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:
www.armyfieldband.com
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Educational Activities Coordinator
The United States Army Field Band
4214 Field Band Drive
Suite 5330
Fort Meade, Maryland 20755-7055
#trumpet #musiced #armymusic

[@tbonetime3568]

*gets mouthpiece out* *jams it back in*

[@henriknordgren4382]

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

[@thomasgoodwin5636]

Henrik Nordgren why

[@campbellscruggs6208]

You smart

[@derfederfygames2483]

Omg u right

[@aiejfjcjciiakwkak5115]

I read this as he said that

[@radredg7656]

"Daddy you can't touch my horn"

[@owenwu7995]

so gay

[@blaakelassahn]

Gay is not an insult omg

[@lannyoakman3435]

I found you on this comment so.... did the other comment get deleted? 😂

[@ameliary-ann7486]

Austen Diaz is that is the video?

[@gyrocompa]

Is there a hidden meaning ? Does "horn" designate something else than the instrument ? (sorry, I am not a native English speaker, hence my question). Many thanks in advance !

[@archdukeslippy1263]

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

[@ArmyFieldBand]

+Archduke Slippy Thanks! Glad you like it!

[@allangaikwad3885]

The United States Army Field Band

[@l.ronhoyabembe3557]

Why am i watching this. Im a saxophonist.

[@logantaylor6951]

aNd PEgGy same lol

[@flissfloss915]

aNd PEgGy this is the same thing as your reed being b o n e d r y *oh and nice name hamilfam*

[@Hot_Wingz_]

Same.

[@tapeTamer]

oh wait you right same

[@normanlzx]

I'm a guitarist and I'm watching this

[@Metal-Possum]

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

[@NoahCrawfordpostsband]

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

[@patthesoundguy]

Noah Crawford silly putty is used to temporarily seal up possible leaks in an instrument for diagnosis. It's a very useful tool. I use to use it quite often when I was repairing horns.

[@ApartmentKing66]

@@patthesoundguy Yeah, but people like him aren't happy unless they're bitching about something.

[@Natganistan]

@@ApartmentKing66 the dude was clearly joking..

[@ewannoelkailevi4772]

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.

[@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?"

[@mmsmama6588]

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

[@ArmyFieldBand]

+MMS mama Glad you found it useful!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

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

[@sharkbait_6585]

The United States Army Field Band thank you for your service

[@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

[@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

[@BriansBrian]

I did hit the mouthpeice receiver with my hand using a boi like structure ✋ and it came right out with a bit of force, note mine was stuck from being left in the trumpet too long.

[@aarongagnon5174]

Love these videos! Please do one with your top tools in your repair kit!

[@bottomtext1241]

Just my luck. This video showed up in my suggested feed. I smacked my mouth piece into a rail after last weekends football game and it’s been stuck since.

[@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.

[@tomasdabasinskas8977]

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.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad it helped!

[@adrianagelo734]

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

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad it helped!

[@adriantuero5595]

Thanks for your videos. They are extremely incisive. What's the name of the larger mouthpiece puller? I can't seem to find it on some repair shop websites.

[@ApartmentKing66]

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.

[@ameliary-ann7486]

MY MOUTHPIECE IS MEGA STUCK AND I HAVE A BAND CONCERT IN 2 HOURSSSS!!!!!

[@thanosmaster-abel559]

Amelia Ry-Ann shouldve asked your band director smh

[@theloniouslinford283]

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

[@samuelruizsully]

Thank you for the twisting tip! It worked very well for me.

[@vigidriver6281]

Excellent Video.

[@watdadogdoing6439]

Thanks for your service

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Thanks for your support!

[@iansdigby]

Very informative and helpful. Thanks!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mattdoran218]

Worked great for me thanks!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad it helped!

[@mossymosquito3153]

Thank you for this!

[@wordlog860]

Sometimes, I'm amazed at the positions the Army actually has. I'm not mad, but wow. F'n awesome. (trombone player)

[@arturolagatie6762]

???

[@arturolagatie6762]

Francais

[@varok94]

Very good!! trank you very much..

[@t.8538]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! JUST GOT IT OUT!!!!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad it helped!

