Klarinet Archive - Posting 000162.txt from 2000/02

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] mouthpiece mice (was: [kl] My way or the highway!)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 09:59:04 -0500

Michael Moors wrote,
>On of the worst inventions for mouthpiece care was the mouthpiece mouse that
is on the market. It's like a "pad saver" shove it (fuzzy) insert for the
mouthpiece. The kind of cleaner that stays inside the body and keeps the
instrument moist at all times. The plastic tips fall off the mouse and the
exposed metal puts deep grooves in the mouthpiece. >

I find those mouthpiece mice useful, but I agree with you that leaving one in
the mouthpiece is a bad idea. That damp plug seems as though it would make a
great breeding ground for germs. Instead, I use the mouse like a towel, to
dry out the inside of the mouthpiece after I wash it.

I also agree with you that the factory-installed protective tips are no good.
They were falling off the second or third time I used the mouse. I never
actually damaged a mouthpiece, but had some close calls. I've replaced those
tips with latex tool handle grip compound. I dabbed some contact cement onto
the bare wire ends of the mouse and let the cement dry to the touch. Then I
used a toothpick to dip some of the gooey tool grip compound out of the can
and blotted the compound thickly over the dry contact cement. Then I
balanced the mouse on top of the bench vice until the compound dried
completely. Applying contact cement first was a recent refinement. I used
to apply the grip compound without the cement. It still held much longer
than the original tips, but still fell off and had to be replaced every few
weeks. I think I did this last job, with the contact cement, close to a year
ago -- and the tips are still holding.

Lelia

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