cheap tuba mutes?

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Bob Kolada
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cheap tuba mutes?

Post by Bob Kolada »

I am starting to do some jazz combo on tuba. Any thoughts on a mute/s for a 15" bell Eb? Regular mute, homemade plunger,... I have a lid off an old cooking pot but it doesn't do anything for me.


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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by tclements »

For cheap, cheap, you can throw a bath towel over the bell. If it is a bell front, clothespin it to the top of the bell. Sound like the voice of experience??
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circusboy
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

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TUBAD83
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by TUBAD83 »

tclements wrote:For cheap, cheap, you can throw a bath towel over the bell. If it is a bell front, clothespin it to the top of the bell. Sound like the voice of experience??
This would so work for my 20J...what color towel should I go with? Would probably need 2 clothspins for my bell

JJ
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katietes
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by katietes »

TUBAD83 wrote:
tclements wrote:For cheap, cheap, you can throw a bath towel over the bell. If it is a bell front, clothespin it to the top of the bell. Sound like the voice of experience??
This would so work for my 20J...what color towel should I go with? Would probably need 2 clothspins for my bell

JJ

And what weight of towel would you recommend for optimal sound quality?
Kory101
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by Kory101 »

katietes wrote:
TUBAD83 wrote:
tclements wrote:For cheap, cheap, you can throw a bath towel over the bell. If it is a bell front, clothespin it to the top of the bell. Sound like the voice of experience??
This would so work for my 20J...what color towel should I go with? Would probably need 2 clothspins for my bell

JJ

And what weight of towel would you recommend for optimal sound quality?

These look like they'd do the trick
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by aqualung »

Get a small garbage can with a footpedal-operated lid, and use the parts to make yourself a wah-wah mute.
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schneidah
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by schneidah »

Go with a dog food bowl.

There have been posts on here about John Manning using one of these on tour a while back, so over the years I've tried a couple and have been pleasantly surprised by the sound. I'm using one this weekend, in fact.
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TUBAD83
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by TUBAD83 »

Kory101 wrote:
These look like they'd do the trick
SOLD---can you get them in "concert black"??

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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by Mark »

TUBAD83 wrote:can you get them in "concert black"??
You can, but black towels make the sound too dark. White towels produce a brighter tone.
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J.c. Sherman
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by J.c. Sherman »

"Cheap Tuba Mute" is an oxymoron... There are many cheap cone-shaped objects which can be rammed into the average tuba bell...
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
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imperialbari
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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by imperialbari »

The traffic cones are cheap for the tubists, but what do the local taxpayers say?

And then Schleppy is the guy able to make the mutes with the most transparent sound. Hint: 8 or 12 or 16 pizza slices with the right undercut. Wooden or transparent end plate. Glued or barrel type assembly.

You got the tools and the stuff!

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Re: cheap tuba mutes?

Post by Harvey Hartman »

I found a Plastic Pretzel container about 16" high, with a snap on lid 8" at the top 6" at bottom .I put some thin cork at 3 spots the long way up & down on the outside of the Pretzel Container . I cut a hole top and bottom slowly bigger. Till I got the sound i wanted.. I think cost a buck 2.80 to make. I also saw Plastic containers for .50 cents each at the Butcher shop in my small town. I think pickels came in the Containers .. I also saw plastic containers of potato salad at Sam's Club but have to buy 4 lbs of Potato salad to get The Container :D Harvs Happy Horns Thanks
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