op8AAOSw2uNfAnAg
Or are these examples of the reason for the authentication #s?
Kudos to the original poster for being concerned for your potential customer.

 

[hnthere]

I appreciate the responses. It was eBay listings like the one linked by SaxBass55 ... and there are many ... that sent me looking for info about counterfeiting. Fortunately, it seems that the fakes, at least the fake mass-market Vandorens, are plastic. If that can be distinguished from rubber by the color of the dust after a light rub on extra fine sandpaper, a photo of the dust might become standard in eBay listings for better mouthpieces. That'll be my final test before listing it.

As for the decision to fake moderately-priced Vandorens instead of a more pricey mouthpiece, I remember reading once that US counterfeiters make more fake $20 bills than $100 bills. The reason is that $20 bills are much more common and get much less scrutiny. Even if the counterfeiters make much less money for each fake they produce, they must be able to pass a lot more of them with a lot less attention.

 

[theneighbordubh]

Throw it in a river. If it floats, it's a fake

 

[hnthere]

Throwing it in a river seems kind of inconvenient. What also floats in water? A duck!

So, thinking this through ... if the mouthpiece weighs as much as a duck ... it's a fake and I should burn it.

 

[theneighbordubh]

That's ludicrous. Ducks are excellent mouthpieces.