Balu Tuba Mutes

The bulk of the musical talk
Post Reply
User avatar
UTTuba_09
bugler
bugler
Posts: 194
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:56 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN
Contact:

Balu Tuba Mutes

Post by UTTuba_09 »

Has anyone had any experience with Balu tuba mutes? Also, are they tunable?
Eric Hamilton
University of Tennessee/Knoxville
Performance Major
Kalison Daryl Smith CC
Yamaha YEB-321 Eb
UT Symphony/Wind Ensemble
http://www.hammytuba.com/
User avatar
JB
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 704
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:04 pm

Re: Balu Tuba Mutes

Post by JB »

UTTuba_09 wrote:Has anyone had any experience with Balu tuba mutes? Also, are they tunable?
Amongst others, a couple folks have previously mentioned them:
Alan Baer wrote: 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
_________________
Alan Baer
Principal Tubist
New York Philharmonic
Pete Link wrote: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
User avatar
bisontuba
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 4320
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:55 am
Location: Bottom of Lake Erie

mutes

Post by bisontuba »

Hi-
I own both sizes of mutes for my 6/4 and 4/4CC's and for my F--they are fantastic, and with the ability to change the cork for the different size of horns/bell diameter, they make playing muted parts very easy and in tune!!
Highly recommended!
Regards-
mark
jonestuba@juno.com
tubapress
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 313
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:52 am
Location: New Rochelle, NY

Post by tubapress »

I love the Balu mute. Easily the best mute I've played.

Here is a link to a thread on the Balu Mutes:

viewtopic.php?t=25090&highlight=balu
Gary Press
gary_press@yahoo.com" target="_blank
User avatar
Toobist
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 536
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2005 4:13 pm

Post by Toobist »

I'm the proud owner of one of these mutes. It sounds fabulous and I use it in both my 4/4 Nirschl and my YFB-822.

Highly recommended.

Nobody's touched on the price! They're priced VERY resonably!

Buy one.
Al Carter
Kitchener, Ontario
User avatar
UTTuba_09
bugler
bugler
Posts: 194
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:56 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN
Contact:

Post by UTTuba_09 »

Are the mutes themselves tunable?
Eric Hamilton
University of Tennessee/Knoxville
Performance Major
Kalison Daryl Smith CC
Yamaha YEB-321 Eb
UT Symphony/Wind Ensemble
http://www.hammytuba.com/
Blake Cooper
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 65
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:17 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Post by Blake Cooper »

I wrote a post up a few months ago with these same questions about Balu mutes. So you may want to search for it for some more advice. With the comments made i decided to go ahead purchase both sizes. And i really like them alot!!! I use the smaller size for my Miraphone F tuba and the Larger on on my Large Gronitz 5/4 and have had great comments from other players about there sound. They seem to be, to me, a true dampening mute....very cool. allows the tuba remain a supportive voice in any ensemble setting and the work very well in Solo rep too.

They are NOT able to be tuned though.....to my knowledge no one makes a mute for tuba that can be tuned.

my advice.....get the mute! if you don't like it Ion has a great return policy :)
P. Blake Cooper, D.M.A.
LA freelancer - Yamaha Performing Artist
User avatar
Dean E
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1019
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:36 am
Location: Northern Virginia, USA
Contact:

Post by Dean E »

The Balu site says that their tuba mutes come in two sizes, and, "We recommend for the very large tubas (5/4, 6/4) our XL mutes."

A couple of posts mentioned the XL size for a particular instrument.

The Willson 3050R CC has been described as a 5/4 size. Any knowledge, opinions, speculation, or wild guesses whether the Willson 3050R CC would accept the Balu XL size, please?

I have an orchestral gig later this month with about ten measures calling for a mute, so I guess it's time to buy one.

Thanks, Dean E
Dean E
[S]tudy politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy . . . in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry [and] music. . . . John Adams (1780)
User avatar
bisontuba
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 4320
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:55 am
Location: Bottom of Lake Erie

Balu

Post by bisontuba »

Hi-
Yes, the XL Balu mute works fine for a 6/4 Holton--but you need all the corks on the mute--just the way it came with the mute--and then it just fits right.
Regards-
mark
jonestuba@Juno.com
Post Reply