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Any ideas for an inexpensive 6/4 tuba practice mute? Yamaha SB might fit, but too expensive and my bell is too fragile to have that contraption clamped on. I really like the Dennis Wick practice mute that I have, but it works best on 4/4 tubas and is way too small for a very wide throated tuba. Perhaps wrapping the outside in a few layers of foam?
Open to ideas, but don't want to spend a lot.

heres an idea that came from Roger Webster, one of the UKs best cornet players, find a used plastic water bottle that fits the bell of your instrument, discard the cap and put some holes in the bottom, and there you have your inexpensive practice mute (for a 6\4 tuba, that is likely to be a 5 litre bottle).

Hi-
Yamaha SB and remove/screw out the mike transducer so just the hole is there--works perfect.
mark

jonesmj wrote:Hi-
Yamaha SB and remove/screw out the mike transducer so just the hole is there--works perfect.
mark

I actually used to post that same suggestion. I am afraid of clamping the large awkward SB mute to a 100 year old bell that has enough cracks and patches already.

Maybe ?

cjk wrote:

Maybe ?

Thought of it, but it is either relatively expensive to buy, or illegal/immoral to steal.

plastic trash can lid?

Reconsidering the traffic cone thing, but the 28" cones seem like the best bet, and even the affordable ones seem to have high shipping costs.

MartyNeilan wrote:

cjk wrote:

Maybe ?

Thought of it, but it is either relatively expensive to buy, or illegal/immoral to steal.

I got my traffic cone by keeping my eye on the verge and hedges and found a broken discarded cone, was missing its base and reflective jacket had lost all of its original purpose and was now abandoned trash.
I was trying to make a straight mute for a test piece it made a good practice mute but was a failure as a straight mute.

But I personally would try the 5L empty water bottle first.

MartyNeilan wrote:

jonesmj wrote:Hi-
Yamaha SB and remove/screw out the mike transducer so just the hole is there--works perfect.
mark

I actually used to post that same suggestion. I am afraid of clamping the large awkward SB mute to a 100 year old bell that has enough cracks and patches already.

I've been using one on a 99 year old 22" bell of a 6/4 tuba for a couple of weeks with no worries.

"Clamping" seems like a pretty strong word for this. The mute just sits there, and quite gentle plastic hooks attached to elastic hook over the bell wire. I haven't had a hint of damage or any reason to think there might ever be.

As to expense, I guess that's relative. I paid around $200 for my SB. More than a traffic cone, less than full retail.

The problem with homemade mutes in my experience is getting enough interior volume *above the bell* for it to play in tune. I would say the business end of the SB is closer to five gallons than five liters. But it plays in tune.

Another vote for YSB. Not that it matters in the 6/4 context, but I also bought the euphonium version, and it works great on my small York Eb--like it was made for it.

KiltieTuba wrote:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Green-36-inch-t ... 2a1f73a235" target="_blank
Seems cheap to me...

Forty dollars shipping?