Hi-
I mentioned it briefly in my review of the Wessex Berg F, but the new Wessex wooden tuba mute really works great. Good for up to a 5/4 size horn, the mute does not back up at all, intonation is good while using it, and it is a winner. Short and stumpy, it really does the job. Used on the Berg F & old 186 CC Mirafone, perfect for both.
Mute next to Berg F
A winner--two thumbs up! Check them out yourselves!
Mark
bloke wrote:One of my xmas gigs asked for 2 or 3 muted pitches...and with typical church gig 35-orch.-jammed-into-limited-space conditions. I left the mute at home, and just played the pitches badly.
Pinkham? (One of the best [or is it worst] examples of composers who don't know what the hell they are doing when calling for muted tuba, IMHO).
+1 to the primary purpose being color change or contrast, not lower dynamic.
The nice thing about tuba mutes is that most often, in ensemble, there is only one tuba playing at the direction to mute, and so there is a little more leeway than with the upper brass.
Too many times I have heard upper brass players say they like this that or the other mute, and the conversation always seems to end when I say...and what color does the conductor prefer for the entire section for the particular passage, and since upper brass mutes are relatively inexpensive by comparison, are you willing to go purchase one? (yes, they will pay $X,XXX for a horn, $XXX for a case, $XX or $XXX for other accessories, mouthpieces, etc., and won't consider $XX for a mute to match the section, whether concert or jazz band!)
I think one of the reasons is because all other brass players can fit their mute(s) in their gig bags, but a tuba mute doesn't fit in a gig bag...
Mark
bisontuba wrote:I think one of the reasons is because all other brass players can fit their mute(s) in their gig bags, but a tuba mute doesn't fit in a gig bag...
Mark
Just to prove you wrong...
Here I am on my way to my last gig.
As you can plainly see, my tuba mute, carried by my tuba mute bearer, forth from the left, fit's snugly into it's custom gig bag!!
...and if you simply don't have the wherewithal to do something right, maybe you should play the flute!!
Last edited by Three Valves on Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I am committed to the advancement of civil rights, minus the Marxist intimidation and thuggery of BLM.
bisontuba wrote:I think one of the reasons is because all other brass players can fit their mute(s) in their gig bags, but a tuba mute doesn't fit in a gig bag...
Mark
Three Valves wrote:
...and if you simply don't have the wherewithal to do something right, maybe you should play the flute!!
Waaay back when in my NYC days, I used to bicker with local 802 to get them to add cartage for mute use. Makes perfect sense, but of course got nowhere with the all-knowing union.
cktuba wrote:
And if its not logical to spend 400 zops on a mute that will sit in a closet, then for the price
it is much more logical to get a Wessex (promoted by Tubenet) mute to sit in a closet.
AH HA!!
But the Wessex mute is made of wood, and thus, can double as a Cajon!!
(Sitting in the closet)
I am committed to the advancement of civil rights, minus the Marxist intimidation and thuggery of BLM.
