Mouthpiece Pullers- The Correct Way To Remove A Stuck Mouthpiece
- Details
- Category: Playing an Instrument
- Written by Chad Criswell
Mouthpiece pullers are not just tools for the band director's office. Students and professionals alike will often add a mouthpiece puller to their stash of equipment to provide a sense of safety when practicing at home or when away on a gig. Since a stuck mouthpiece can be a big problem and prevent you from closing your instrument's case, it is essential that you have a way to remove the mouthpiece safely while outside of the band room.
Mouthpiece pullers are not just tools for the band director's office. Students and professionals alike will often add a mouthpiece puller to their stash of equipment to provide a sense of safety when practicing at home or when away on a gig. Since a stuck mouthpiece can be a big problem and prevent you from closing your instrument's case, it is essential that you have a way to remove the mouthpiece safely while outside of the band room. Since you should never (repeat NEVER!) use a pair of pliers to remove a mouthpiece a mouthpiece puller is often the only reliable way to make sure you can get your stuck mouthpiece out of its receiver.
There are two basic styles of modern mouthpiece pullers. Older style mouthpiece pullers still exist, including styles that literally bolt down to the table to be used. However most of these older styles used split washers of various sizes to remove the stuck mouthpiece. In the author's opinion you should avoid any mouthpiece puller that uses washers or attachments. You will always lose the piece you need at the worst possible moment and the new, modern mouthpiece pullers are much more easy and reliable to use.
Some examples of modern, one piece, mouthpiece pullers are:
The Bobcat Mouthpiece Puller by Bobcat
One of the favorites of band directors everywhere, the Bobcat is small, sturdy, and does the job quickly and cleanly. The only drawback with the Bobcat is the time it takes to adjust the mouthpiece puller for different instruments. Switching from a tuba to a trumpet requires both screws to be taken from one end of their length to the other end. With the two independent screws this means alternating back and forth to open or close the mechanism. However, if the Bobcat mouthpiece puller is to be used only on one instrument it is definitely a great puller at the most reasonable price.
The G88 Mouthpiece Puller by Ferree
Ferree is a major manufacturer of repair equipment for band instruments and their G88 mouthpiece puller is often considered the gold standard for bands everywhere. The G88 mouthpiece puller is a one piece unit that has only a single screw to turn to apply pressure with. This makes the adjustment process much faster and much easier to do one handed. It is however, much more expensive and slightly more bulky than the Bobcat and is more commonly found in band classrooms than in personal brass instrument cases.
The DEG Magnum Mouthpiece Puller
A look-alike of the Ferree G88 Mouthpiece Puller. Very similar in style and design but with the same higher price tag.
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Comments
Now and then I have used fabric to pull stuck slides. After I soak the slide from inside and out with penetrating oil I put a piece of fabric through the bend of the slide large enough to sort of fill up the bend. Then I try to tie a cord to the ends of the fabric such that I can stand on the end of the cord and pull the instrument straight up. So far I've fixed quite a few and it has always worked. However if it does not work with reasonable force get the horn to a shop rather than risk serious damage. By the way that penetrating oil can use time to work. Even three days in serious cases.
Obviously real penetrating oil can help on stuck mouthpieces as well.