[@jpstenino]

Great presentation thank you

[@AlexBarham-qc6vq]

Thank you for this. My trumpet has sat for too long and the mouthpiece got stuck. I was worried I'd have to bring it to the music store in a bag. I used the rubber back of some pliers. Tapped and pulled. Had to tap & pull a few times but it eventually came out. Now it's back in the case.

[@scienceaddict77]

When he said that the mouthpiece sometimes makes noise, i know the feeling. When i started on my cornet, (my father's, actually) he brought it out of storage and took it to have the mouthpiece he had gotten stuck some 30 odd years Ago removed. My band director was afraid of ruining the receiver with her bobcat. When it finally came out, people in the back of the store thought it was a gunshot.

[@RadicalEdwardStudios]

Do you ever use heating and cooling to get separation via the different items expanding differently?

[@tamasfoldesi2358]

It probably wouldn't work, because the mouthpiece receiver has a much thicker wall than the mouthpiece shank does.

[@elysabethgarcia6235]

thank you so so so much

[@cupolblixar]

thank you

[@francisg.3797]

I've had mine stuck for a few weeks will it be more stuck now

[@JustClaude13]

Would penetrating oil help, or is that just for stuck tuning slides?

[@Viperssrt]

Really helped

[@Couchjumpers]

THIS TOTALLY WORKS i used the tapping method on my trumpet first try it worked

[@FishingForLife28]

Never had this happen to me. In the band that I play in I have a reputation for being good at removing stuck mouthpieces. I dont know how I do it, but when someone is complaining about a stuck mouthpiece I just walk up and remove with the same effort I would to a mouthpiece that wasnt stuck. Must have magic fingers

[@Epulor1]

This video was very informative and full of valuable information. Good job.

[@AlliedoodleheheXD]

Omg thank you so much it really worked

[@ItsThatOneJinx]

Is it okay if you use valve oil on the mouthpiece?

[@nicholas7309]

currently my trumpet is in my directors office. after band class i noticed my mouthpiece was stuck, people tried taking it out, eventually i took it to his office. he tried the bobcat, he said it was "really stuck" and that he'll try it after school. i have a marching band game on friday, and a competition on saturday. if he doesnt get it out then id probably take it to a repair shop, wish me luck

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Good luck. I'm sure he can get it squared away!

[@Znobyrd]

What about using anti-sieze or dielectric grease when putting mouthpiece on.

[@amaze3293]

It worked tysm i would get in trouble in school with it did not work thanks for saving my life!

[@jasonpeck7186]

Hi I have a trumpet with valve #1 won't go back in. Any Ideas how to fix it? The valve was stuck I got it out with a sharpie and nothing appears broken. Valve #1 itself still fits in the other valve openings just not where it belongs.

[@ajschlem]

Jason Peck The valve tube (where is goes) must have a spall dent on the exterior. Since there is a near perfect air seal, that would prevent it from fitting.

[@llbrunoll1]

My French Horn has a detachable mouthpiece receiver for you to choose between 2 kinds of measure shanks: for US or German mouthpiece. The problem was that I already bought this horn with the German receiver stucked, and I want to lose it. It attaches by a simple screw threaded tip. I've tried some times pull it off unscrewing it counterclockwise, trying this gentle taps, heating with a torch, putting antisize lub, but nothing of this procedures worked. I get upset by getting some scratches. How the best way to solve this? Thanks in advance!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

If the underbody of the mouthpiece won't unscrew from the rim, to avoid damaging the mouthpiece you should find a reputable instrument repair dealer in your area. We do not recommend you fixing this issue with household tools.

[@Meeplogic]

Im not a brass, im a woodwind and I have im sorta in a pickle, you see my mouth piece and my barrel of my clarinet is stuck together. I put some cork grease on the mouth piece and put the clarinet together for testing to see if my notes will come out, it only took like a minute to play the notes so I disassemble the clarinet but the barrel is stuck to the mouth piece and I can't get it out. is there a way to get them out with out going to a shop or my teacher?

