WARNING
PLAYING A IMPROPERLY PLATED
MOUTHPIECE MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.
Gold and Silver plating solutions are composed of
toxic chemicals such cyanide arsenic and other
carcinogenic compounds.
It is a known fact that improperly administered amounts of gold and silver on to a mouthpiece can suppress the immune system, trigger an allergic, inhibit your immune cells, create inflammation, cause, rashes, severe itching, blotched skin, anemia, bone marrow suppression,mouth/gum bleeding and infections.- not to mention severe kidney and liver damage.

RE: THIS WRITER :
Over the years this writer/ manufacturer has been advising fellow saxophonist to only purchase mouthpieces that have been properly plated by a professional bona-fide plating US or European company.
Self-imposed guide lines by most of the reputable US and European mouthpiece manufactures is to have at the very least 25-50 mills of gold plated on to the mouthpiece.
RE: HEAVY GOLD PLATING ( HGE ):
Commonly known in the trade as HGE (Heavy Gold Electroplate) this term represents a proprietary liquid pure gold solution that is poured into a special electro plating 40-50 gallon gold tank.
In 1987 an once of gold solution (or oz. of proprietary gold) cost $403.00, Today, that same one once of proprietary gold solution cost $1459.00.
CHINESE MADE:
mouthpieces DO NOT use any proprietary “pure gold solutions” in there plating baths.- nor do they adhere to any of the US guide lines of plating 25-50 mills of gold on to a mouthpiece. How could they at a cost of $1459.00 per once? In fact our firm tested via an independent lab Chinese made mouthpieces and found them to contain 2.5.-2.9 mills of gold.
IMO Chinese makers simply cannot afford nor do they have the proper equipment to plate HGE –or do they plate the minimum and “safe” amount gold on to a mouthpiece. The plating equipment and chemicals used by most bona-fide US platers cost tens of thousands of dollars.

IN CONCLUSION
Chinese promoted inexpensive mouthpieces may look and sound wonderful – and yes they are “dirt” cheap -but ask your self is it really worth it or safe in the long term to jeopardize your health and put a improperly plated mouthpiece in your mouth.?