 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2010-11-22 02:43
I just got a vintage clarinet (metal Pan American Moderne) which came with a white Goldentone mouthpiece. There's also a white plastic Goldentone reed with it!
Does anyone here have any experience with these mouthpieces? My problem is that many years ago some loony taped said reed to this mouthpiece, and the ancient tape is very hard to get off! I've been soaking it overnight in dishsoap water, but not all the residue is off yet.
Would it be safe to try denatured alcohol? Would hydrogen peroxide be safer? White vinegar?
Thanks!
Klarnetisto
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Author: Reedirect
Date: 2010-11-22 07:36
I have one. Perhaps as old as yours as it came with a "propeller wood" Pan American clarinet.
They are most likely made from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and are definitely not hard rubber (ebonite). It is most likely not made from PVC (polyvinolchloride) or from PTFE (polytetrafluorethylene, "nylon").
ABS is resistant to many water-soluble acids, alkalis, concentrated hydrochloric and phosphoric acids (a component of a wheel rim cleaner), alcohols and all kind of oils.
They, however, swell when using glacial acetic acid (CH3COOH) which is the acid in vinegar! They are also not resitant to sulfuric and nitric acids.
ABS dissolves in acetone (a component of a nail laquer remover!)
Consequently, You may indeed use white vinegar as the concentration of acetic acid is rather low. I would, however, not use concentrated vinegar essence or acetone in the first place.
Denaturated alcohol, however, may be safe (it is plain ethanol with a minor concentration of denatoniumbenzoat just for making it inedible).
You should consider that the mouthpiece is old and some degradation has already taken place due to ultraviolet radiation (most likely played in a marching band?) making it brittle.
Adhesives are made from numerous substances (acrylates, epoxides, starch, etc.p.p.). It is therefore almost impossible to guess what substance has remained on your mpc. Dried adhesives, however, can be softened again by using heat.
I suggest to first use denaturated alcohol. If that softens the remnants I would then simply scratch them off. It that does not do the job you may put it in water and heat it just below boiling. If the adhesive remnants have then softended scratch it off.
I both fails you may be forced to use the more aggressive agents such as acetone. As acetone reacts with the surface of the mpc you should restrict contact time. However, you won't destroy the mpc instantly as these reactions are definitely limited to the very surface.
This is just a personal opinion. Not an "instruction sheet"
Best
Jo
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2010-11-22 12:19
Thanks for all the great information, Jo! I'll proceed accordingly.
Do you think these mouthpieces are any good musically?
Klarnetisto
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2010-11-22 13:21
I'm not sure I'd even bother cleaning up a goldentone. They're cheap student mouthpieces that don't play particularly well even when in perfect condition.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2010-11-22 15:30
WAIT...don't start using any solvent on this mp. I doubt it is ABS since that plastic wasn't in use at that time. It could be celluloid which you could ruin by indiscriminate use of solvents.
Bob Draznik
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-11-22 15:50
Try some Goof-Off, followed IMMEDIATELY by washing with warm water and dishwashing liquid soap, and thorough rinsing with clean water.
As a project a few years ago I took a no-name white plastic mouthpiece and eventually got it to be one of my "top-five" players, but had to do a lot of work on the interior of the mouthpiece (baffle, chamber, window) as well as the usual refacing of the lay. Probably more effort than it was worth, but I did it as an experiment rather than a viable "business case".
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Author: BobD
Date: 2010-11-22 21:58
Further checking indicates it might be styrene.....the "S" in ABS
Bob Draznik
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Author: Reedirect
Date: 2010-11-23 07:35
Whether it is musically worth the effort? Who knows. As Davids said, even a cheap mpc can end up as a nice player.
Try to clean it and give it a try with a decent ligature and reed. Aside from a new cork I wouldn't bother though to get it refaced or submit it to other expensive means.
Best
Jo
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-11-23 13:57
Also, because of the significant sample-to-sample variation in mouthpieces (even those with the same facing number from the same maker), it's very possible to acquire a cheap mass-produced mouthpiece that plays quite well without any additional work done to it; or conversely a very expensive 'famous-name' mouthpiece that plays like refried doggy caca (e.g. a couple of Kaspars I've been sent in the past to reface).
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-11-25 17:55
It is a very cheap, beginners mouthpiece. Way back when I taught beginners, 40 - 45 years ago, I used to recommend the black ones as a good real cheap starters mouthpiece that at least played better than the "stock" mouthpiece that came with the student clarinet. I doubt it's worth all the trouble you're going through. ESP
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2010-12-14 02:07
Thanks, Jo! After neglecting this mouthpiece in its dishsoap/water bath for some weeks, I finally took it out and used the denatured alcohol as you suggested. It worked perfectly, and now the mouthpiece is quite clean and tidy, thank you!
We'll see what happens when I try to play it!
Klarnetisto
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Author: Reedirect
Date: 2010-12-16 07:29
Hi Klarnetisto:
Great, that it worked! You're entirely welcome. Thanks for the feedback.
Best
Jo
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