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Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:59 am**

Hi all

I am looking to buy a tuba mute for both my Willson 3400Eb and my soon-to-arrive Miraphone 1291 Bb. But tuba mutes seem quite hit and miss to me. So many different bell shapes, sizes, flares etc. I am sceptical as to whether adjustable corks would change enough. And you can only try what a store actually stocks. (and I am nowhere near a good store that stocks lots of things)

So, who has a mute that they think really suits their horn (playable, in tune, not too stuffy, even throughout the registers)? What is your horn and what is your mute (brand, model, size?)

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:41 am**

In another context I wrote this:

http://www.ionbalu.com/Balu_Tuba_mutes.html

As I have very small through large 4/4 tubas I have both of the Balu tuba mutes (plus the one for euph), which I all like for their non-piercing sounds. They are very even over the range.

The Balu concept is very flexible with Velcro-attached sets of corks. I have added to the flexibility by putting "male" Velcro strips under the mushroom shaped resonator head. By placing the corks there I don’t have to adjust them for the individual tubas within the large and small categories respectively.

Joe Sellmansberger of Mid-South Music in the greater Memphis-Tennessee area happened to be one of the test riders of the Balu tuba mutes. He recommended me getting the large version even for my 4/4 tubas, as the small version is exactly small and is best suited for my Eb and F basses with bells of less than 14" diameters.

Oddly enough Ion Balu isn’t necessarily offering the best prices himself. I bought mine from Joe and weren’t disappointed (Joe is my US-retailer for items not available in my country):

mid-south_music@peoplepc.com" target="_blank

As I understand it, you could do with the large version only.

Klaus

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Best mutes for different horns

Best mutes for different horns

Re: Best mutes for different horns