[@maciebuhay5464]

Do you repair other peoples instrument or are they yours

[@ArmyFieldBand]

+Macie Buhay Our repairman just repairs the instruments that are used by our band members. They are all owned by the Army and used for our performances.

[@LebronJames___]

How the heck did I get from porn to this

[@santiagovalencia8510]

YBN Nahmir I think I know why he said daddy you can't touch my horn

[@santiagovalencia8510]

YBN Nahmir and also how the F**k did you go from porn to this anyways

[@scottie3674]

U have so much materials

[@briannapimentel964]

I was so stupid that I put my mouthpiece in my bell and it got stuck 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@MCMeru]

Why cant i just try to pour some of my valve oil onto the place where the mouthpiece goes into the trumpet? I suppose that would help, right?

[@CanafYerHasan]

Thanks for a great vidio! but as you are repairing basses (string instruments)?Rahmet!

[@aubreydelong6152]

omg thank you im new with instomants i left my moutpice in my trumpet and i did what you said and it poped off

[@ameliary-ann7486]

Aubrey Delong Are you new with spelling too?

[@Hunter-jj3ud]

Amelia Ry-Ann ouch

[@TheDrummie1]

Master Sergeant Barton sure can talk!

[@saturnGEEK]

I have a cornet where I cannot remove the mouthpiece from. I've tried using a Bobcat puller & it hasn't worked (even though I have applied CRC to the mouthpiece lead pipe for over 8 hours to get it free). Does anyone have any suggestions in removing the mouthpiece (without destroying the instrument or purchasing another one)?

[@rileycardwell9892]

Why are the valves and 2nd valve slide out of the trumpet? Just wondering.

[@Aaron-cs3xl]

when my mouthpiece gets stuck, I place an ice cube into the mouthpiece to make it cold and easier to pull off

[@jimmyj956]

Aaron Wheeler im going to try that!

[@immanuellasker4273]

me too but I'm skeptical

[@kittythrobbin2393]

Aaron Wheeler I got water in it and it sound weird what do I do

[@stepheneickhoff4953]

Let the water out with the water key? Like you would normally?

[@allydickerson9132]

Aaron Wheeler I got my mouthpiece stuck at home and after a few minutes of leaving it there it worked! You’re a life saver

[@michaelkennedy8573]

What about heating the brass?

[@Bubba_fett]

A little mechanical ability and some engineering knowledge and you don't need any of those tools. In your left hand, put the lead pipe starting at the tip joint of your fingers and then wrap your hand around as tight as you can. Let your hand muscles relax. Then with your right hand do the same on the mouthpiece and make sure your hand muscles are totally relaxed and as tightly together as your can. Now tighten your hand on the lead pipe, flex that muscle hard, then do the same with your right hand. Out pops the mouthpiece. It's the spreading of the muscles in your hand which pull the mouthpiece out of the horn. I used to do all the horns in band this way. You could hit that mouthpiece with a hammer and I could get it out.

[@cookingwithdaniel2236]

thx

[@jimcarden3809]

We have this thing called the jaws of life and it’s basically clamps down on the lead pipe and the mouthpiece and you screw bolts closer and it either pops out or slides

[@fireforge9667]

Will an arrow puller be fine?

[@RoscoeDashin]

This happens a lot on student horns. Hasn't happened to me once on a Strad

[@pxrplexed3501]

Dash I mean just because it’s a Bach doesn’t mean it won’t get stuck. Anything can happen.

[@victorlazaro6056]

Master Sergeant Dale Barton can you tell me a cheat way to remove a stuck trumpet mouth piece because I got my stuck yesterday and I really need help.

[@piggypig35]

How do you fix the mouth piece receiver on a baritone? The pipe cracked

[@merriepaige4994]

I got my mouthpiece stuck on my euphonium by blowing to hard lol. I saw the comment on using your iPod and it did work!! When I pulled it out I whacked myself in the nose :(. helpful tip don't pull out toward your face 👃

[@MikeSpeakman]

Hi, I don't want to be negative as i like your video's and I am really sorry to disagree with you but the Bobcat mouthpiece puller will work perfectly with all instruments found in a brass band, from the Soprano cornet to the BBb bass (or Tuba to you lol). I know this because i have used it on all of them. There are even cheaper versions of the Bobcat available on eBay but the bobcat is the only tool needed in the brass band room for stuck mouthpieces ;)

