Tuba Practice Mutes

by **Adam C.** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:18 am

The wife has come downstairs at 10pm once too many times it seems...

I'm in the market for a tuba mute, preferably one that fits a PT-6P AND a Besson 981. I've heard good things about Trumcor mutes and the Yamaha Silent Brass without the electronics, but I have never actually tested any practice mute.

I generally try to avoid all mutes whenever possible.

Can anyone provide some comments on these or any other practice mutes? Are practice mutes usually "instock" at places like Baltimore Brass, Dillon, and Rayburn?

by **schlepporello** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:53 am

I know someone who has the "Silent Brass" practice mute for trombone, I haven't tried it but I've heard him use it and it works. He's a very strong player and we could barely hear him while he was using this mute.

The only tuba mute I've had experience with is the one made by the students of Tennessee Tech. (http://orgs.tntech.edu/tuba/mutes.htm)
I understand that these mutes are hand built by the students and sold as a fund raiser for their music department.

Overall fit and finish is at best, poor. They perform well enough though. The metal is cut crooked, the rivets are poorly placed, the wooden end plug first is a bad selection of a poor grade of plywood and secondly looks like the student tried to cut it into a circular (?) shape with a keyhole saw, the plug is nailed into place with cheap poorly place and spaced brads, the handle is a cheap plastic cabinet handle that will come loose in a short period of time. My reason for buying it? I got it on Ebay for what I felt was a better price than what I would have paid had I bought it direct from the school.

The faults that I have mentioned are easily remedied by anyone with half a brain and a little motiation. I'd spent the money and decided to fix it right. First, I replaced all the rivets on the seam, I then removed the plug ad put on a REAL manly type metal handle. I then cut off abuth 1/2" of metal where the brads had secured the plug so I would have fresh metal to evenly mark and drill hloes for the roundheaded screws I would use. I cut a new plug and trued the outer angle and circular shape up by turning it on a lathe, I then remounted and secured the plug. End result, it looks a whole lot better and it still works even though I worked on it.

by **docpugh** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 1:22 am

I use the Yamaha Silent Brass system and I really like it. I can play downstairs while the wife and child are asleep and it never wakes them up. It changes the playing characteristics a little, but a small sacrifice to keep the peace in the house.

Website · by **Dean E** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 11:23 am

I recommend the Yamaha Silent Brass system.
It is quiet, and I like being able to play along with CD or mp3 recordings by connecting to a CD player or computer sound card. You can also accept input from an electronic tuner and one or more other players.
Negatives:
The mute makes an instrument top-heavy and more difficult to clear water when a horn lacks good water keys. You can't simply rotate the horn/mute assembly without worrying about the mute falling out or disconnecting the mute's mic pickup cord.
Using numerous patch cords and the headset/earphone cord creates a messy spaghetti bowl that must be managed along with a top-heavy horn and remote control clicker (for the CD player).

by **CJ Krause** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:14 pm

by **John Wright** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:53 pm

I personally found the Yamaha Silent Brass mute very cumbersom at best. Very top heavy. On the other hand, the Dennis Wick practice mute I found to work extremly well. First of all it's as quite as the Yamaha and my miraphone seems to play fairly well in tune. Second, it's very light, and not at all top heavy. Also it's not to exspensive. Good luck in your search.

by **Alex C** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:26 pm

...for me is the Trumcor practice mute. They make a different mute for different sized tubas and they are constantly refining them.

My practice mute is good but the newer ones offer some nice changes I wish I had.

by **Guest** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:17 pm

I use and recommend the 'Wallace Collection' practice mutes.
Mine is designed for the Boosey Eb but will fit ok in other bells either slightly smaller or larger. The Eb version has the bonus of fitting 'flush' inside the bell so it can be carried or stored in the instrument in its case.

I suspect the Eb version mightn't fit too well in the PT6 bell-throat but a version designed for Boosey Bb's might do well for both your Eb and the CC. Can I suggest you contact Phil Parkers in London for some decent advice??

These Wallace mutes have the best pitch and 'feel' of any practice mute I've tried. They're also extremely quiet, light and inexpensive.

I expect the Yamaha mute (which is Huuuge) would be best in flexibility for bell sizes but I prefer the Wallace in all other respects.

Trumcor are great quality but pretty specificly for one size of bell I think.