[istan]

Can anyone please answer if the Martin mouthpieces (Martin logo between two stars on the back, no number) are hard rubber or plastic?
Thank you

 

[jthole]

Can anyone please answer if the Martin mouthpieces (Martin logo between two stars on the back, no number) are hard rubber or plastic?
Thank you

I have a Martin alto mpc like that, and that one is plastic. The older ones are made of ebonite.

 

[istan]

Thank you, jthole. I wonder if there is a way to distinguish a plastic from a hard rubber mpc? I would appreciate an answer if there is one!
Thanks,
Ioannis

 

[Step Hen]

They taste different.

HR has a smoky, aniseedy smell and taste. A bit rubbery, too, surprise surprise.

Plastic doesn't really taste.

 

[crescent]

Plastic is very shiny. Hard rubber generally discolors with age and turns to a greenish color. But many formulations of hard rubber exist so appearances can a wide gamut. If you can find an old Selmer mouthpiece and an old Brilhart mouthpiece you can compare them. The Selmer is hard rubber and the Brilhart is plastic.

Does the Martin you describe have straight side walls? I had a couple of them. They really play great!

 

[istan]

Thank you Groovy. Crescent, the Martin I'm talking about is shiny and the side walls aren't exactly straight, I think they are a bit elliptical and just a little wider towards the bottom. I agree that it plays great for its value!!!
Thank you for posting,
Ioannis