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alrite i've done a bit of looking around and it seems you can only get a cheap or top of the line cup mute for a bass trombone. does anybody know of any mid-priced cup mutes of decent quality for bass trombone?

Yes, the Stonelined cup mutes are decent for bass bone.

For straight mutes (even though you didn't ask), Tom Crown sounds great, especially the copper-bottom model. They are cheaper than JoRal or Wick, and make a better "metallic" straight-mute tone. For symphonic playing in large orchestral settings, the JoRal or Wick produce a darker tone.

I agree (mostly) with Joe. The Humes and Berg is THE cup mute. In this case, higher price does not mean better product. Get the red and white mute, man.

TonyZ wrote:I agree (mostly) with Joe. The Humes and Berg is THE cup mute. In this case, higher price does not mean better product. Get the red and white mute, man.

In this case low price means low quality. The H&B is horrid. Jo-Ral is much better IMHO, so are there straight-mutes. They are very free-blowing and have a good sound. The Wick's are OK but miss that little bit of 'je ne sais qua'...

Wilco wrote:In this case low price means low quality. The H&B is horrid. Jo-Ral is much better IMHO, so are there straight-mutes. They are very free-blowing and have a good sound. The Wick's are OK but miss that little bit of 'je ne sais qua'...

I still must disagree because the sound of the H&B is the right sound. Metal cups just don't sound right to me, i.e. not warm enough. As far as durability, mine's 18 yrs. old and doing fine. Get the red and white cup, man!

What are you using the mute for? If you are using it in a big band or pit orch the H&B will be fine. I can actually get all the pedals etc with mine. For the $ and the few times you will use it you can't go wrong. If you are using it for a solo recital or some orchestral piece maybe you would want to go for the Wick.

When I saw the musical Chicago on broadway the pit band was on the stage and the entire brass section used red & white H&B stonelined mutes. I don't know if they all used them to look uniform or if they actually all use them all the time. But these are guys who play everyday for their living and they use H&B. Works for me.

ken k

ken k wrote:What are you using the mute for? If you are using it in a big band or pit orch the H&B will be fine. I can actually get all the pedals etc with mine. For the $ and the few times you will use it you can't go wrong. If you are using it for a solo recital or some orchestral piece maybe you would want to go for the Wick.

When I saw the musical Chicago on broadway the pit band was on the stage and the entire brass section used red & white H&B stonelined mutes. I don't know if they all used them to look uniform or if they actually all use them all the time. But these are guys who play everyday for their living and they use H&B. Works for me.

ken k

im using it in a big band setting, and im using it for a 30's jazz tune and a sammy nestico tune

bloke wrote:

When I saw the musical Chicago on broadway the pit band was on the stage and the entire brass section used red & white H&B stonelined mutes.

That surprises me, because when I played the show with the licensed touring company, the (yes, onstage) musicians were required to paint (!!) all of their mutes flat black.

They had to paint their mutes? cut me a break..... some director with too much time on his hands.....

k-

That's not uncommon at all. Appearance is everything on the broadway circuit, and you'll do it if you want that nice paycheck!

TZ