B15M

I don't notice any difference.

I think the gold plating on the mouthpiece is to match the trumpet.

According to the guy that sold me my trumpet at the Monette factory, there is a difference between gold plate and silver on the trumpet.

Alex Yates

It wasn't Wynton, was it?

KIDDING!

I just say that because of his recent allergic reaction to gold.

All of that aside, I am sure Dave Monette would have no problem silver-plating a mouthpiece for you if that is what you want. He does silver plate horns, so I am sure mouthpieces are not an issue.

Alex Yates

Some people are not sensitive to either and it seems to be the case with you. I, on the other hand, happen to be very sensitive to the difference. To a point, it is a personal thing.

B15M

I think some of the differences that we notice coincide with how well and how often we play. I am a part time player and you play every day.

When I was buying the Blackburn lead pipes for my piccolo trumpet they sent me two different pipes to try. I couldn't tell the difference. Both played better than the stock Selmer pipe.

I played for a long time on a Bach mouthpiece. The Monette was way better so I switched. The fact that it was gold plated didn't matter to me but, if that is what I did for a living maybe I would notice that change too.

John P

http://www.monette.net/newsite/onlin...1_sandiego.jpg

There's a bass bone player with what looks like a silver plated Monette piece...Best I could do.

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JP