How to fix a stuck trumpet mouthpiece | Instrument Repair at Home

Master Sgt. Dale Barton can tell when you have tried to remove a stuck mouthpiece! There is a right and a wrong way, and he will show you how.

The U.S. Army Field Band's Instrument Repair Series highlights how to care for and perform basic maintenance and repairs to your instrument. These fixes are intended to get you through difficult situations. Please consult a professional technician for proper guidance and advanced repairs.

For more information, please visit our website:

Educational Activities Coordinator
The United States Army Field Band
4214 Field Band Drive
Suite 5330
Fort Meade, Maryland 20755-7055

#trumpet #musiced #armymusic

[henriknordgren]

"Daddy, you can't touch my horn!"

[tbonetime]

*gets mouthpiece out*


*jams it back in*

[archdukeslippy]

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels on YouTube.

[radredg]

"Daddy you can't touch my horn"

[Metal-Possum]

Mouthpiece pullers. Every tutor should own one, they're extremely gentle on most instruments.

[ewannoelkailevi]

Thank you for the "tapping" tip. First thing I do is check youtube for answers ... and this was money in the back. Saved me a trip to the music store. BTW, I didn't use a hammer but a light plastic vacuum crevice tool. 

[RN]

My son just started the Tuba. His mouthpiece got stuck and tried hard to pull it out. We tried other methods we saw but we found your video. We just happened to have the hammer you mentioned. We tapped a few times and turned and voila! It worked. 🎉

[davidabierman]

as a second generation trumpet player and a band instrument repair shop owner i have to say you are soooo correct in saying that "the instrument always tells the rest of the story about the damage to the instrument" especially when the trpt comes in 2 pieces with a broken #2 brace.... now it goes from a usually free be good will mp pull to a expensive re-solder job. the same goes for lack of lube on tuning slides a 1/2 cent of slide grease saves a expensive and sometimes involved repair.

[NoahCrawfordpostsband]

I like the concept of defense spending going towards that silly putty sitting on the table

[adrianagelo]

OMG THANKS THIS WORKED. I basically grabbed a big eraser and followed the gentle tapping steps and my mouthpiece finally came out of my french horn. THANK YOU <3

[tomasdabasinskas]

Lots of videos on tap-to-remove a mouthpiece. But I removed mine while watching your video, so big THANKS goes to you, Sir. Mouthpiece was stuck in a cornet for probably 30+ years in a "Leningrad '72" instrument. Thanks again.

[patthesoundguy]

Great video! When I worked in band instrument repair we would call a leadpipe torn off a trumpet that came into the shop a "Heydad" because the student would get their mouthpiece stuck and probably say "Hey Dad! Can you fix my trumpet?"

[l.ronhoyabembe]

Why am i watching this. Im a saxophonist.

[TheLsbernardez]

Thank you for the video. My son came to me and said. Daddy can you take my mouth piece of my trumpet. He try taking it off & so did I. I look up for clues. Then I found your video.
Thank you so much for making this great video

[mmsmama]

Thank you for posting a video on how to use the Ferree's mouth piece puller. This is the only one I could find.

[ApartmentKing]

I once used two washcloths, one soaked in ice water, the other immersed in boiling water. I took the ice water cloth and wrapped it around the mouthpiece, and the boiling water cloth was wrapped around the leadpipe. The cold cloth made the mouthpiece contract, while the hot cloth made the leadpipe expand. I never touched a wrench, hammer, or anything that would mar, bend, or break the surfaces of the joint where the mouthpiece and leadpipe meet. Mouthpiece came right out. And no, the 200-degree water didn't hurt the leadpipe's finish at all.

[Herodotus]

Finally somebody shows you just WHY you shouldn't pull out that mouthpiece...because how many of us are actually packing those tools? Need I say more. Thanks for all you're doing out here, Master Sarge.

[theloniouslinford]

I am a tuba player and I have used both styles of mouthpeice pullers on my tubs and both work just fine

[ArmyFieldBand]

Master Sergeant Barton has most likely removed the 2nd valve slide to avoid damaging the slide when placing the instrument on the table.

[NMranchhand]

Great videos MSG Barton. You might mention, for the compulsive out there, what grit numbers not to go below for that polishing. I’m thinking they should stay 600 grit or finer (higher numbers). What do you think?
LTC B