Balu mutes

Blake Cooper · Post by **Blake Cooper** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:46 pm

I've become very interested in the Balu Mute co. they look great but do they sound great????? I've heard some good stuff....but wondering what the community thought

rascaljim · Post by **rascaljim** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:45 am

dude, the response with this mute when fitted right is perfect and consistant. I tried one out at HRTEC this year and I was sold within a minute. I'm just waiting for the call for a piece that uses enough tuba mute to justify replacing my current pos.

Blake Cooper · Post by **Blake Cooper** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:52 pm

Thanks alot guys! sounds like thumbs up all around. i decided to make the investment

I'll give my thoughts once i get the goods

KevinMadden · Post by **KevinMadden** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:22 am

cktuba wrote:Soooooooo, anybody want to buy one (used once) for $100?

which color and size?

(apparently I'm suffering from G.A.S. this month)

Blake Cooper · Post by **Blake Cooper** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:01 pm

According to the website, now they have 4 finishes...Red Mahogany, Walnut, Amber, and Black Onyx....Sizes Reg. and XL

Pete Link · Post by **Pete Link** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:34 pm

I own both the regular and XL versions. The XL is indeed for the 6/4 and the regular fits great in both my F horns. However, with the variable cork settings the regular would easily fit in a 4/4 sized horn. These are fantastic mutes with great response and pitch in all registers. You will not be disappointed.

Pete

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:37 pm

I'm not overly impressed with my Balu mute. I have the regular size mute and use the smallest corks for it to fit in my Nirschl 4/4. It fits in a Yorkbrunner when I use the medium corks.

The results in both horns is similar. The sound is decreased but it just does not sound muted. It sounds more distant than muted. It cannot match the other brasses when a muted, brassy attack is called for. There's no sizzle available.

The brass players who have heard it were unimpressed and preferred the Apperson mute that I have. It has a metal body and a wood top which gives it a nice balance of tone; brassy when needed.

I am also unhappy with the workmanship of my mute. Apparently Ion uses a veneer over the wood forming the mute. My veneer is coming unglued and is starting to wave. I'd complain about it but it took so long to get it (after he shipped one to the wrong address - and couldn't retrieve it) that mine is left sitting on a shelf.

I recommend the Apperson mute as an alternative. Not as "classy" looking but sure does the job. At a lower price, too!

Alan Baer · Post by **Alan Baer** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:16 pm

I have some pretty great mutes to choose from and the Blau is one of my favorites. Nice and light, the workmanship is great, and most importantly, it sounds wonderful.
Happy New Year everyone!
Alan Baer

tubapress · Post by **tubapress** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:13 am

I'll echo Al's comments. My experience with the Balu mute has been fantastic! The mute looks great, the pitch is excellent and the response is wonderful (especially in the low register). It is lightweight, well made and has various interchangeable cork sizes, which makes it a very versatile musical tool indeed.

But most of all, with the Balu you can create a much warmer, pleasing sound than I've personally found possible on other mutes. And while I agree that perhaps an Apperson or Humes & Berg mute might get a more brassy sound with more bite at high dynamic levels, the Balu allows you to create a much more beautiful, blending sound at all other dynamic levels. And you don't have to paint it black just to avoid making a spectacle of yourself when muting and unmuting! I found the price to be totally reasonable and Balu's service was quick.

A special note for those with storage space limits: the interchangeable cork sizes make this mute a real pleasure for those of who live in urban cities where space is a major consideration. It is much easier for me to store one great sounding Balu mute in my NYC apartment that can be used with either of my Rudys (CC or F) than to store two different sizes of mutes. Just another selling point for me! Plus, my 9 month old daughter is less likely to hurt herself exploring a wood mute!

Great mutes all around. Bravo Balu!

Wishing you all a great and prosperous 2008!

Gary

Tubadork · Post by **Tubadork** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:12 pm

TBenedict wrote:Bit off topic, but I saw Al's post...it was nice surprise last night to hear the NY Phil on PBS. They sounded great and Al sounded amazing and they had some great Tuba shots in the video. The tuba microphone placement was perfect! It was nice to see a good concert on a national program last night.

Now back to the mutes! Happy new year!

yep, and it was posted at 9:16pm which was DURING the concert.

I guess you have to kill time during the non-tuba moments.
Bill

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