Best mutes for different horns

[Arnie]

Hi all

I am looking to buy a tuba mute for both my Willson 3400Eb and my soon-to-arrive Miraphone 1291 Bb. But tuba mutes seem quite hit and miss to me. So many different bell shapes, sizes, flares etc. I am sceptical as to whether adjustable corks would change enough. And you can only try what a store actually stocks. (and I am nowhere near a good store that stocks lots of things)

So, who has a mute that they think really suits their horn (playable, in tune, not too stuffy, even throughout the registers)? What is your horn and what is your mute (brand, model, size?)

[imperialbari]

In another context I wrote this:

http://www.ionbalu.com/Balu_Tuba_mutes.html

As I have very small through large 4/4 tubas I have both of the Balu tuba mutes (plus the one for euph), which I all like for their non-piercing sounds. They are very even over the range.

The Balu concept is very flexible with Velcro-attached sets of corks. I have added to the flexibility by putting "male" Velcro strips under the mushroom shaped resonator head. By placing the corks there I don’t have to adjust them for the individual tubas within the large and small categories respectively.

Joe Sellmansberger of Mid-South Music in the greater Memphis-Tennessee area happened to be one of the test riders of the Balu tuba mutes. He recommended me getting the large version even for my 4/4 tubas, as the small version is exactly small and is best suited for my Eb and F basses with bells of less than 14" diameters.

Oddly enough Ion Balu isn’t necessarily offering the best prices himself. I bought mine from Joe and weren’t disappointed (Joe is my US-retailer for items not available in my country):

mid-south_music@peoplepc.com" target="_blank

As I understand it, you could do with the large version only.

Klaus