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I have a number of mouthpieces that need to go that haven't been used in a few (several?) years. I assume folks would rather see them polished and shiny instead of tarnished (some look more like "was that in a fire?"), but maybe I'm missing something. Has the "rustic" look extended to mouthpieces?

Tarnish hides scratches.

Who are you calling out?

I always try to wash, polish and true the shank of all the mouthpieces I sell. I figure a buyer wants something that seems new-ish, unless it's an original August Helleberg-era Helleberg or something.

Polish

And use a brush to clean it out too. Someone once sent me a mouthpiece once that was just super gross inside. YUCK

Need to order some polish then. Seemed obvious but you never know...

I will offer the cheapskate opinion...

I'd rather buy a $100 mouthpiece for $20 just because the seller didn't take a moment to clean it up and no one else would offer them more.

But that is probably just a different way of coning to the same conclusion... There is less intrinsic value to leaving patina on what one's mouth comes in contact with.

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 3:07 pm And use a brush to clean it out too. Someone once sent me a mouthpiece once that was just super gross inside. YUCK

Unless it's historic. What if it was August Helleberg's cookies in there?

donn wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 4:26 pm

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 3:07 pm And use a brush to clean it out too. Someone once sent me a mouthpiece once that was just super gross inside. YUCK

Unless it's historic. What if it was August Helleberg's cookies in there?

No. Some college kid's throat butter.

Polish cuts and leaves very fine scratches. Over time, polishing can make a mess of your rims, thus making a mess of your lips. That's why I no longer polish my mouthpieces. Instead, I use this method:

Clean the mouthpiece(s) first.
Grab an open bowl or dish (glass casserole dishes work great).
Line with aluminum foil, shiny side down, and place mouthpiece(s) in dish.
Put some baking soda in the dish (doesn't have to be on the mouthpiece, but might help to put some in the backbore).
Pour (important->) boiling water in the dish, enough to cover the piece(s) and wait a few seconds.
Wash, rinse and dry.

The process quickly removes any tarnish that has accumulated without scratching, leaving the mouthpiece nearly as bright as it left the factory and brighter than after polishing.

Now I'm not sure how this process affects gold plate (all my mouthpieces are silver plated only) and is unnecessary for steel, I presume, so use caution on your gold plated pieces.