[ChrisTenor]

Hi all, I need to voice a concern. On my links, very recently, all the gold plate has been wearing off, leaving a silver-looking sheen to the mpc. I've heard about brass poisoning on trumpet and trombone mouthpieces when plating wears off, and i wonder if that could happen to a saxophone.

My 2 links that I play ( both are showing huge signs of wear) are a STM 5* and a NY 7*.

 

[Woosax]

That silver looking sheen comes from silver. They can't plate gold directly over brass, so silver is put between the gold and the brass. The silver should be perfectly safe to put in your mouth. At least that's what my grandmother told me at all of our holiday dinners. Once you wear through the silver, you're on your own.

 

[wersax]

There's a lot on this subject, ChrisTenor, in older threads. I betcha a search on "mouthpiece plating" would yield a bunch of results.

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

It Doesnt efffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeccccccccccccccccccttttttttttttttttttt meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[MojoBari]

Lacquer is a clear or lightly colored coating used as top coat on many saxes. I do not know of any mouthpieces that are lacquered.

If you have older Links, the plating under the gold is nickel. If it is silver, it usually wears away sooner than nickel exposing the brass. The brass may have some lead in it that only a few people (nuts IMO) think can leach out during playing in an amount significant to cause health concerns. If you are concerened, the mouthpieces can be replated.

 

[Grumps]

The brass may have some lead in it that only a few people (nuts IMO) think can leach out during playing in an amount significant to cause health concerns.

Yeah, it's safe so long as you don't cut or polish it... :bluewink:

 

[jgreiner]

I'm no scientist and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I think you take more of a chance getting hurt (or killed) every time you sit behind the wheel of your car and drive in 2 lane traffic at 65 mph.
Just play the damn thing!!!! :mrgreen:

John

 

[MojoBari]

Yeah, it's safe so long as you don't cut or polish it... :bluewink:

...with high speed machinery that heats up the brass a lot. :bighug:

 

[BOPITY FUNK]

I'm no scientist and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I think you take more of a chance getting hurt (or killed) every time you sit behind the wheel of your car and drive in 2 lane traffic at 65 mph.
Just play the damn thing!!!! :mrgreen:

John

LOL! could'nt have put it better.