[@michaelvegas3909]

Thank you, Master SGT Barton

[@raincityinc9271]

Nice vid, casual ACU in a video :)

[@burtshort9900]

I quit band in the 4th grade because my mouthpiece kept getting stuck back in 1965.i wanted to play sax but mom wouldn't buy me one because trumpets were cheaper.when I turned 18 I bought an old tenor sax and been plugging away ever since.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Victor, if the techniques provided in this video are not sufficient for your problem or if you are not experienced with these types of repairs, we suggest you take your horn to a qualified repair person. Best of luck.

[@bellasabo6010]

Yep this happend to my friend the book band him get it stuck but he got it out and I am a woodwind and he had to pick something on my flute the reed screws he fix it from me

[@peternotarfrancesco2614]

Mouthpiece got stuck on my baritone bugle. We rehearsed inside a building then went outdoors near Christmas time for a parade. The cold shrank the metals and I could not disassemble the horn for travel back home. So I laid it on the floor of my car and drove home ~30 minutes. After I went inside my house I put the horn in it's case with the mouthpiece hanging out. After I changed my clothing the horn assemble had heated up enough that I was able to remove the mouthpiece with minimal effort.

[@Herodotus3]

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.

[@Villemtiits]

Where to buy and what is the cost of the hammer?

[@ArmyFieldBand]

You can buy a cheap mallet at any hardware store.

[@ameurmsallem1990]

you are the besttt man thanxxx

[@josielmontesino8005]

Ty this is to helpful I almost cried because I couldn’t get it out

[@thecardist7304]

The other day i got a trumpet and 2 days after it got stuck. i tied pulling it out but the entire mouthpiece receiver came off. I had to use a clamp to hold it down while hammering a metal rod ito the receiver

[@LowReedExpert1]

this video reminded me of a stubborn mouthpiece story, my director was trying to get a mouthpiece off of a marching baritone (we couldn't send it away because of a competition the next day) My director tapped it a bit with a rawhide hammer, didn't work, Put a lighter to it to expand the receiver a bit. Didn't work. So he pull out the mouthpiece puller (the last one shown in the video) and we set that on.

[@philipwasalinski5199]

The comments helped more than the video

[@glassesuser585]

The first mouthpiece puller works extremely well on tubas and sousaphones

[@pizzaman7713]

Oh, I just removed mine with a wrench it was stuck for almost 2 years

[@elilake9776]

does this work for baritones too?

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Probably

[@BruceXuHasADream]

what if you dont have ANY tools except a hammer?

[@ArmyFieldBand]

You could try wrapping the hammer with something to deaden the blow so it's not metal on metal.

[@BruceXuHasADream]

Thanks.

[@DAUNORAS420]

It works ths

[@dimasrodriguez1639]

deje un año de tocar como saco la bomba sargento

[@pedokillla]

or you could have a tool like my teacher does☺

[@eldiablitopro7666]

That's what he was using...

[@crystalowl9027]

Francisco G okay my teacher used that tool and even that didn’t work

[@thetheoryofphantomsdelta2779]

i hit my mouthpeice for my baritone/trombone because it made a funny sound and I did it before and then it got stuck, and then I started to lightly hit the edges and it came out

[@careysharp8340]

Why am I watching this ? I'm a drummer for crying out loud . 🤣🤣🤣

[@naimalyons2674]

Saxs players don't have this problem but the occasional forget u have your neckstrap on the whole day

[@butanetorch5386]

Would a hammer with a rubber mallet attachment work?

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Don't know!

[@butanetorch5386]

Maybe... I’ll try with my spare horn...

[@mayurgurukkalsaints0]

I did not have a tiny hammer so I used my iPod touch box to tap around it AND IT WORKED

[@tarunlakra6662]

How I clear a bugle

[@Acceleratte]

The hammering thing worked for me

[@LebronJames___]

How the heck did porn get me to this

[@AnthonyCortes104]

YBN Nahmir Wtf

[@colecarver4482]

Will a plastic hammer work